I agree with other reviewers don't go in the water unless you are a local. But it is a nice stop on the drive around the island to see the waves! And this is where our president goes when he is in town! And for you who like to attack the president it will change nothing and also show how small minded you are! Yes including President Bush. You can disagree but attacking a president is awful! Unlike many who are into politics thinking it is the answer for everything, I am not political at all. I can think for myself. I am not a part of any party. I do not believe in attacking any president of the US! Having said all of that, this beach is where our president goes and he rides the waves like a local! And he is from Hawaii! And he seems like a great guy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keX_gLjg6cQ Someone made a comment on YouTube that it must have been fun for the Secret Service. I agree! We knew about Sandy's before we went and just went to see the waves. It is often compared to Big Beach on Maui which we went to first. It is smaller than Big Beach (hence the name) but prettier in my opinion. In fact I loved the beaches on Oahu much more than Maui in general. I had heard all of these horror stories about how locals treat tourists and so on especially at Sandy's but I think it is about respect. We have never had a problem at any beach in any area of Hawaii and I think it is because we treat locals with respect and don't come in with main land attitudes. Go in the spirit of Aloha and enjoy watching the waves! read more

Sandy Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

This breach gets a lot of sun and is hot, so we tend to go here in winter when the other breaches are a bit too cold. A decent amount of parking, restrooms, food trucks if you get hungry, a beautiful place. What's not to love? read more

Sandy Beach Park - Monk seal taking a nap. - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This beach is not for beginners, children, or people who can't swim. Why? Because this beach is known for strong currents and huge waves. Best for surfing and body boarding. It was very rough here and I attempted to go into the water and jump the waves but was only pushed down and got my knees scraped a long all the shells and rocks laying on the bottom of the floor on the shoreline. All I like to do is snorkel in calm waters or chill in the waters and this place definitely was not for me. I was told that the waves here are known to pull people in deeper and they were correct. Just wanted to see for myself. read more

I only go to this beach to bring my friends from out of town, watch tourists, and see newbies get pounded by the waves here. If your a tourist coming to Oahu, don't go to Sandy Beach Park if you don't know how to swim. The currents here are always powerful and the life guards here really take care of you. If they see your having trouble or you are hesitant, they will tell you to get out of the water. I never get in the water here. I recommend Sandy Beach Park for ONLY experienced and professional body boarders/boogie boarders/swimmers/etc. You'll find young boys and girls in the parking lot blasting their music in their old Nissan Hardbody trucks or wanna-be pimped out rides. You'll catch a wif of marijuana now and than and see young people drinking beer in the parking lot. That's primarily why I give it 3 stars. Tourist will come here and see the image these young people potray on the beach. I'm young myself but they try to make the parking lot look like a party all the time. read more

When we arrived today, a life guard told us this is the most dangerous beach in Hawaii and only for experienced surfers . Not wanting to risk it, we left . read more

Gorgeous beach and a great escape from the other crowded, noisy beaches. I came here Sunday afternoon and had no problem finding parking. The view was so beautiful and relaxing read more

Sandy Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

SANDY IN MY UNDERWEAR I came to this beach a boy... I left this beach... a bitch. I turned 13 yrs old when I first experienced Sandy's. I wore tighty whitey's that day. When I got there I was swept off my feet, pounded into the ground, and thrown around like being in a washing machine. Needless to say, it was WILD! At the end of the day my underwear was filled with so much sand my pants were sagging off. Sand found its way in cracks and crevices I never knew existed inside my underwear. More than 15 years later, I come back Sandy's on occasion I never wear da BBD's beneath da boardshorts of course. BUT, Even though I go there COMMANDO, I still leave Sandy's a little bitch! read more

Sandy Beach is the stuff dreams are made of. The first picturesque beach you reach as you drive to the North Shore, it has a wide, grassy lawn, a wide sandy beach, and waves. Big waves. The surf was up this week, so we didn't play in the water. Maybe next time. read more

The best beach in Oahu if you want big waves. I have been to almost all the beaches in Oahu and I think Sandy beach is the best for big waves. However it does have its name for a reason, and you will come out of the water sandy. read more

