A City beach park on the long Waimānalo shoreline, shaded by a thick ironwood grove locals call Sherwood Forest. The water is turquoise and the Koʻolau cliffs rise straight behind it.
Why we love it
It has Lanikai’s water color with room to spread out, real parking and a lifeguard, and it rarely feels crowded on a weekday.
What to expect
Pull into the shaded lot under the ironwoods, walk a few steps to wide, soft sand with the Koʻolau cliffs behind you. On calm days the shorebreak is gentle enough for swimming and bodyboarding, but trade winds can push in choppy surf and currents, so swim near the tower. There are no concessions, so bring food. Weekends bring local families and campers. The neighboring Waimānalo Beach Park, closer to town, reopened its rebuilt Pahinui Pavilion in August 2026.
Know before you go
- Lifeguards
- Waimānalo Bay and Waimānalo Beach are both state-listed towers, staffed daily 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
- Camping
- A City campground with 10 sites on 5-day permits; reservations open at 5 p.m. HST two Fridays before your dates at camping.honolulu.gov.
- Bellows nearby
- Bellows Field Beach, just north, is guarded on weekends only.
- Nearby park work
- Comfort-station and recreation-building renovations at neighboring Waimānalo Beach Park are expected to start in early 2027.
Photo: Maignacio via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
