Ala Moana Beach Park

Ala Moana Beach Park is a spacious Honolulu beach park with calm reef-protected water, lifeguards, picnic lawns, Magic Island views and easy Waikiki access.

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Ala Moana Beach Park, Oahu

Ala Moana Beach Park, located between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, is a favorite beach among local residents. Often times less crowded than Waikiki Beach, Ala Moana is a great place to swim, picnic, stroll on the beach or to relax. The beach is over half a mile long and the water is calm because it's protected by a shallow outer coral reef.

There are hardly ever any waves, which makes Ala Moana Beach a favorite spot for long-distance swimmers, stand-up paddleboarders, novice swimmers and families with children. Recently installed buoys in the water mark the area for stand-up paddleboarders (it's the area closest to the offshore reef). The area closer to the beach is for swimmers.

Back in the 1920s, Ala Moana Beach Park didn't exist. It was a wetland that the city used as a garbage dump. A boat channel, which was to connect the Ala Wai Boat Harbor with Kewalo Basin was dredged through the coral reef.

The beach itself is also man-made. It was created by the owner of the Dillingham Dredging Company, who was looking for a place to deposit his dredged earth. In the 1950s, the company dumped sand at the park, which created the beach. The dredged channel is 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 m) deep. Today, boats no longer pass through it.

The nearshore ocean bottom at Ala Moana Beach drops quickly, so novice swimmers should be cautious. To avoid stepping on the sharp corals, most people prefer the east end of the beach (the one that's closer to Diamond Head) where the ocean bottom is sandy and has no reef or rocks. The middle section and west end of the beach has rocks on the nearshore ocean bottom, which makes entering the ocean more tricky.

The 100-acre park has large grassy areas, banyan and palm trees, restrooms, showers, concession stands, a music pavilion, tennis courts and plenty of picnic tables. Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island are a good place to go jogging, picnicking, playing games, sunbathing, fishing, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding and relaxing. Some of the south shore's best surf spots are located just offshore, such as Big Rights, Big Lefts, Concessions, Bomboras and Courts. Lifeguards are stationed on the beach daily.

Key Features

Large Honolulu beach park between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu
Located at 1201 Ala Moana Boulevard across from Ala Moana Center
Reef-protected water creates a long swimming area near shore
Honolulu Ocean Safety has lifeguard towers at Ala Moana Regional Park
Magic Island has a protected lagoon, grassy areas, city views and walking paths
Picnic areas, restrooms, showers and parking make the park easy for longer visits
Popular for swimming, walking, jogging, paddling, picnics and sunset
Weekends, holidays and late afternoons are usually busiest
Park closure hours are 10:00 pm to 4:00 am
Ala Moana Beach Park is ideal for calm-water swimming, picnics, exercise, family time and Honolulu sunset views

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do locals call Ala Moana Beach Park the People's Park?

The park is one of Honolulu's main gathering places, with picnic areas, grassy areas, walking paths, ocean access and room for families, paddlers, swimmers and sunset watchers.

How does Ala Moana compare with Waikiki Beach?

Ala Moana has more open park space and a long reef-protected swimming channel, while Waikiki has more hotels, shops, surf lessons and visitor crowds right along the beach.

What is Magic Island?

Magic Island is the peninsula at the Diamond Head end of the park, with a protected lagoon, grassy areas, walking paths, city views and sunset angles toward Waikiki and the south shore.

Why is Ala Moana popular for exercise?

Walking paths, a long beach and a central Honolulu location make Ala Moana a favorite for exercise, lap swimming, paddling practice and after-work walks.

Can you see the Friday fireworks from Ala Moana Beach Park?

Yes. Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island are popular places to watch the Friday night fireworks over Waikiki. Fireworks are usually at 7:45 pm in winter and 8:00 pm in summer, but check the current schedule before you go because times can change.