Waimanalo Beach Reviews

Scenic long and wide sandy beach on the windward side of Oahu. Stopped by here one early morning and it was absolutely deserted. Homeless encampment on the south end of the beach is a bit of a turnoff as is all the warnings about being a high theft area. Sounds like it gets crowded with locals on the weekend.

This is a very pretty and large beach area on the east coast of Oahu. You can also watch the military planes, etc. while you enjoy either sitting at the beach, watching the kite surfers or swimming. The beach is also great for walking!!

Water was warm, not a ton of people, 4 foot waves, but we are in winter season. Waves big enough to knock my 6ft husband over.

We spent a week just off Waimanolo Beach. The beach was never crowded like Waikiki, the surf was just right for families, and the scenery was excellent (surrounding mountains)

I went there in summer, so not much of the famous big waves, but was able to find parking!!!!!! The views are breathtaking especially if you drive up to the view point.

Our group spent a wonderful afternoon here. This is one of the prettiest beaches I have ever visited. The surf was perfect for boogie-boarding and the beach was not rocky whatsoever. There was plenty of shade and a restroom with showers. Take your own food as there is none available for purchase. There are picnic tables available.

Thats why Hawaii is famous for, the sun and the turquoise waters and the beach. And Waimanalo is the best of them all. Clear water gorgeous views perfect place to wind up and relx. A must visit item on my list for Honolulu...

My favorite beach in Oahu. We stayed 1 block away from Waimanalo beach during our visit and it was paradise. Soft sand, blue waters, and a picturesque backdrop of mountains and palm trees. Perfect place for a beginner boogie boarder if conditions are right. Most of the good boogie boarding beaches in Oahu have rocky bottoms which can be treacherous on the knees and shins for beginners. But this beach has a nice sandy bottom and you can ride your board all the way into the sand. Never crowded, too!

Beautiful beach but two people were stung by blue jellyfish while we were there. We found out later they were Portuguese man of war; really painful. Watch carefully if you have kids, the jellies are small and can be hard to spot until they’re right beside you.

Hands down the best beach we visited. Soft sand, fun waves, amazing views of the ocean in front of you and misty mountains behind you. The white sand and the aqua blue water was like a dream. Limited parking on a weekend, but there's a place to change, restrooms, and showers to rinse off. We enjoyed our afternoon here. I was even enlisted by some of the local children to bury them in the sand. A totally different vibe than at the beaches in Waikiki. Not hotels. No shopping. Just water, wind, and a waves, nature in all its glory.

Add this beach to the wonderful beaches of Oahu. We enjoyed the laid back atmosphere here. We saw at least three wedding parties taking photos on our visit. This beach is similar Kaialua but is much quieter on weekends.

Let me first say the actual beach is beautiful with a nice sandy entry and sandy bottom. Kudos to State of Hawaii for offering free public beaches and facilities. That being said, and not looking to open a broader social conversation, they need to do something about the derelict population who encamp at this beach because some, not necessarily all, are certainly a nuisance and potential danger to visitors, thus my single star.

We stopped one afternoon mid-week and found ample free parking. There are two entrances, and we opted for the one away from the homeless tent city thinking it to be a better option. I was wrong. I went into the changing/bathrooms and was immediately met with a stench and saw over flow of waste onto the floor of the first two stalls I entered. Upon turning to the other side of the building, there was an older gentlemen on a bench with a needle stuck into his arm, smiling up to me, apparently enjoying his "medicine".

My first thought was how bad this is if you had a child in that atmosphere. I changed into my suit and left. My wife had a more unpleasant experience finding all commodes clogged and feces smeared on the walls of the lady room. She also noted there were no doors on the stalls. Although she did not encounter what I did as for drugs, a local woman, just appalled as we were, said the problem was getting worse, and that the homeless/drug users mark their territory this way in order to keep tourists and beach goers away. True or not, it was not pleasant.

My suggestion that if you need facilities when you visit the beach, seek an alternative, but if not, this is a great beach.

Our family of four rented a house for a week which is just a short 5 minute walk from Waimānalo Beach. This is no question the best beach on Oahu. Very fine sand, small waves perfect for swimming or boogie boarding, never crowded the whole time we were there. Just a short 30 minute drive from the airport for a week in paradise!

The beach was practically deserted the day we visited. It's a lovely beach to walk on. We parked on Laumilo Street and accessed the beach on one of many public pathways between houses.

We took an East Side Tour of Honolulu with Erick and he helped us discover the magic and beauty of the beach. Waimanalo is one beautiful beach with powder soft sand, beautiful turquoise waters, fun waves, and most importantly crowd free at least during the week. Waikiki Beach is where you find all the action. However, if you plan to listen to waves, read a great book, relax, and have a picnic you have found a gem. This beach equals solitude. There are restrooms available for changing but be sure to pack water and food for an absolutely amazing day. We had such fun and didn’t want to leave.

