Goat Island (Mokuauia Island) at a Glance
Goat Island is located on Oahu’s northeastern coast and
is also known as Mokuauia Island. Contrary to its name,
there are no goats on Goat Island, only nesting
seabirds. In fact, it's a seabird sanctuary,
situated at the southern end of
Malaekahana Bay.
There are three beaches on Mokuauia
Island; however, the best one for swimming and the easiest
to access is located toward the left. It is already visible
when paddling out there. This beach is protected from the
surf by cliffs and one can just float in the calm water
and enjoy the awesome view of Oahu, the mountains and the
beaches. If you visit Goat Island, keep in mind that this
is a protected seabird sanctuary. Stay away from the center
of the island because the seabirds lay their eggs here. They should not be disturbed.
The island is close enough to the
beach so it’s possible to swim right over, especially during
low tide when the water is only about two to four feet deep.
However, it is not recommended to walk over because there
is a lot of reef and you may cut your feet if you walk.
Besides that, stepping on the reef may damage it, so it
is better to take a bodyboard or surfboard and paddle over.
The current can be quite strong here, especially when
the tide changes, and there are no lifeguards, so if you’re
not used to swimming in the ocean, better stay on land.
In addition to strong currents, there may be dangerous rip
tides and even though the waves may look small, they can
be quite powerful in this area. The waves often times come
from the left and right and in the middle, where you would
swim over, they clash together, making it a bit difficult
to hold your balance if you’re on a board.
Goat Island (Mokuauia Island) in Bullet Points
- Protected seabird sanctuary located at the southern
end of Malaekahana Bay
- Don’t attempt to reach Goat Island if you’re a novice
swimmer or during high tide
- Do not leave anything behind on the island
Facilities
- No facilities, no lifeguards
Driving Directions to Goat Island (Mokuauia Island)
/ Location
Address: Malaekahana State Recreation Area, Laie, HI 96762
Goat Island (Mokuauia Island) Map
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Goat Island (Mokuauia Island) Weather
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Now
72°F
Windchill:
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Location: Laie, HI, US
Wind: 20 mph N
Humidity: 66%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 30.05 in steady
Sunrise: 6:37 am
Sunset: 6:41 pm
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Thu
Hi: 74°F
Low: 68°F
Showers
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Fri
Hi: 74°F
Low: 68°F
Scattered Showers
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Goat Island (Mokuauia Island) Photos (click to enlarge)
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Goat Island (Mokuauia Island) Reviews and Comments
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