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    Nanakuli Beach Park

    4.4 (87 reviews)

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    Hesper W.

    This review is solely for the Mermaid Cave at the beach. Mermaid Caves is beautiful, yet pretty dangerous since the waves are strong and there are rocks everywhere. Getting to the hole to drop down into the cave is extremely rocky, so I recommend wearing shoes, not sandals. When I went, there was no step ladder, so I do NOT recommend going alone cuz it's extremely hard to climb up by yourself since there isn't really any footing. I've seen really nice pictures of people relaxing in the waters where the light shines through the openings from the top, but whoa, it was like an uncontrollable wave pool in there, so please, please, please, be careful. Other than that, Mermaid Caves is truly a beautiful spot for pictures!

    Jillian S.

    Beautiful small secluded beach. Nanakuli beach is also known as Kalaniana'ole Beach Park. There are fewer tourists on this side of the island so Nanakuli beach was nearly empty. There were some people playing in the sand and others setting up for what looked to be a party, but that was it. I believe it is more crowded with locals on the weekend. Parking and bathrooms are available. The bathrooms are very dirty, but it is a public beach so we did not expect much. Picnic tables, playground, baseball field, and basketball courts are also here though we did not use them. People do swim and snorkel here, however, dangerous rocks and caves are located nearby so keep that in mind. Overall, we enjoyed our visit here and recommend this park to others!

    Skyler B.

    Very cool with a lot of unique spots! It could use to be a bit cleaner but overall very cool experience I haven't had before!!

    Andrew H.

    This was one of my favorite beaches on Oahu for a couple reasons: - mermaid caves - great sunny weather (if the island is raining, this is your best shot at sun) - local vibe (all the tourists get stuck at the Disney compound down the road) - mermaid caves The caves are great fun. Just use caution, you could get banged up pretty easily in there if you're not careful. You should also have some moderate climbing ability to get down in and climb back out.

    Alexander B.

    Nice beach with bathrooms and showers. Parking gets busy around noon, so come early. You can also explore nearby caves and tide pools (just make sure to wear athletic shoes)

    Cheyenne G.

    GORGEOUS! Mother Nature does it again! These naturally formed caves are absolutely glorious! You can either jump I or climb the small ladder down. It's so gorgeous. I can't put it into words. You must take a stop and explore these naturally made wonders!

    Laura H.

    While our Iphone Maps didn't really take us the scenic route to the mermaid caves when we clicked on the map through here ! We still found the beach and the caves to be absolutely amazing ! What made the views a little scary while trying to find the caves were the crosses around for people that passed away. Definelty makes you think twice and warn to be careful and smart ! For new people remember only to go down when tides are low !! Don't risk the high tides. Check online before going if you can! The caves were photo shoot worth it and so clear you can see the fishies swimming around ! The waves are a little scary but hanging on to the rocks around are KEY! Now the cave is hidden hence secret mermaid cave but it's to the left of the beach towards the back! Great beach to go to, we went when it wasn't packed so it was serene and a great adventure ! So worth going to just check it out.

    Mermaid Cave!
    Leland S.

    Sooo I'm a bit confused as I guess I got the beaches confused but they seem like they're next to each other. Any who here is my experience at Kalanianaole Beach (Both have the Mermaid Cave): https://www.yelp.com/biz/kalanianaole-beach-park-waianae

    2022-04-03. Nānākuli Beach Park, Oahu. There are many holes that look into the caves, I don't recommend going down the larger ones.
    G I N.

    2022-04-03. The west shore of Oahu is home to many residents and workers of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, but it's also home to Nanakuli Beach Park. The park is home to fine sand beaches to the north and the Mermaid's Caves to the south. We spent the day there today with many of the local residents enjoying BBQ's in the park, wake boarding in the ocean and tanning on the beach. Parking is very limited with about 40 or so spots. There is an unpaved overflow area that will house about another 20 vehicles. And street parking (not sure if it's legal street parking) that will house probably 100 vehicles or so. Is you do venture off to the south to visit the Mermaid's Caves, be sure to wear something a little sturdier than flip flops as the terrain is jagged rock. The Caves are located underneath these rocks and is access at your own risk. As you head south, you will come across many holes that give you a view into the caves. I would not advise that you go down any of the larger holes as you will need to climb back out of them. and many do not have footholds. As you head further south, stick to the ocean side and you'll come across a mini inlet about what get wide. The is the entrance to the grotto. If you're adventurous enough to go in, you can Jump into the water (about a 10 foot drop). CAUTION: Water levels vary based on time of day and time of year. This is the ocean, there is always risk of getting pulled out with the tide! Not to scare you, but please use your better judgement and make good choices. Always go during low tide, and enter the water web green is calmer (after tide washes out). Now, if you're not into Jumping off rocks, you can go around and slip into the water at the mouth of the grotto and swim in. Just keep an eye out behind you for waves coming in. There are spots in the grotto where you can stand until the wave washes out again. When you get to the end of the grotto, there will be a small pebble beach area where you can enjoy the view of the grotto and get some great shots! To get out, there is a hole that you can climb out of, or you can swim back to the mouth of the grotto, and climb out there. If you're not into getting wet at all, or if you have younger ones with you, you can enter the grotto by the hole that is at the southeast of the the holes. Check out my pics, as no review can do this venue justice! Spacial thanks and shout out to Hannah for spending part of her day with us, and showing us all the ins and outs of the grotto! Mahalo! Aloha makou ia oe! If you would like to experience more, come dine-with-me.yelp.com I'd love to have your company... Bon Appétit!