I didn't particularly enjoy this beach when I went. It was definitely for a younger crowd. People were playing loud music and a few young guys started being obnoxious and rude to my family for no reason. The waves were rough. If you like surfing this is probably a good beach for you but just to swim and relax, not so much. read more

I've been coming to this beach for years, but these past 4 years I've been here A LOT because my boyfriend loves surfing here. Especially with his brothers, friends, and other surfers on the beach. It's always beautiful driving here, especially from Hawaii Kai rather through the Pali because it's such a smooth drive and you can look over the rail and see the beach from high up. There's a reason why it's called Sandy's. The sand is sooo beautiful here. It's feels so good in between your toes and it's nice and warm on a hot day. The water is also beautiful, I advise everyone to bring fins when entering the water. The water gets really rough and is hard to swim when it's high tide. There are alot of people who tent-up here, and drink and stay all day just to enjoy the scenery and watch the surfers. I personally love watching the surfers and having poke, and drinks and just post up on the sand. If you haven't been to Sandy's, I recommend you to come here. It is beautiful! #LuckyWeLiveHI #BlessedWeLiveHI read more

"Excuse me, please note that this is a beach for experienced bodysurfers and bodyboarders only. If you're not familiar with these types of dangerous shorebreak conditions please stay out of the water. There are safer beaches ten minutes down the road" If you've ever been to Sandys on a crowded day you'll no doubt have heard this warning. The lifeguards will tell you all you need to know. . . Good mix of locals; the weather and surf dictate if the majority of the "talent" will be in the water or on the beach. Not much else to say that hasn't been mentioned before except for one thing. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pick up your trash/garbage/empty drink containers/food wrappers/etc. LOCAL PEOPLE THIS INCLUDES YOU TOO! p.s. Yes, random moke guy, you may be able to beat me up but that doesn't excuse you from leaving a mess outside of your lifted Tundra/Titan/F-350 just because the trash can is 8 stalls down. read more

This is a gorgeous beach, yet very trecherous (looking) waves and undertow. I read on the plane over here that it is the most dangerous on the island. So, don't go tethering yourself to a float and jumping in. Sandy Beach was packed with local surfers which tells me that if you know what you're doing, then surf away. Otherwise, stay on the beach or the park. A bonus! We met Pete from Gravity Hawaii in the park teaching paragliding techniques. From a jimmy-rigged skooter, he tethered a student mid-air floating over the park. It was awesome! read more

While this may not be the prettiest tourist beach on the island, I always enjoy a lazy day in the sun at Sandy's. The waves tend to be rough, but there are several tide-pools for the little ones to enjoy. On a calm day, you can even catch a glimpse of some sea life in the shallow rocky areas. Little fishes, crabs, sea urchin, and algae, right before your eyes. Between the tide-pools and surfing area there is a nice stretch of sand perfect for sun bathing and making sand castles. Be on the lookout for Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish during such seasons. There will be signs posted for warnings, as well as high/rough surfing or wind conditions. Parking fills up quickly on the weekends and with a bit of a walk you can find parking at the far end of the lot. Sandy's is a great getaway from some of the more popular beaches. If the waves were a bit calmer I'd be in the water all day! read more

See all

One of the nicest beaches on Oahu. I'm lucky enough to live 5 - 10 minutes away from here in Hawaii Kai. While home for the holidays, I came to the beach on my last day of vacation for a quick "dip" in the ocean. Sandy's is usually filled with locals, many either surfing, boogie boarding or body surfing. While beautiful, this beach can be extremely dangerous and must be taken with caution. Tourists SHOULD NOT attempt to enter the water here if they aren't familiar with Hawaiian currents, or not a skilled swimmer. This beach may be unassuming but many people get seriously injured (incl. become parapalegics) here. Just be smart about it! read more

Wow, it's so crowded, and you can't swim there. It's just for locals. I heard people break their necks there. If anything, park at the second bathroom to picnic on the grass. read more

Very nice beach, but yeah, heed the warning signs! I'm a pretty confident swimmer, but you just can't predict what mother nature is going to do! One of my coworkers told me today that people like to go to this beach just to see tops and bottoms get ripped off by the surf. After being in that water, I can imagine how easy that would be! read more

