Ko Olina Lagoons
The Ko Olina shoreline, a beachrock and limestone terrace that is the seaward edge of an elevated prehistoric coral reef, begins at Kahe Point Beach Park and ends approximately two miles south at the Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor. Four large lagoons with white sand beaches approximately 1,000 feet long are located inland of the terrace between the Ihilani Resort and Spa and the harbor entrance. Small channels that cut through the terrace connect the lagoons to the open ocean. These channels allow water from the ocean to circulate through the lagoons, but at the same time they are narrow enough to prevent high surf from directly striking the beach. The ocean bottoms in the lagoons are sandy and slope gently to overhead depth. Swimming is safe, but the water clarity is normally too murky for snorkeling. The lagoons are identified by number, the First Lagoon being the one next to the Ihilani Resort and Spa and the Fourth Lagoon being the last one next to the harbor. Read more
Makua Beach
Makua Beach is a long wide white sand beach that curves for approximately one mile between two limestone points. The width of the beach is normally about 200 feet but varies seasonally because sand moves to the east end during the winter and to the west end during the summer. High surf, especially during the winter months, erodes the beach and moves sand into the deeper waters off shore. This process reverses during the summer when the sand accretes, rebuilding the beach. Like most of the beaches along the Waianae Coast, Makua Beach is not protected by an off shore coral reef, so the foreshore remains steep throughout the year from its direct exposure to high surf. Read more
Mokuleia Beach
Mokuleia Beach comprises approximately six miles of narrows white sand beach approximately 150 feet wide between Kaiaka Bay and Camp Erdman. Mokuleia Beach Park is a twelve-acre park located midway along the beach. Park facilities include restrooms, showers, camping sites, and parking. Read more
Waimea Beach - North Shore
The shoreline of Waimea Bay is a broad white sand beach approximately 1,500 feet long and 150 feet wide. The width of the beach varies seasonally. Sand moves to the east end during the winter and to the west end during the summer. High surf during the winter months also erodes the foreshore and moves sand into the deeper waves offshore. This process reverses during the summer when the sand accretes, rebuilding the beach. The beach at Waimea is called a bay-mouth bar because its sand normally blocks the mouth of Waimea River. During periods of heavy rains, the river erodes the sand barrier and flows into the ocean, flooding the bay with mirky brown water. Read more
Sunset Beach - North Shore
Sunset Beach is approximately two mile long with a summer average width of over 200 feet, making it the widest white sand beach on Oahu. The portion of the beach fronting the beach [park is approximately one mile long. During the winter months high surf erodes the beach and narrows it considerable. Park facilities include portable restrooms and roadside parking. Read more
Malaekahana Beach
Malaekahana Beach is a crescent-shaped white sand beach a little more than one mile long and varying in width from 100 to 200 feet. It curves between Kalanai Point to the south and Makahoa Point to the north and is backed by low dunes overgrown by ironwood trees. Most of the beach is fronted by a shallow sandbar, where the ocean slopes gently to overhead depths. Small surf generated by the trade winds usually breaks on the sandbar year-round. Read more
Laie - Pounders Beach
Pounders Beach at Laie Beach Park is one of two nearly identical white sand beaches on the shore of Laie Maloo Bay. The second beach is Kokololio. Pounders Beach is approximately 2,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. It is fronted by a shallow sandbar that drops abruptly to overhead depths at the surf line. Its foreshore is moderately steep, the result of high surf erosion throughout the year. Its backshore consists of low dunes, vegetated by large ironwood trees. The north side of the beach is backed by private beach homes, whereas the south side is backed by the beach park. Koloa Stream terminates at the beach near the parking lot. In addition to the parking lot, facilities at Laie Beach Park include only portable restrooms. Read more
Kokololio Beach
Kokololio Beach is one of two nearly identical white sand beaches on the shore of Laie Maloo Bay. The second beach is called Pounders. Kokololio Beach is approximately 2,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. Its foreshore is moderately steep, the result of high surf erosion throughout the year. Its backshore consists of low dunes, vegetated by large ironwood trees. The north side of the beach is backed by private beach homes, whereas the south side is backed by the beach park. Facilities include restrooms, showers, and parking. Read more
Kailua Beach
Kailua Beach Park is located at the south end of Kailua Beach, a crescent-shaped, white sand beach more than two miles long and from 50 to 150 feet wide. The portion of the beach fronting the park Is approximately three-quarters of a mile long. The ocean bottom fronting the beach slopes gently to overhead depths across a series of shallow sandbars. Small, one- to two-foot-high trade wind-generated surf breaks on the sandbars year-round, primarily off the center and north end of the beach. Popoia Island, or Flat Island, as it is most commonly known, is a small, flat limestone island approximately one-quarter mile off the south end of the park. Surf breaks on a shallow reef on the south side of the island. Facilities in the park include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, a boat ramp, and parking. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Read more
Lanikai Beach
Lanikai Beach is a nearly straight white sand beach approximately one mile long with considerable variation in width. It narrows at both ends and widens in the middle. The south end of the beach has suffered severe erosion problems, threatening a number of homes. Home owners in this area have constructed seawalls or taken other remedial actions to protect their properties. Read more