One of my favorite beaches and close to home. It's the perfect beach on weekdays, but I stopped going on weekends years ago. Crowded, loud, lots of screaming children...not for me. I prefer the quiet Wednesday afternoon visits with a good book and growler full of beer.

There is parking and restrooms available.

This was one of my favorite beach in Hawaii (we visited Oahu & Maui), beautiful water, great scenery, very quiet and uncrowded!! A must see!

An extremely long stunning white sand beach, perfectly natural with barely a soul on there except for a few locals and a couple of tourists. Casuarina trees backing the beach.
After the city backdrop of Waikiki and the mass of tourists at Hanauma Bay, this is absolute remote pleasure.

Beach was beautiful and not crowded at all. We did although get some items stolen. Do not leave any valuables unattended or in your car, there is a theft problem at this beach!

Hire a car for the day and follow the circle island tour and stop at this beach. It is absolutely stunning. Gorgeous turquoise blue waters and white soft as silk sand. If you want to chill out and have some privacy or more quite time, this is the beach to be. It is not very busy and more private. It even feels romantic and the serenity of it is just breathtaking.

I’ve been to many beaches around the world and Waimanalo is one of the most beautiful and clean beaches I’ve been to. Definitely worth a stop. Not crowded. Beautiful sand.

Beautiful beach, not too crowded, but beware of jellyfish! Our sons had a great time boogie boarding in the waves while I rested on the beach.

However, while we were there, someone pulled a baby Man-of-War jellyfish with about 2 ft long tentacles out of the water. So glad my sons did not get stung.

Very nice white sand. The water was calm. We enjoyed the peace and beautiful views. It was not crowded. Parking was not an issue.

The best part of this beach is that its not crowded. A perfect hidden gem. Just relax, swim and enjoy the beauty of blue water and white sand

This beach must go for miles!!! And would be fun to boogie board the waves. And it was hardly populated. Maybe due to potential man o war stings, which one of our kids got. (There are signs posted of this risk. The Lifeguard said rinse with water an it will go away in 20min. It lasted a bit longer but wasn’t hurting past the hour. Still he didn’t get back in)
Other teens played for almost 2 hours at this beach. If it wasn’t so windy it would have been very relaxing.

(There are about 15-20 tent homes at the entrance to this beach. Signs posted to keep your valuables with you. Restrooms were disgusting and toilets didn’t seem to flush, but at least there is room to change).

Rinsing station and some tables in shaded trees off of the water. Gorgeous blue water even on cloudy day

This beautiful beach never gets really busy. Its fairly safe. The sand is like cornflour. It doesn't have any public facilities- no loos or changing rooms but we were staying at an air b&b just up the road and could walk there. You can park on the roadside and walk down one of several tracks to the beach between the houses.It is fringed by trees so you can get a bit of shade if you want.Sun goes behind the hills at about 3.30-4.

My daughter was married here, and I return every time I visit Oahu...one of the top 5 beaches in the world

This beach is very beautiful and quiet. Unfortunately, there were Portuguese man-of-war in the water so we didn’t swim for long. They are more common on windy days during the summer. There are nice waves here which my kids really enjoyed, but it’s probably not suited for small children. There is plenty of parking and there are bathrooms, too bad they are really dirty.

We booked a room through VRBO that was within walking distance to Waimanalo Beach. There are multiple access paths throughout the neighborhood lining the beach as well as access from the local park. If you get hungry there's a hub of restaurants nearby. We visited this beach multiple times and it was breathtaking every time. It wasn't crowded, plenty of room to almost be alone, and the beach was very well maintained. We used boogie boards to surf the small waves and had a blast!

Waimanalo is probably one the best beaches in Hawaii in regards to actually getting in the water. The waves are calm, and the shoreline is lovely. Theres also a bonus of it not being over crowded with tourist like Waikiki beach. Give it a stop after you pass by the food trucks at Sandy Beach. Highly recommend.

Fantastic beach for swimming. Beautiful blue water. There are changing rooms. We had no problem parking but it was early in the day. When we left the parking lot was full and people were circling waiting for people to pull out.

Water is perfect, nice beach and beautiful scenery all around. Enjoyed this beach more than others. Very clean and less crowded.

It's absolutely beautiful, the sand is soft and the water is so blue. I cannot wait to go back again.

It is also not insanely populated so you can go and have a decent amount of room and space around yourself.

When the waves are bigger it kicks up quite a bit of sand making the water somewhat murky and unclear for snorkelling.

You may also notice some little holes in the sand, those are possibly filled with interesting crabs that are white but almost look transparent.