I grew up surfing on this island, including the Sandy Beach Park area, or "Sandys" as the kama'aina call it. This spot is renowned as having some of the best bodyboarding and bodysurfing in the world. Full point, Half point, Pipe Littles, Generals, Middles, Gas Chambers, to name a few of the most popular "breaks". Sandys also holds the record for most neck and back injuries of any beach in the nation. Sure its wrong for a multitude of ignorant reasons for locals to hate tourists. As a visitor, however, we politely ask you to do your part when visiting one of our beautiful beaches. Do not litter. We see tourists do this on our beaches and well, it makes certain locals hate them. Pay attention to the "Strong Current", "Dangerous Shorebreak" and "HIgh Surf" signs posted. We can tell when you don't belong in the surf. The lifeguards can too. So, when they get on the megaphones and let you know you should stay away from the water, LISTEN. Not respecting our lifeguards makes certain locals hate you. Having your floundering body get in the way when we're trying to ride waves makes certain locals, well, hate you. Mahalo, A hui hou, aloha~! read more

Hot spot for scantily clad women, sunburnt tourists, and crazy locals. It's def a social beach for the young and single folk. Visitors from around the world flock here to experience the pounding surf, but some things are better looked at and NOT touched. Seriously. Instead, take time to admire the scenery. Especially the iron wood and coconut trees that border the lifeguard towers and showers; my dad and I planted them. He worked as a lifeguard here back in the 80s-90s. Pay attention to the warning signs and the lifeguards. Avoid wearing loose clothing if you decide to jump in the ocean. No boxer shorts, basketball shorts, tube tops, etc. The surf will leave you naked. I give this beach 3-stars, because of the sometimes obnoxious locals who linger all day, block the road with their cars, and drink/smoke on the beach. And they wonder why we're stereotyped in movies as bums. Don't turn your back on the ocean, don't leave valuables in the car, and don't leave your trash on the beach. Have fun! read more

A beach in Honolulu with actual waves? Yes. I was amazed. I was bored with the calm pool-like ocean of Waikiki, so we took a little road trip around the island. Our first stop was at this beach. The waves do crash right on shore, but that's what they're supposed to do. If you pay attention while you're walking in/out of the ocean, you won't "pound sand" and everything will be fine. I did overhear the locals talking about how they hate tourists, and it made me think of going to my local beach in San Diego and saying the same thing. read more

Drive by Sandy's on any given day, and you might catch a whiff of the sewage treatment plant nearby. And by "sewage treatment plant" I don't mean your friend next to you who just inhaled a Big Mac, Coke and large fries. But hey, the water is clear, cold and beautiful. The beach is pretty much complete with life guard, bathrooms, showers, a park, lunch truck and plenty of parking. The park is pretty big, great for BBQ, kite flying, kite boarding, or just chillin and playing with your dog. To the left, there's an expanse of tide pools that should keep any kid busy for hours. Also there are more bathrooms and showers. Go farther left and you'll usually see families, pop up tents and fisherman. I often complain about how insane the crowds are on the weekends, but I shouldn't. Sandy's is a great place and has a lot to offer. The only time I ever bother going for body surfing is dawn patrol or late afternoon when the crowds have dwindled. But if you're there with friends just to have a good time, who cares if the waters crowded right? Someone drops in on you, relaaax. You're at the beach in Hawaii, just be grateful. I've heard the surf spots can be sharky. Though I've never spotted one myself, I wouldn't be surprised. Mind the current, you don't have to be very far to get pulled out. Especially early morning during high tide. And the waves are stronger than they look. I've seen several excellent swimmers and athletes carried away on stretchers, even some of the regulars. But lemme tell you, being in the water there on your own, or maybe with a few other early birds, as the sun is coming up over the horizon.. It'll make your week. read more

My favorite beach to watch the waves, at during twilight / dusk hours. The locals are rad.

