Ala Moana Beach Park Photos
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Ala Moana Beach Park, Oahu
Ala Moana Beach Park (see more photos), located between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, is a favorite beach among local Oahu, Hawaii, residents. Often times less crowded than Waikiki Beach, Ala Moana is a great place to swim, picnic, stroll on the beach or to relax. The beach is over half a mile long and the water is calm because it's protected by a shallow outer coral reef. There are hardly ever any waves, which makes Ala Moana Beach a favorite spot for long-distance swimmers, novice swimmers and families with children.
Back in the 1920s, Ala Moana Beach didn't exist. It was a wetland that the city used as a garbage dump. A boat channel, which was to connect the Ala Wai Boat Harbor with Kewalo Basin was dredged through the coral reef.
Ala Moana Beach is also man-made. It was created by the owner of the Dillingham Dredging Company, who was looking for a place to deposit his dredged earth. In the 1950s, the company dumped sand at the park, which created the beach. The dredged channel is 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 m) deep and today, it's ideal for swimming. Boats no longer pass through it.
The ocean's bottom at Ala Moana Beach drops quickly, so novice swimmers should use caution. If you don't like coral reef, the east end of the beach (toward Diamond Head) has no reef or stones in the water. You can enter the water here without any worries that you might hurt your feet. The west end has some reef.
The 100-acre park features big grassy areas, banyan and palm trees, restrooms, showers, concession stands, a music pavilion, tennis courts and plenty of picnic tables. Ala Moana Beach Park is a good place to go jogging, picnicking, playing games, sunbathing, fishing, swimming, surfing and relaxing. Some of the south shore's best surf spots are located just offshore, such as Big Rights, Big Lefts, Concessions, Bomboras and Courts. Lifeguards are stationed on the beach daily.
Ala Moana Beach Park Overview
- Long and wide sandy beach
- Ideal for long-distance swimming
- Great surf spots offshore at the edge of the reef
- Plenty of picnic areas
- Great for outdoor activities, such as walking, jogging, playing tennis and other games
Location: 1201 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Directions: From Waikiki, drive onto the Ala Wai Boulevard and head west. Turn left at Niu Street. Go 0.1 mile and bear left at Kalakaua Avenue. Go 170 feet and turn right on Ala Moana Boulevard. When you see the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor on your left and you pass the bridge, you're almost there. Turn left onto Ala Moana Park Drive and park at the parking lot there.
