Kawaiku'i Beach Park

Kawaiku'i Beach Park is a spacious local park along Kalanianaole Highway, with shade trees, picnic tables, reef views and ocean access near Hawaii Kai.

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Kawaiku'i Beach Park, Oahu

Kawaiku'i Beach Park is easy to miss. It is located just off Kalanianaole Highway, just before Hawaii Kai when coming from Honolulu. For being a neighborhood park, this beach park is quite spacious. There is plenty of shade and a large grassy area with picnic tables.

The beach is narrow and there is not a lot of sand. It also smells a bit fishy and the nearshore waters are too shallow for a swim. The water looks brown here instead of blue. But the views are good and it’s a comfortable place for a picnic. Surfers enter the ocean here to reach the surf spots Manantan's, Tunas and Turtles, which are located at the outer edge of the reef.

Key Features

Spacious east Honolulu park along Kalanianaole Highway
Shade trees, picnic tables and open park space near the water
Reef-flat coast with shallow, rocky and often murky nearshore water
Access point for surfers paddling toward outer reef breaks such as Tunas and Turtles
Good for picnics, fishing, shade and local park time
No lifeguards at the park
Restrooms, showers, picnic tables and parking are available
Located close to Aina Haina, Wailupe and the west side of Maunalua Bay
Better for a land-based park stop than a sandy swimming beach

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kawaiku'i mean?

Kawaiku'i is often understood as “the united water” or “the joined water.” The name fits the east Honolulu coast, where freshwater, reef flats and Maunalua Bay all shape the older coastal landscape.

Why do surfers use Kawaiku'i Beach Park?

The park is one of the access points for paddling toward outer reef breaks such as Tunas and Turtles. Those breaks are offshore, so the beach itself can look quiet while surfers are farther out on the reef.

How is Kawaiku'i different from nearby Wailupe Beach Park?

Kawaiku'i has a larger shaded park feel with picnic space and reef access, while Wailupe is smaller and closer to the stream and residential edge of the coast. Both are more local park stops than classic sandy swimming beaches.

Why does the water look shallow or cloudy here?

The nearshore area has reef flats, rocks and sand pockets, and wind can stir up the water along this part of Maunalua Bay. That is part of why the park is better known for picnics, fishing and reef access than easy swimming.

Is Kawaiku'i Beach Park connected with Hawaii Five-0 filming?

Fans sometimes look for nearby east Honolulu filming spots tied to Hawaii Five-0. Kawaiku'i itself is mainly a neighborhood beach park, but the coast around Aina Haina, Wailupe and Hawaii Kai has appeared in many Oahu location searches.