Here is my account of my kayaking trip to the sandbar. See accompanying pictures and videos. So,…read moreJohn at Go Bananas kayak rental strapped a long kayak with a skeg to my car. I drove off his parking lot, and arrived at the He'eia Kea Boat Harbor. On this windy and rainy day I launched off the Kaneohe Canoe Club towards where I thought the sandbar would be found. For my entire trip inching forward in that direction I was alone in the foreboding ocean, or rather they bay. But from my low vantage points, it looked as if I were in the middle of the deep ocean with breaking waves under me and dark clouds above me. John told me to aim for Kapapa Island, and he was right. Because as far as I could tell from my kayak it was just dark water all around me, except for that tiny speck of an island. All other boats I saw and thought to be tourist boats anchored at the sandbar all turned out to be decoys - they were docked so closed to shore in retrospect. Many a times I thought I'd reached the sandbar only to find empty boats in dark and deep water. Many more times I thought of turning back - it could be frightening being out there alone, even if I was prepared with all available safety devices. But I kept going. Then I sensed a change in water color. Shortly the sun poked its head out of the cloud. And magic happened. The sea all around me turned turquoise as soon as sunrays touched them, revealing that I was mere inches above sand now. I soon found a lone stand-up paddler lying supine on his board, drinking beer. I also ran into a birthday party dinning around a table half-submerged in water. Then Captain Bruce's boat showed up, dumping lots of merrymakers onto the sandbar. Now that I know the place, I would have no issues coming back again and finding it, next time. In some of the videos you will find dark clouds raining on entire towns, while I filmed the shore from the sandbar. That gives you a sense of how far the sandbar is from shore.

If you haven't made a visit yet to Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, do it asap because this is a once in a…read morelifetime experience. I had the hesitation to book it due to the fact my son is on the spectrum and wasn't sure how he was going to react during the experience. Took the chance and made a reservation through Hawaii Ocean Sports. They took us on a boat to access the beautiful Sandbar. It's nestled in the middle of the ocean 3 miles stretch of sand. Unfortunately, we ended up doing the afternoon tour where high tides took place water level up to our necks. During our ride there, we were served lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich, fruits, and a cookie. Very filling as we were on to our destination while we listened to live music entertaining us along the way. Snacks, towels, drinks, and a bar are available for additional cost. As we approached the Sandbar, we were required to do a brief safety class before heading into the beautiful water. My kids and I were surprised how magnificent the Sandbar was. Definitely a true paradise where our dreams came true. I didn't think I would ever experience this kind of beauty. My son and I were terrified at first as we entered the water, but our life jackets saved us as we were floating. Lots of activities offered which are part of the package including SUP, kayaking, volleyball, snorkeling, or relaxing at the dock while sipping on drinks. We mainly enjoyed ourselves floating in the ocean. The current did get a little rough as it started to pour rain right before heading back to the marina. One advice is to head out early onto the boat before everyone does because the changing and bathrooms can get wet with dirty grounds. Music was blasting with great hits as we ended the day. Made my son and I stand up desiring to dance. Truly this is an unforgettable magical experience. You bet I will make a reservation again when we return to Oahu next year!

Pro-tip: My family woke up at 4 am one day of our vacation to do a driving tour of O'ahu. Lanikai…read moreBeach was our first stop. No parking issues, and we had this stunning beach completely to ourselves for about 15-20 minutes as we waited for sunrise. When we left around 6:30 am, we also saw our first rainbow of the day! The early bird gets the worm. :)

It's always busy here any time of the day, doesn't matter if it's weekends or weekdays. Parking is…read moredifficult to find in this area. Do yourself a favor and park at Kailua Beach and walk over (please note that there are multiple access points). You have to maneuver around the hordes of visitors, but you won't regret it! The sand is powdery soft and the views of "The Mokes" are stunning!

tiny and secluded; minimal privacy if there are other beach goers are visiting at the same timeread more

A secret beach for local people in a privet area. Nice to go to some place that is not commercial…read moreand less people but the day we went had more people over there. The beach is very shallow and clean; you can go far and still not deep. We got there in the afternoon so it will be more beautiful in the morning but even that we had a great time swimming and enjoy the beauty of the nature.

Date of visit: July 23, 2023…read more Parking: A small lot with free parking Offerings: View of the ocean Small playground Restrooms Picnic tables Wild chickens Experience: After getting food from Foodland, one of our friends decided to have us go here to sit down and eat. I did not know what to expect, so it was nice rolling up to a small park by the beach and being also perplexed by why there were so many chickens roaming around. Definitely had my Disney princess share of having chickens surround us while we sat down during such a beautiful, but windy day by the shoreline. Once we were done eating, some of us explored by the water and took pictures by a tree that was hanging over the edge of the water. It was a good teaser for us for the rest of the trip when it came to how the beaches would be and got me excited to see what other adventures were in store for us from this moment on since it was our first day there.

