One Ali'i Beach Park

One Alii Beach Park

One Ali'i Beach Park on Molokai’s south shore is a spacious coastal park split into two adjoining sections. While the beach is narrow with a shallow, rocky bottom that limits swimming, the park is ideal for family picnics, ball games, and gatherings. Visitors will find restrooms, pavilions, and grassy areas, along with historical stone monuments marking Japanese immigration anniversaries. It’s a peaceful, community-oriented beach park with scenic views and a cultural connection to Molokai's past.

One Ali'i Beach Park, Molokai

Located on Molokai's south shore, One Ali'i Beach Park (view panorama) × has two spacious sections (I and II), which are located next to each other on Kamehameha Highway (coming from Kaunakakai, Section II is first).

The beach in both areas is narrow and the nearshore ocean bottom is shallow and rocky and the water murky, so the swimming conditions are poor. The beach park is mainly visited by fishermen and picnickers. There is enough space for family gatherings and the large lawns are perfect for ball games.

In the Hawaiian language, oneali'i means "royal sands." The beach park is named after an ancient Hawaiin fishpond. Ali'i Fishpond is located at the west end of Section II, but it is not accessible from the beach park because of thick vegetation.

Two stone monuments in the park mark the 75th and 100th anniversaries of Japanese immigration to Hawaii.


Key Features of One Ali'i Beach Park

  • Spacious park with two sections: One Ali'i I and II offer ample green space and shoreline access along Kamehameha Highway.
  • Limited swimming opportunities: Shallow, rocky ocean bottom and murky water make swimming difficult but safe for wading.
  • Popular for gatherings: Large lawns, pavilions, and picnic tables make it ideal for local events, parties, and sports.
  • Historical monuments: Stone markers commemorate 75 and 100 years of Japanese immigration to Hawaii.
  • Cultural name origin: "One Ali'i" means "royal sands" and is named after an ancient fishpond near the park.


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Reviews and Comments:
 
I was there in 1980. Good place to spend the night in your car with doors locked. To the local that looked for me when I wasn't sleeping there Did you ever figure it out? So easy to disappear on dirt roads.
Eliza, Wed Feb 14, 2024
 
Never again. I slept one night on Papohaku campsite and one night on One Alii campsite and the latter was so much worse. So many local people in old trucks driving around and stopping there for no clear reason after dark. I was afraid if my belongings are safe when I was in the bathroom. One guy just stopped right next to my tent and was watching a movie in the car alone. I felt weird as the only foreigner with a tent. I believe the proximity of One Alii to the town makes it so willingly visited by locals. Also no AT&T service at One Alii at all. The Papohaku was completely different and I was having full AT&T service.
Mariusz Koclega, Sat May 18, 2019
 
Since we arrived on Molokai early in the morning we decided to drive around a bit before checking in at our condo. So we stopped at this beach park to have a picnic. There was one family with many kids at the other end of the park, but other than them there was no one else there. So we enjoyed privacy and nice views from our picnic table. We then went back to our car. After we got into our car and closed the door, someone suddenly knocked on our front window. We got scared because we didn't see him approaching our car. He asked us if he could use our cell phone. Still startled we told him we don't have one. That was a bit strange because there was a pay phone nearby.
Nicky, April 28, 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

🏖️ Is One Ali'i Beach Park good for swimming?

Swimming is not recommended due to the shallow, rocky ocean bottom and murky water. It's better suited for picnicking and beach games.

📍 What is the difference between One Ali'i I and II?

They are two adjacent sections of the same beach park. Section II comes first when driving from Kaunakakai and both offer similar amenities.

🪧 What are the stone monuments in the park?

The monuments commemorate the 75th and 100th anniversaries of Japanese immigration to Hawaii, highlighting the island's cultural heritage.

🏕️ Can I camp at One Ali'i Beach Park?

Yes, the park includes a county campsite. A permit is required for camping overnight.

🍽️ What facilities are available?

The park has restrooms, pavilions, picnic tables, and a large grassy area for recreation and gatherings.