Gorgeous. Only drove by there on tour bus but going back to visit next year just to walk on this beach. Want to book a hotel near here to spend enough time. Most beautiful beach I've ever seen. It's heaven on earth.

Waimanalo beach is my personal favorite. Quiet peaceful and fun for the kids. Mostly locals. Remember your parking in a neighborhood be courteous and don’t leave valuables visible in the car.

So beautiful and amazing beach. It is long and wide with almost no people compared to beaches nearby. Only minus it has jellyfish so swim at you own risk.

The beach park itself was packed and we couldn't find parking due to a wedding event. So we drove a bit further down the road then park on the side of the road, hop over the railing and we found our own stretch of beach to enjoy. The wonderful contrast between the towering mountains behind the turquoise water and white sandy beach is unforgettable.

This beach and Lanikai are the two best beaches for tourists. Not too busy and amazing clear water. More parking around here!

This beach is About 30 minutes away from Waikiki and definitely worth it. Get away from the Waikiki crowds. Quiet, beautiful scenery and wonderful water. There are a few restaurants within a 10 minute walk as well.

Located on the south eastern side of Oahu, this is a great place to boogie board and picnic without the hustle and bustle of Waikiki or Honolulu

When we visited, it was 4 pm and we stayed for an hour. We came up from Kailua beach where we spent most of our time. We wished we spent the time in Waimanalo instead. The beach is very pretty, with the mountains hanging by its edges, and the water very relaxing. We also thought that there would be no food nearby, but within a block of it, there is a food truck and a shave ice place that we found to be very popular with the locals. The food was great as well.

Listen up trendsetters – THERE IS NO ONE BEST BEACH IN OAHU – IT DEPENDS ON THE USER.
So the best beach for the average visitor (WAIKIKI) will be different from the best beach for snorkelers (HANAUMA), for high rollers (KO OLINA), for surfers when the swell is/isn’t huge (good ‘ol BANZAI PIPELINE), for families with teenaged kids (WAIMEA BAY when the swell is NOT big), for nudists (NORTH POLO FIELD/MOKULEIA BEACH)…..yada.

But my PERSONAL BEST BEACH is the NORTH PART OF WAIMANALO/SOUTH SECTION OF BELLOWS.
The thing is, what I look for in a beach is not too crowded, nice sand (not fussy if it’s yellow instead of white, but this one is the latter), clear water, backed by vegetation rather than suburbia or crumbling cliffs like so many in California. Easy access with good parking, picnic facilities back of beach and similar amenities don’t hurt. The NTH WAIMANALO/STH BELLOWS strip does these well.
I don’t mind surf, but for families another advantage of this place is protection by the substantial offshore reef which runs along most of the WINDWARD COAST. Waves reaching the sand tend to be ankle/shin/thigh slappers most times – maybe bigger on a few days of the year when the north-easterly swell gets unusually large. When I visited we were talking shin/thigh slappers – enough for kids to be enjoying some body-boarding but not good enough for genuine surfboarding.
Adding to kid-friendliness - smaller waves mean rip currents are less likely and the open nature of the beach plus Oahu’s small tidal range should see an absence of tidal currents particularly close to shore.

The steep eroded walls of the high KO’OLAU RANGE which separates THE WINDWARD COAST from the HONOLUL/WAIKIKI SOUTH COAST are not too far inland and adds to the aesthetics.

NOT TOO FAR FROM WAIKIKI
WAIMANALO/BELLOWS is on the southern quarter of the WINDWARD COAST. You are looking at roughly 32km/20mi from Waikiki whether you come around the south-east corner of the island or go via the central route thru the Pali Hay tunnels. I came via the latter: BUS 70 from Honolulu’s Ala Moana bus interchange – changing to bus 57 in Kailua. There are any number of buses from Waikiki to Ala Moana. The whole trip from Waikiki cost $2.50 using the 2 transfer stubs on the ticket. I hopped off 57 opposite WAIAMANALO BEACH PARK which is about 20% from the south end of this 7km/4.5mi strip of sand and walked north, reaching the junction of BELLOWS BEACH (a low rock barrier) abt 2km further on. I particularly liked the last km of this because it is backed by forest rather than residential areas – there is little change on the southern BELLOWS section. After another 500m walk north I exited BELLOWS via the public access road from the Hwy into BELLOWS FIELD BEACH PARK. A 1.6km/1mi walk took me back to the main road where I picked up another 57, once again piling out at WAIMANALO BCH PARK from where I walked in the opposite direction, checking out the southern part of the beach.
BTW bus users can also come around the south-eastern corner of the island on buses 22,23 from Waikiki, changing to 57 at its turn-around point (SEA LIFE PARK).

