Waimanalo Beach Park Photos
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Waimanalo Beach Park, Oahu
What do you call five miles of sloping white sand, hundreds of towering palms and a boundless turquoise sea? For visitors, this is paradise. But for the locals of windward Oahu it’s Waimanalo Beach Park (see more photos), located along the equally scenic Kalanianaole Highway. Only 20 minutes from famous Waikiki Beach, Waimanalo is the kind of place that makes you blink to make sure you’re not dreaming.
The real attraction here is the underwater view, a maze of almost-surreal corals and a wide array of marine creatures. Snorkelers have found a technique to coax the fish out of their hiding places: just hang around one spot without moving and after a minute, they’ll come up to check you out. Some of them are very friendly and will swim even beside you for a while.
The calm waters make Waimanalo Beach an excellent swimming spot. Even kids can swim here on their own, as the reef provides a natural shield from the surf. Beyond the reef are great surfing and bodyboarding spots, one of the few places on the island where the two are performed side by side. There are lifeguards on duty all season, so it’s also safe for beginning surfers. Did you know that Waimanalo Beach was the filming location for Magnum P.I. and Baywatch Hawaii? And even famous author James Michener wrote his novel Hawaii in Waimanalo.
Waimanalo Beach is a silent refuge on most weekdays; if you’re lucky, you can have most of the beach to yourself. But on weekends, the grills and picnic tables get a serious workout. Locals gather for all-night barbecues and visitors come to sunbathe, snorkel and have fun.
Waimanalo Beach Park Overview
- Fantastic white-sand beach
- Azure-blue, clear water
- Good beach for playing in the water
Location: 1-741 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo, HI 96795
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