I love it here. Great local place to cruise, tan & watch the keiki's get down in the waves. Shoots. read more

This is my fifth time visiting Hawaii and never had a problem with a lifeguard. I love swimming and would considered myself a strong swimmer however, I'm not as experienced as the locals but I was with my brother who is a local. Within 5 mins of jumping in the water a lifeguard told me the rip currents are strong and I should get out despite numerous swimmers in the water. I asked what about all those other people in the water and he said they are locals and they know the water better than you. I told him that this is not my first time in Hawaii nor Sand beach and I've encountered rougher waves. Despite that, he began questioning my swimming skills and encourage me to go to a beach 10 miles north where waves are calmer. I understand he was just looking out for me. But I came to this particular beach to body board. If your a tourist and your looking for big waves I recommend staying clear of Sand Beach and head to Waimea Bay beach park. As this beach is mostly locals and at Waimea you get a mixture of locals and tourist. read more

This is a hip beach in Hawaii amongst the young. The current is really strong, so it's NOT a place to go if you want swim time. If you bodysurf/surf or do anything in the water other than float and doggie paddle (like me...) then it's perfect for you! There are days with no surf, but just check the reports. There usually is though! I must admit, it's pretty funny listening to the lifeguards yell at people who obviously can't handle the current to get out though hehe. Although it's not a good place to swim and lounge in the water, the sun hits really nice here. The atmosphere's really chill, and there's a big grass park people fly kites in. Dogs are also allowed here which is a huge plus! Down further past the beach there's also a section with tidepools/rocks you can beachcomb at. Also nice to check out some small waterlife like hermit crabs and little fishes. Come to feel like a local and enjoy the hot babes/dudes. read more

Sandy's...I have long heard the legend that is Sandy Beach. Locals, waves, wind and crazy currents. All of it is true! It was an amazing place to hang out and watch the waves. Not too many surfers in the waters today since the waves were really rough and choppy but WOW! What an amazing spectacle to behold! read more

Sandy's literally has SHORE break. 8 - 15 years ago I could go and swim around no problem if it was small to medium surf, even with the crazy strong tide. But then one day I had the bright idea of trying to catch waves with my boogie board (yes, BOOGIE board). Um, so I caught a wave, and it planted me on dry land. Had the wind knocked out of me! Yeah, SHORE break. Not doing that again. When the sibs were little my family used to hang out by all the tide pools catching little fish and hermit crabs. Fun times. read more

This is such a beautiful beach! Long, wide and blue with amazing green hills behind. The break was nice today, 3-5 feet, but the shore break wasn't as bad as usual. Some good body surfing for sure! Of course at the end of the day a group of Marines got there and (surprise surprise) 10 minutes later the ambulance arrived because one of them cracked their head. That aside it was a typical beautiful beach day. Groups cooking out, awesome little kids skim boarding, whales playing along the horizen and tons of sun! Have fun out there, but if you can't swim, or aren't familiar with the break...don't be dumb! read more

beautiful beach... came here on a tuesday afternoon and wasn't crowded. my camera loved it here... snapped great shots of waves, rocks, surfers, and beachcombers. read more

Sandy Beach Park - HI life - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

165/365 This is a very nice beach far from the hustle and bustle of the city. A lot of people come here to body board as the waves are good to ride. However, the waters may be kind of rough so definitely not for beginners. There is a good amount of parking. It is also a nice place to go out at night and site on the beach and star gaze. Some folks also come here to do some night fishing. The sand is fairly fine and soft and the water is clean as well. Overall, a nice place to relax and enjoy hawaii. read more

The water is so clear and beautiful here...I could literally see people's bodies through the waves. I enjoyed a nice sunny day at the beach here the last time I visited Hawaii. I like this beach a lot because it was less crowded/touristy. I enjoyed soaking in some rays and watching some guys skim board. It was also easy to find parking. They also have (very) cold showers for you to rinse off at after you are done for the day. All in all, a very pleasant place to spend a day. read more

I heard many good things about Sandy Beach. Scenic. Sandy. And it's easy to find since it is on a major highway close to Honolulu. There it is! I know i have found it! There's an ambulance in the parking lot! Sandy has the best shorebreak bodysurfing and bodyboarding in Hawaii. But only for the pros. The locals know the danger. Tourists see the kids in the water and ignore the signs "Dangerous Shorebreak" and "Strong Current". That's why Sandy has the most accidents of all the beaches on Oahu. I stayed out of the water. read more

