the Windward side
Waimanalo Beach
A very long, quiet white sand beach backed by pine trees.
Why go
Space and shade, and far fewer people than Kailua.
The catch
Do not leave anything visible in your car at any beach lot here.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- With children
- Yes
- Effort
- Easy
- Cost
- Free
- Parking
- Easy
Before you go
- Lifeguard: Daily 8am-6:30pm
Getting there
Driving times on real roads, from the same data the trip planner routes on — not straight-line distance.
| From Waikīkī | 38 min | 16.9 miles |
|---|---|---|
| From HNL airport | 57 min | 28 miles |
| From Kailua | 17 min | 6.3 miles |
| From Hawai‘i Kai | 20 min | 8.8 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.
- Sea Life Park6 min awayA marine park on the southeast corner, under the cliffs at Makapuu.
- Makapu'u Lookout7 min awayThe pull-off at the island corner, looking down on Makapuu Beach and the offshore islands.
- Makapuu Lighthouse Trail8 min awayA paved uphill walk to a cliff view over the ocean and a red-roofed lighthouse.
- Koko Head Stairs11 min awayA punishing climb straight up an old railway track. Over a thousand steps.
- Halona Blowhole Lookout12 min awayA lava tube that fires seawater up through the rock when the swell is right.
- Koko Crater Botanical Garden13 min awayA dryland garden on the floor of an old crater, with a plumeria grove in the middle.