CAR users can come either way – there is plentiful free parking at WAIAMANALO BCH PARK, a similar area behind the nice northern section at WAIMANALO BAY BCH PARK** and at BELLOWS FIELD BCH PARK. All 3 have change/rest rooms, showers, water fountains, BBQ facilities etc.
** If the similarity in the name seems confusing it’s because the long strip of sand along WAIMANALO BAY is technically divided into 3 beaches – from south to north:WAIMANALO BCH then WAIMANALO BAY BEACH and finally BELLOWS FIELD BEACH.

CROWDS, TRAFFIC and PARKING.
A big advantage of these nice WINDWARD COAST beaches over the very popular NORTH SHORE is the lack of the latter’s heavy traffic and parking problems. My visit on a very nice day in the Easter holiday period saw a fairly relaxed scene, even on the southern part of the beach which tends to attract more people.
The vibe is different too – WAIMANALO/BELLOWS seemed to have mainly locals using the beaches – the NORTH SHORE appeared way more tourist oriented.

BELLOWS CLOSED WEEKDAYS
BELLOWS FIELD is an air force base and the military opens the access road to the beach park on weekends only and I’m assuming on public holidays.

A GOOD BASE FOR A DAY TRIP.
Like all these southern WINDWARD COAST locations, WAIMANALO/BELLOWS is a good starting point if you want to check out some other nice spots in the area or along the way from Waikiki.
For a start my #2 and #3 personal best beaches, compact LANIKAI and looong KAILUA are the next 2 north. And anyone who comes across here and doesn’t check out the excellent panorama from the LANIKAI PILLBOX TRAIL is either nuts or suffering severe time deficit.
But there’s more! Coming from Waikiki via the south east corner of the island are many other great places to spend time: DIAMOND HEAD CRATER, HANAUMA BAY SNORKELLING, the super tough KOKO CRATER RIDGE TRAIL-LOOKOUT, KOKO CRATER BOTANICAL GARDENS, HALONA BLOWHOLE, HALONA COVE (scene of the iconic kiss-cuddle in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY), SANDY BEACH (please be careful of that shore break if you go for a swim), HAWAII KAI GOLF COURSE, MAKAPU’U POINT/LIGHTHOUSE TREK-VIEWPOINT, the roadside MAKAPU’U LOOKOUT (lower than the LIGHTOUSE but still surprisingly elevated, MAKAPU’U BEACH (be careful: often big waves/dangerous currents), SEA LIFE PARK and the adjacent CHIEF’S LUAU.

Stay cool trendsetters

This beach was quiet, clean and we really enjoyed it. When we were there there were maybe 3 other people on the beach. If you are wanting a beach away from the hustle & bustle of Waikiki this is your beach. It is a great place to relax.

This beach is also nice and I did not think it was too far from Waikiki as we made a few stops before we made it there. There are not many people and the view is beautiful.

Favorite beach from our trip during the first week of February. It was quiet and peaceful and spacious. So beautiful too. It does have a sign warning about man o war jelly fish but we didn’t see any and I’d take that chance to be at such a gorgeous quiet beach.

Best Beach in Waimānalo Hawaii! Rented a house across the street from beach. Very peaceful and relaxing holiday! Beach was not overcrowded you could sit and enjoy the beauty of the clean golden sandy beach, and the turquoise water. Watching the locals surfing. Not far up the road was Ono steak house very small restaurant with excellent food! Wish we didn’t have to leave it was a beautiful spot hope to visit again!!

Four seniors visiting for a week rented a house in the adjacent neighborhood, about a 2-minute walk from this beautiful beach. Through weekend and week days, from sunrise to sunset, we found the beach delightfully uncrowded, the water always a wonderful temperature and beautiful shades of blue, the sands smooth, the views relaxing. Great! (If you’re not renting a place with your own parking it may be challenging to find spaces along the street.)

Stayed in an Airbnb close to this beach.Got to be rated one of the best in Oahu.Peaceful sandy beach with just the roar of the ocean.Utterly stunning.Spending 8 days here was not nearly enough.

The beach is beautiful, we had our family photos taken there. The water was a little choppy for swimming.

Stopped here on our way to other attractions, just to walk the beach and take in the view. Very windy and cool that day, so the beach wasn't crowded, but there were quite a few wind surfers out. There is plenty of free parking and several restroom/changing stations along the beach, and they were in reasonably good condition. There seemed to be less of a homeless population here than we encountered other place on Oahu too.

We stayed only a few houses off the beach. Close enough to hear the waves at night. The beach is lined with private homes, but there are many paths between the houses to provide access to the beach. The beach is quite long and it was never crowded. We were at this beach for our first sunrise and was not disappointed. Got some great shots. The beach itself was clean and the water was inviting.

If you're looking for soft, crystal sands .. here's your distention. Spent a quite afternoon here. