I love adventuring around and finding new little beach parks. This beach park is in Wailua on the…read moreNorth Shore. Although there isn't a parking lot (the only thing that makes it a 4/5 stars), this is a great public beach park. There is a basketball court and a playground that has a swing set. All steps away from the ocean. I'm such a sucker for swings on the beach, it's absolutely epic. They even have a public bathroom ( I didn't check them out though). This feels more like a neighborhood beach with a decent amount of people but not too crowded.

Fun, sun, sand, and a slice of North Shore charm, Aweoweo Beach Park is a perfect addition to stop…read moreto your day. Tucked away in the town of Waialua, this beach park has it all. With a playground for the children, a basketball court for a quick game, and the beach steps away, it is a perfect stop for any day of the week. Whether it's a beach date, grilling with friends, playing with your fur baby, or taking a quick dip, this spot is one of my new favorite spots that I have found. The calm, shallow waters are perfect for cooling off after a run. The best thing is that there is plenty of street parking, bathroom facilities, and an outdoor shower. Pro tip: You need to stay for sunset. Each one I have seen is even better than the last. I'm here almost every week for my afternoon run followed by a dip, and I have to stay every time to see the sun light up the evening sky.

Stumbled upon this spot after trying to go to Ko'olina and then was told that there was no parking…read more Few minutes down the freeway from Koolina. The current here is strong so it's not for little ones. If you do bring little ones, make sure they have a floatie or something to help them. My son had a blast on a floatie just near the shore break. Pretty big waves. Plenty of parking on a weekday and it's right off the freeway. We also snorkeled and saw some fish. They have showers as well and I didn't see any sketchy people while we were there.

Nice beach park! Pretty far out on the west side! But easy parking and beautiful water and mostly…read morelocals. I do recommend wearing some water shoes the water is a little rocky. Still beautiful views and great waves for the boogie board enthusiast!

This is such a fun activity that I recommend to anyone who loves fishing or is just wanting a fun…read moreday outdoors! If you've never been fishing before, this is a great experience because you're pretty much guaranteed to catch something! How it works: There are 2 prices, one for every person fishing / for each pole and another price for those just coming along for the fun! You're given a fishing pole and bait + a bucket. Once the fish has been caught and put into your bucket, its yours! The cool thing about this place is they will cook up the fish that you catch! They have different cooking styles and sauces. I would bring a chair, maybe even a small tent for shade, gloves because you do need to unhook them, and water to drink and to wash off your hands in between catches. The ponds are full of tilapia, and within an hour one person can probably catch 10 fish!

This experience was definitely one for the books! We took our 7 year-old and he had a blast -- even…read morewhen the rain started to pour! Fish were not biting much and what we did catch were small. The lady working that day said that the fish tend to bite more on warmer days when it's not raining -- she said that she thinks they hide out at the bottom when it rains. We ended up keeping 2 of our decent sized catches (still pretty small). However, I must say, the fish was fried to perfection!! We chose to have our fish fried whole, it was served with a scoop of rice, a refreshing broccoli-slaw salad and a cluster of plump, juicy grapes. A surprisingly tasty lunch to end our rainy fishing adventure. *Bonus tip: wear shoes/clothes you don't mind getting dirty. The red dirt can stain your shoes and does not wash off clothing very easily. We brought old shoes (trashed when we left) and changed out before we got in the car.

Pros: Stunning geography, with sandy shallow turquoise…read morewaters and waves that break about 100 yards out. Picturesque lighthouse. Two rinse areas. Restrooms. Cons: The grass and parking lot between the sand and street badly need garbage pickup. Unused shopping cart in the grassy area. A homeless issue. The restrooms are disgusting and heavily vandalized. No soap in the sinks, no towels. I would not bring a woman here or bring my family. For the life of me, I'm baffled why a state park system can't keep up with clean restrooms, given all the hotel taxes, rental taxes, and airport taxes charged to visitors needing basic facilities as a matter of survival. Not everybody can or wants to stay at the Four Seasons (which is terrific). There isn't a job at a resort for every local resident. Ordinary people need to use restrooms and clean themselves afterwards. If the City of Paris can provide terrific self-cleaning portable facilities, with far more inhabitants, then the state of Hawaii can do it, too. Don't give us that BS that "it's not in the budget." I don't mind paying five dollars or something to use the bathrooms or for a pass. The National Park System does a vastly better job.