We had a great time at this beach! It was packed on a hot and sunny February Saturday afternoon. Although there were signs prohibiting alcohol, parking on grass, even swimming in some parts, these appeared to be more like suggestions that were ignored. Even with the huge crowd, there was still parking available at mid-afternoon. Parts of this beach are pretty dangerous, with the rocks, but I guess most Hawaiians are used to this. There is a huge open, sandy beach area with no rocks, which is where most people cathered. We watched maybe a dozen surfers and even more boogie-boarders give the waves a ride. It was a blast. Great people-watching, lots of families as well as groups of twenty-somes hanging out. Fun beach and I'm sure we'd be regulars. The ride back to Honolulu had some kind of heavy traffic, but we stopped at Kona Brewing Co for a pizza and it all died down fine. This appears to be mostly a place for locals, but if you're a tourist, push on up the coast a few miles for the incredible view from the Waimanalo viewpoint. read more

This is my go to beach! I love sand, there's a lot of parking and tons of hot girls in skimpy bathing suits. The shore breaks are killa's!! If you body board or body surf, this is the place for you! Cons - If you're a novice, from a different country or the mainland, you'll wanna stay away from this beach.. Like I said, these waves are killa's! When the waves are big, good luck!!!! I've seen many people get hurt and almost lose their lives! Just remember, when in doubt don't go out!! read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Sandy Beach Park until today. What can i say, one of my fave beach parks when I lived in Aina Haina and Kailua. I used to come here every Sunday, park my car at the other side of the park (by the tidepools) and venture to the beach or just hang out by the tidepools. Always packed with locals, but gorgeous. Miss you Sandys! read more

When in Oahu i love stopping by Sandy beach. This place gets full fast weekday or weekend and its a spot that tourist and locals both love coming to so there is a good mix. There is a short shore break so if you are not paying attention you can get seriously hurt so watch you kids. This is a good place of bogie boarding too. Lots of eye candy on this beach too. read more

Sandy Beach Park - HIC PRO Nov 2014 - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is THE place to go if you want to watch people get destroyed body boarding and body surfing. The shore break is NUTS. Do not go in the water unless you are a strong swimmer and are very experienced with huge powerful shore breaks. If you decide to go in anyway, and get wrecked, the lifeguard will just laugh at you and announce over the loudspeaker "that's why the sign says no swimming." Parking is no problem, and the beach was not crowded. A fun spot for people watching. read more

Awesome beach! Great for surfing, bodyboarding, swimming on super calm days, watching the sunset, looking at stars, or just having a bbq. Gorgeous views of the ocean in front and Koko Head behind you. There are VERY strong currents at this beautiful, so the beginning swimmer should not be going in the water unless it is very calm and there are more experienced swimmers nearby. Strong rip currents and wakers are common in certain spots along the beach. The beach itself covers a pretty long stretch, which offers more room because of frequent overcrowding. There is lots of parking, but that gets filled quite easily with all the people that love to catch a wave at Sandy's. The sand is wonderful, there are bathrooms with outdoor showers o wash off the sand. Lifeguards are present. There are fields nearby for frisbee, football, soccer, or whatever. Easy access into the parking lot, but again, parking can be a big struggle. At certain times, food vendors and food trucks are nearby to offer some yummy ways for sale. Besides that, it will be a short commute to the nearest grocery store. Lots of fun and great pics! You always have so much fun at Sandy's. Just be careful of those waves. read more

Growing up, I very rarely went to this beach especially since I'm from the other end of the island. Recently, we have been coming here every so often when we can't decide on a beach to go to or if we are in the area. This beach is really nice and there are mostly local people and tourist. Its a blend of people which is nice. I usually don't go out into the water and I usually watch my husband go out into the water. Kind of scary to witness some people get pounded into the shore break. Most of the time I hope that some tourist know what they are getting themselves into. Anyways, nice place to hang. read more

Sandy Beach Park - Parks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Love love love Sandy Beach. This is a surfer's beach and there were people in my age group here and not a major tourist area. Be careful of very strong currents, so swim at your own risk! This beach is so pretty. Grab some food and a beach mat, this beach is perfect for surfer watching and to "hang loose". read more