Great local park with a small playground, access to the ocean, bathrooms and parking. The view of…read morethe ocean is absolutely beautiful and it was not crowded when I went on a Sunday afternoon. Minus stars because there are a lot of chickens and birds that will hover around you when you have food. Also, the grass was very rocky and uncomfortable to lay down on even with a beach towel. I would bring a yoga or workout mat to lay down on the next time! I love that it's only a short drive from places like Foodland, Gotz grinds and other local spots with great food!

More than a million dollar view: actually priceless! Sand, sea and sky with the waves breaking on…read morethe shore. Mild breeze, a sheltered spot from the sun. You must come to enjoy this yourself...a slice of heaven on earth. With intermittent squeals of glee from kiddies in the water.

If you have never been to this beach, it is not only one of the best beaches in Hawaii, but all of…read morethe country. The sand is like powdered sugar in your toes. Yes, it's under the other side of Oahu but worth it.

This is the second time I've been here! First time I went on a solo kayak tour, this time I did the…read moreguided kayak tour! Really fun times. Staff is always friendly. I had Morgan as my tour guide and he was very accommodating, knowledgeable, and super friendly! It's a very easy tour, Kailua Beach Adventures makes things as easy as possible. It does require some upper body strength, but anyone at any level can do it! BEAUTIFUL views! 10/10 would recommend.

We had an amazing time on the Kailua Beach Adventure kayak tour, and a huge part of that was thanks…read moreto Morgan! The entire experience was so much fun from start to finish--beautiful scenery, great pacing, and just the right mix of adventure and relaxation. Morgan was incredibly informative throughout the tour, sharing interesting facts about the area, local wildlife, and history in a way that kept everyone engaged. One of the highlights was kayaking out to Popoiʻa Island (Flat Island), which was absolutely beautiful. Morgan did an excellent job helping us navigate the waters both going out and coming back, making sure everyone felt comfortable and confident the entire time. Honestly, Morgan was the best guide we could have asked for--friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and just all-around awesome. We felt safe, well taken care of, and had such a great time. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you get Morgan as your guide!

One of the most beautiful beaches in the 50 US states. Parking is a challenge. Family friendly.read more

Toasted Buns... Not…read moreone of the glorious spot to grab a parking spot to veg out in the sun is this spot on Kalama Beach Park but with some patience it's absolutely worth the wait. Kailua beaches are just so beautiful and this one doesn't quite show it's glory until you walk the short path...tadaaaaahhhh! Yes there is a path which most are paved until you get to the bathroom/shower area then it's all sand and which I think is a great spot to just walk and take in the view. Wide open beach with views as long as your eyes can see it's all beautiful and something that you just need to experience for yourself, I wasn't dressed properly as this was just a random visit though since I was in the area I just though to give it a try and am so glad I did, very quite and peaceful place to relax and enjoy what we here in Hawai'i are so blessed to have. Thank you!

I love this little beach. It's so nice because not many people know about it. I almost don't want…read moreto review it so I can help keep it a secret lol. Hale Koa (AKA Secret Beach) is behind the beach cabanas. The beach itself is maybe a couple hundred yards long. It's a great place to snorkel if you don't have much experience. The water is shallow and calm. Also a nice place to lay out and tan or listen to the ocean while reading a book. My only complaint is the amount of trash I've seen accumulating. Please pick up after yourself if you visit.

Yes, yes, it is clean with many garbage bins so folks have zero excuse for littering…read more Downside is that the shoreline is receding so there's not that much space to lounge. Plus there's tons and tons of coral and rocks which make it hard to go barefoot. This beach is a few short steps away from the parking lot and very convenient if you're carrying lots of beach things from your car. All in all, it is quite peaceful and safe... "I will bring health and healing; I will heal My people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." Jeremiah 33: 6

A cute little beach not crowded seems more for the residences but it's sad to see that people do…read moreleave there trash behind there is joined to clean up so clean up after yourself and if possible pick a little extra up as well..

Lovely day with 3 of my 4 boys and 2 of their ladies. Great spot for families or singles.read more

Low key area with outdoor seating and beautiful scenery and shade. This was our first time here and…read morewon't be the last.

This is a beautiful spot. Quiet, calm. Couldn't ask for a better place to rest or paint!read more