Barber's Point Lighthouse is not worth the stop. To access it you need to park at a park close by…read more This was a very shady part of town where it felt like a good place to buy drugs from a local. The lighthouse itself doesn't have a lot going on for it.

Trash filled park next to busy Highway/freeway entrance. The water looked very unclean and had a…read morebad odor. There a few picnic tables and a restroom, but there's hardly anywhere to walk around. We spent ten minutes and then left.

Little known Hawaii State park a few minutes from Pearl Ridge. I think a lot of people don't know…read moreabout this park because they think it's part of the Navy housing nearby. Likes: 1. no crowds on the weekdays. 2. Cleaned daily. Bathroom and park benches. 3. The view of Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Arizona Memorial and the Mighty Mo. 4. Nice and quiet place to enjoy a plate lunch. Lots of good eats. Forty Niner Restaurant is just a short walk away. 5. Ample parking. I don't face any issue parking here. Other: 1. Like many parks in Hawaii please watch out for theft. Lock your cars and make sure valuables aren't in sight. Signs are posted.

This has been a beach our family has been coming to when I was growing up and was part of the…read moreBaber's Point Naval Air Station. Happy to see it is still being used for many of the beach. There are a few pavilions great for large gatherings and parties. There are great beach hikes you can go on too. Nice tide pools to explore and good swimming in the cove. Just make sure you clear the area before sunset.

This is a really nice beach area, definitely family, friendly. Just make sure you secure your…read morevehicle.

great spot for the beach if you're on this side of the island!…read more It might be a little troublesome to get into the beach access since you need to check in with the guard and show paperwork, but it's well worth it because the beaches are so much cleaner and less crowded. I love how they have lounge chairs and poop bags for your pup too! Lots of parking nearby but a little tight. all the end stalls are bigger. theres even a little restaurant nearby just in case you're hungry!

What's the name of this beach??? Kapilina Beach? Because it's located in the Kapilina Beach Home…read morecommunity? Iroquois Beach? Because it's located in Iroquois Point in Ewa Beach? In any case, this is not a beach that you happen to find as you explore the island. You have to WANT to come here and can be a PAIN to get to. First, it's located at the furthest end of Ewa Beach - a 40 minute drive from downtown Honolulu. Second, while it is technically a public beach, it is only accessible via a guarded/gated community (Kapilina Beach Homes), which means you need to show your driver's license, car registration and insurance at the security gate. Third, the area is patrolled by military police (as it is government land) who are not shy about pulling you over if you are not strictly following the road rules. Anyway, your best bet is to befriend someone who lives here. Then you can park close to the beach (versus visitor parking) and can have access to the other beach amenities (cabanas, beach chairs, umbrellas, bbq grills, etc.) The beach itself is quiet and uncrowded. Great view of the airport and Pearl Harbor so you can watch the planes come and go. The sand quality is pretty coarse - definitely not the best. Certain areas are dog friendly (on leash). Other areas allow fishing. Check out the D'lish snack bar for food, drink and live music (in the evenings). Pretty much a private beach for those living in the community and a hidden gem for the rest of the island.

This is a very popular beach for the people who live on the west side. The sand is clean, water…read morerefreshing, little ponds for the kids to wade in. There is one life guard tower. The bathroom tends to get VERY wet and sandy with all the keiki's running in and out. I suggest coming early to grab a spot on the upper portion of the beach near the parking area, reason being, once high tide hits your belongs will get wet and swept away. The current can be strong here with lots of waves. If you're used to Ala Moana or Waikiki beaches you may consider the waves to be larger than you're used to. Ultimately, great beach to pop up a tent, bring your grill and just have a gathering and let the kids run free as the sand feels so good. Not as fine as the beaches on the south side, which makes it easier to get out..lol. Also, it tends to get VERY crowded on the weekend. The parking lot is rather small for this long stretch of beach, but you are able to park where the train tracks are. The locals come out strong on the weekend. You'll see them with their Kingdom of Hawaiian Sovereignty flag flying. The locals here are very friendly, don't be surprised if they invite you to come and make yourself a plate of some ono bbq!