the North Shore
Kuilima Cove
A small reef-ringed cove at the island's north tip, calm when the rest of the North Shore is not.
Why go
The one place up north where you can put a child or a first-time snorkeller in the water in winter.
The catch
The reef across the mouth does the work, which is why this stays swimmable in the winter months that shut Waimea and Pipeline. The beach is public and so are the free stalls, but there are few of them and they go early - after that you are paying the resort. Look for the Ritz-Carlton signs: the hotel is still Turtle Bay to everyone on the island but it changed names. No city lifeguard. Snorkel the sandy middle rather than the reef edge, where a big winter swell still wraps in.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- With children
- Yes
- Effort
- Easy
- Cost
- Free
- Parking
- Limited
Before you go
- Lifeguard: None
Getting there
Driving times on real roads, from the same data the trip planner routes on — not straight-line distance.
| From Waikīkī | 1 hr 24 min | 46.4 miles |
|---|---|---|
| From HNL airport | 1 hr 25 min | 42.9 miles |
| From Hale‘iwa | 27 min | 11.9 miles |
Add traffic. These are free-flowing times, and the H1 through town at eight in the morning is not free-flowing.
Hours, fees and access rules have not been checked against a primary source for this entry yet. Confirm before you build a day around it.
See it on the map Build a trip around it
What else is close
Nearest by road, which is not the same as nearest on a map — and not the same as sharing a region either.
- Banzai Pipeline12 min awayThe most famous surf break in the world, right off the sand.
- Sunset Beach12 min awayA long golden beach famous for huge winter surf.
- Shark's Cove15 min awayA rocky cove with the clearest snorkelling on the North Shore. No sharks.
- Lāʻie Point16 min awayA narrow point of rock running out into the sea, with a sea arch off the end of it.
- Polynesian Cultural Center17 min awayA large park where islands across the Pacific each show their own culture, ending with a big show.
- Waimea Bay17 min awayA wide, deep bay. Flat and swimmable in summer, enormous waves in winter.