    The beach.
    Britnee J.

    This was one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii. The scenery is just to die for. It's not overly crowded and it's peaceful. Here is where you will find the mermaid caves. Be advised that they may not be easy to find. I took a Lyft form Honolulu to here and the Lyft dropped me off down the street, as the GPS stated that where the caves were. However that was not the case at all. It was a quick fix though, all you have to do is walk down the street to the beach. You'll likely see and a crowd and individuals jumping into a swimming hole and there you are. It is best to wear comfortable shoes whether they be sneakers or water shoes when visiting the caves. There are so many rocks to walk over to get to the cage openings. I actually broke my sandal jumping down into the cave. It was worth it though. The views and the photo opportunities are just fantastic. It's best to go earlier in the day while not many people are there. Overall it was a great experience and I'm glad I got to see the caves up close and personal. Another bucket list check.

    Beautiful beach!

    ***Pre/During COVID-19 Visit*** One of my favorite beaches on the island! Located on the West Side, the parking is plentiful during the weekdays, but it can get super crowded during weekends. A lot of locals hang out here and they are always having get togethers and cookouts. They are very friendly so extend a shaka and say howzit? The beach is not rocky at all. The water is super clear and makes a perfect location for picture taking. Sunset is also gorgeous here. I've noticed more and more people are beginning to notice this beach too. Not sure if that's a good thing, but I'm like many who prefer beaches that aren't swarmed with tons of folks. Mahalo!!!

    Trenton D.

    Such a beautiful beach on the west coast! The sand is amazing and exploring the nearby caves is so much fun. While exploring the Mermaid caves is so much fun, it is a tight fit and usually crowded though. The caves are very low and small so do not come down if you're claustrophobic, but it is an incredible sight to see. Just be careful going near the holes for the caves and be respectful of the graves! Sunset here was unreal.

    Juan O.

    A small but cool little place near a local beach. We were just relaxing and was told about the cave nearby so we checked it out.

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    Da besssss beach around, whole fam loves it. Not a lot of townies or tourists cos west side is the best side.

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    Nanakuli Beach Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nanakuli Beach Park

    How do you get to the under the cave?

    You have to climb down one of the holes down to the left of the beach. It's not to hard just recommend to wear swim shoes instead of sandals. It will be easier to climb down and up and the water won't take them while you're down there.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Nanakuli Beach Park

    Not typically super busy and they have beautiful "mermaid caves" that are the perfect place to get pictures.

    Mentioned in 26 reviews

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    Pokai Bay Beach Park - Sunset.

    Pokai Bay Beach Park

    4.2(70 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Pokai Bay Beach Park is a nice little local park without a lot of tourists and a perfect place to…read morehobnob with locals. The beach is protected by a sea walk, so the water is a bit calmer than other beaches making it perfect for small children. The park has restrooms (although, they need some attention) and a small playground. My granddaughter spent a good hour playing on the playground. A lot of picnic tables are scattered throughout the park. Signs request no feeding of ferrel animals in the park. The highlight of the park for me is the presence of Ku'ilioloa Heiau historical Hawaiian ruins, which are protected within the park. The temple ruins are on a small peninsula at the center of the park. The ruins are maintained by the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. Fishing is a popular pastime in the park. Fishermen perch themselves on the seawall or on the volcanic rocks below the point to fish. The beach area is lovely with the mountains in the background and ocean in front. The park is a perfect place to watch the sunset. There is plenty of free parking at the entrance of the park.

    Nice little beach park with amazing 360-view. If you can't find parking at Ko Olina to enjoy the…read morebeaches at the resorts, this beach is about 8 miles more north, but it is worth the drive. The waters at this beach is a bit calm due to the sea walk. There are bathrooms here, but it isn't the nicest (typical public restrooms). If you walk just a few minutes away from the beach towards higher ground toward the cliffs, you get an amazing view of the surrounding mountains. There are plenty of trees for shade and a grass to set up tents and BBQ. There are some homeless? by the parking lot, so always be careful about locking up your cars. The people who come are a mix of mainly locals and tourist. I went during the day, mid afternoon, and felt very safe. There were plenty of parking. Everyone was just enjoying themselves.

    Photos
    Pokai Bay Beach Park
    Pokai Bay Beach Park - Restrooms and parking

    Restrooms and parking

    Pokai Bay Beach Park - View of Pōkaī Bay Beach from Kū'īlioloa Heiau.

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    View of Pōkaī Bay Beach from Kū'īlioloa Heiau.

