Waimanalo Beach

Where is Waimanalo Beach?
Waimanalo Beach is located on the windward side of Oahu Between Makapuu Point and Bellows Air Force Base, across the street from the Waimanalo Polo Fields.

How Big Is Waimanalo Beach?
Waimanalo Beach is approximately 3 miles long, making it one of the longest stretches of white sand beach on the island of Oahu. Waimanalo Beach is part of the Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area, and in the center of the beach there is a 75 acre park known as Waimanalo Beach Park. The north end of Waimanalo Beach is outside the beach park and within the Bellows Airfield property. That portion of the beach is closed to the public Monday through Friday but it is open to the public on weekends and many holidays.

What Kind of Facilities Does the Beach Park Have?
Facilities at the park include picnic tables, campsites, restrooms, showers, and parking lots. You will need a camping permit to spend the night at Waimanalo beachPark.

The Ironwood Forest at Waimanalo Beach
One of the things that makes Waimanalo Beach so pleasant is the ironwood forest that lines the entire beach. The forest gives swimmers and sunbathers a shady place to sit when the sun gets too hot on the beach. Sometimes the Waimanalo Beach area is called Sherwood Forest by the locals, a name is that is a holdover from the days before the park was created.

Is Waimanalo Beach Safe for Swimming?
Waimanalo Beach is popular for local family outings because it is one of the safest swimming beach on Oahu. The the small shorebreak is perfect for beginning bodysurfers and bodyboarders. The beach is also used for fishing and occasionally surfing.

Are Jellyfish a Problem at Waimanalo Beach?
If you see “Portuguese man-o-war” warning signs on any beach in Hawaii, do not go in the water. If you see jellyfish blobs on the beach you should also stay out of the water, even if no signs are posted. Man-o-war war stings are painful but usually not dangerous, however the stings can be deadly in people who are very suspectible. I love to swim a at Waimanalo Beach, and I’ve never been stung there, but I also never go swimming if the signs are posted.

History of Waimanalo Beach Park
In April of 1921, a presidential executive order set aside thirty-eight acres of beachfront land in the Waimanalo area to create a public park called Waimanalo Beach Park.