Kaiona Beach Park

Kaiona Beach Park is a small Waimanalo beach park with calm sandy pockets, Pahonu Pond history, picnic space, reef views and Koolau mountain scenery.

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Kaiona Beach Park, Oahu

Kaiona Beach Park is a small 4-acre park at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains at the south end of Waimanalo Bay on Oahu's windward (east) coast. It's a great beach for kids and novice swimmers because the water is usually calm. The best area for swimming is the area in front of the seawall, to the right (south) of the grassy area. This is where an ancient Hawaiian fishpond called Pahonu Pond is located. During low tide its walls are visible.

Pahonu means "turtle fence" in the Hawaiian language. Legend has it that a former chief of the district liked turtle meat so much that he had the pond built in a way so that it maintained a constant supply of live turtles. The ocean bottom in the fishpond is sandy and is a good place for swimming. Outside of the pond it is a mixture of rocks and sandy patches.

On a sunny day, the water at Kaiona has a bright turquoise color and can feel almost like swimming in a pool. That fits the name Kaiona, which means "attractive sea" in the Hawaiian language. The beach has also been used for many years as a community boat anchorage. In 1999, the community built a boat ramp at the south end of the park for small boats.

Two popular landmarks on the beach are the Pahonu and the Shriners Club estates. The latter is a private clubhouse that opened in 1931. It is used for events like weddings, birthday parties and other gatherings.

Key Features

Small Waimanalo beach park near the south end of Waimanalo Bay
Calm sandy pockets on many days, with reef and rocks nearby
Good for family picnics, calm-water swimming, short snorkeling stops and quiet windward views
Pahonu Pond is close to the beach park and adds ancient Hawaiian site context
No lifeguards, so check the water carefully before swimming
Jellyfish, Portuguese man-of-war and brown-water conditions can affect the beach
Koolau Mountain scenery behind the coast
Quieter than the larger Waimanalo Beach Park nearby
Parking, restrooms, showers and picnic areas are part of the park setting
Best visited when the water is clear and the wind is light

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pahonu Pond near Kaiona Beach Park?

Pahonu Pond is an ancient stone enclosure near the beach park. It is often described as a turtle pond associated with ali'i, and its low walls help explain why this part of the coast has such a distinctive shallow-water look.

Why is Kaiona Beach Park popular with families?

The beach has sandy pockets, calmer water on many days and park space close to the sand. Families often like it because the setting is quieter than the bigger windward beaches, while still having a protected-feeling place near the water.

What does the name Kaiona refer to?

Kaiona is also the name of a Hawaiian figure associated with guiding those who were lost in the mountains. The beach name gives this Waimanalo park a connection to a wider Oahu place-name and storytelling tradition.

How is Kaiona Beach Park different from Waimanalo Beach Park?

Waimanalo Beach Park has a much longer stretch of open sand, while Kaiona Beach Park is smaller and more tucked away near Pahonu Pond. Kaiona is better for a shorter, quieter visit than a long beach walk.

Was this area connected with Magnum P.I.?

Yes. The Pahonu area near Kaiona Beach Park is often associated with the oceanfront estate used in the original Magnum P.I. series. The original house is gone, but the pond and coastal setting remain part of the area's local pop-culture story.