    Pu'u'ohulu Kai - City night view

    Pu'u'ohulu Kai

    4.7(153 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    Very cool hike. Unexpected difficult hike I would guess 2 miles round trip with some steep…read moreclimbing. I wouldn't bring kids unless they experienced hikers and no small dogs. But very rewarding hike with a beautiful 360 view at the top. Bring extra water and snacks and can have a nice picnic at the top.

    This west side Pink Pillbox Trail isn't as famous as the east side's Lanikai Pillbox Trail, but…read moreit's only about a 15-minute drive from Aulani and way less crowded -- definitely a nice bonus. Just set your GPS to Puʻu O Hulu (Pink Pillbox) Trailhead, and you'll find plenty of street parking along that stretch. Still, I'd recommend parking closer to the entrance for safety because we noticed broken glass scattered on the ground further down the road, probably from past break-ins. We actually parked once, saw the glass right by our car, and quickly moved closer to the entrance instead. Right after we parked, it started raining. The forecast said it would last about 30 minutes, so we just waited it out in the car before starting our hike. The trailhead is right between a yellow "Falling Rocks" warning sign and a white "Speed Limit 25" sign on a utility pole. The hike starts with a steep incline, but overall it's not too hard and just a bit narrow at parts. There are three pillboxes total. It took us around 30 minutes to reach the first one at a relaxed pace, stopping for photos along the way. The first pillbox is painted in blue graffiti inside, and from there you can continue up to the famous pink one. When we got to the pink pillbox, there were surprisingly tons of flies swarming around the entrance for some reason, so we didn't stay too close. The wind was really strong up there -- strong enough that I had trouble keeping my balance! It looked like reaching the third pillbox would require climbing over quite a few rocks, so we decided to turn back instead. On the drive back, we passed Ulehawa Beach Park, where we saw a whole row of homeless encampments right by the ocean -- literally parked and camped along the beachfront. We even saw a few people running across the road and one guy riding his motorcycle the wrong way, yelling at drivers passing by. If that's a regular thing, really sad to see this.

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    Pu'u'ohulu Kai
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    Mauna Lahilahi

    Mauna Lahilahi

    4.6(23 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    Now this was a fun and short hike! The older I get and the older age of the guests I take on hikes,…read morethe more interested I am in completing hikes that get straight to the point - the view! This hike falls in that category. Make your way to Makaha and park on a neighborhood street. Please be respectful of where and how you park to show respect to the locals living in the area. Please ensure to not leave any trash and if you see any, please pick it up and dispose of it properly. It's just a short 3-minute walk to the base of the little hike. I believe it took us 15-20 minutes to make it to the top. I felt comfortable enough to allow my 5 year old daughter hike on her own with my supervision. There were a couple challenging spots, but as long as you push through, you should be good. The view from the stop is absolutely stunning. Since the hike is on the makai side, you can capture a full 360 view around. P.S. Waianae/Makaha is synonymous with choke homeless people and Hawaiians. Please plan appropriately.

    SUPER short hike, but really breathtaking views! Came with a friend, and we hiked up about half the…read moremountain. She decided not to do the bit of "rock climbing" involved, and stayed behind with my dog. Still a very worthwhile view for just 10 minutes of work (or less). I went on, and while the rock climbing was very short, it is not for everyone. It is not extremely clear how to climb it (for someone without a lot of rock climbing experience aka me), but if you were to fall, the probably of it being fatal seems low. Gorgeous views to your left and right when you get to the top. Skip the "right fork". Just a little beach walk. We were done with both sides in less than an hour.

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    Mauna Lahilahi
    Mauna Lahilahi
    Mauna Lahilahi

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    Mermaid Caves

    Mermaid Caves

    4.1(16 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Very interesting- and scary. You have to climb down into the cave .a d you get into the water and…read moreswim your way out.. dangerous as f.... Don't ever go alone and make sure you have help getting out.. you better be a strong simmer.. this is not a joke and not for beginners.. there were people to help me out of the water . My first time - I did it and don't need to go back... it's not a bright idea and dangerous as can be.. just look with your eyes.. don't do it .

    Mermaid Caves is almost a secret place hidden in the middle of nowhere, right in front of a private…read moreproperty. I did the research before I go and even my friend who live in Hawaii never come to this cave. You have to find the entrance that is not noticeable. Luckily my friends and I met some local and they point it out for us. The hole to get down is very small and when I got there the water had coming up if you get there in the morning it should be better, and we can go deeper to the cave but in the afternoon, it is too dangerous to deal with the wave. Even that inside the cave is very beautiful with reflection of the sun and water to the ceiling of the cave. WARNING! you shouldn't go alone. It must be group of friends to go together for a safety purpose unless you can't clam up and someone can help you. Since I try to visit a site of nature, it is something need to be considered, some place and be dangerous and must have company to go with.

    Photos
    Mermaid Caves - # g r a t e f u l Bruce hensley  (Ohana Family ) Beach clean-up

    # g r a t e f u l Bruce hensley (Ohana Family ) Beach clean-up

    Mermaid Caves
    Mermaid Caves

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    Nanakuli Beach Park - beaches - Updated May 2026

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