Kaka'ako Waterfront Park

Kaka'ako Waterfront Park is a Honolulu oceanfront park with grassy hills, paved paths, sunset views, rocky water access and the Point Panic bodysurfing area.

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Kaka'ako Waterfront Park (Point Panic Beach Park), Oahu

The history of Kaka'ako Park is unusual. While walking over the green, hilly meadows in the park one wouldn't think that this is a former landfill site. In 1948, the City and County of Honolulu constructed a large landfill right here on the shoreline's shallow reef to get rid of material that they couldn't burn.

They built a large seawall that measured 10 feet (3 m) high and 30 feet (9 m) wide at its base that reached all the way from Kewalo Basin at its west end to Pier 1 in Honolulu Harbor at its east end. The landfill was in operation until the 1960s, which added 29 new acres of land to the Kaka'ako shoreline. In 1992, years after the landfill was closed, the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park opened on this former landfill site.

The park's shoreline doesn't have a sandy beach. There is a seawall along the water's edge and large boulders. A convenient access point to the ocean is located at the east end of the park, which is used by surfers to enter the water.

The park's shaded and spacious grassy areas are a good place for family gatherings and picnics. Most people who visit the park come here to do just that – to picnic, relax or do some shoreline fishing.

Kaka'ako Waterfront Park is sometimes also referred to as Point Panic Beach Park because of the popular bodysurfing site that's located offshore at the east end of the park, which is called Point Panic. This surf site is strictly for bodysurfers only. No surfboards or bodyboards are allowed. Two other surf sites at the park's west end where board surfing is allowed are called Flies and Incinerators. Kaka'ako is also a popular diving location.

Especially on weekends one can see divers in the nearshore waters exploring the coral reef.

Two memorials are located within the park, the Ehime Maru Memorial and the Victim Memorial. The Ehime Maru was a Japanese fisheries training vessel that was accidentally rammed by the U.S. Navy Submarine Greenville on February 9, 2001. The Ehime Maru sank and nine crewmembers and students of the Ehime Maru died. The accident occurred about 9 miles (14.5 km) south of Oahu. The Victim Memorial was sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).

It is dedicated to victims and survivors of drunken driving accidents.

Key Features

Honolulu oceanfront park between Kewalo Basin and Honolulu Harbor
No sandy swimming beach; rocky ocean edge with marked stair access
Point Panic bodysurfing area at the east end of the park
Point Panic bodysurfing area, with Flies and Incinerators reef breaks nearby
Grassy hills, paved paths, picnic areas and sunset viewpoints
Good for walking, picnics, fishing, bodysurfing, sunset views and ocean watching
Ehime Maru Memorial is located inside the park
Parking can fill up during events, weekends and sunset hours
Close to Kaka'ako, Ala Moana and downtown Honolulu
Not a casual swimming beach; check posted signs before going near the water

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Point Panic famous?

Point Panic is the bodysurfing area at the east end of Kaka'ako Waterfront Park. It has a strong local bodysurfing culture, and boards are not allowed in the designated bodysurfing zone.

Was Kaka'ako Waterfront Park built on a landfill?

Yes. The park was created on former landfill land and opened in the early 1990s. The grassy hills and paved paths are part of what makes the waterfront park feel different from Honolulu's sandy beach parks.

What is the Ehime Maru Memorial?

The Ehime Maru Memorial honors the nine people who died after the Japanese fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru was struck by a U.S. Navy submarine off Oahu in 2001. It is one of the quieter, more reflective places in the park.

How is Kaka'ako Waterfront Park different from Ala Moana Beach Park?

Ala Moana Beach Park has a long sandy beach and protected swimming water. Kaka'ako Waterfront Park has rocky ocean edges, grassy hills, paved paths, sunset viewpoints and surf spots instead of a traditional swimming beach.

What are Flies and Incinerators?

Flies and Incinerators are surf spots near the west end of the park. They are part of the local ocean scene around Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, while Point Panic is the better-known bodysurfing name.