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, 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.
I have great memories from Waimanalo Beach. I wish I was back there.
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List of Oahu Beaches
Safety Tip
Whatever beach in Hawaii you visit, please have in mind that the ocean can
be very dangerous. Never turn your back against the waves and watch out for underwater
currents and always check the surf conditions. Pay attention to signs posted on
the beach. If you are not sure about the conditions, ask the lifeguards (if any
on the beach). Please click here to
read more about ocean safety in Hawaii.
To-Hawaii.com is a complete
Hawaii travel and
vacation guide, including sightseeing tips
and reviews of Hawaii beaches, attractions, hotels and resorts,
shopping, activities, restaurants, weddings, car rentals and more,
on all Hawaiian Islands - Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Molokai and
Lanai.
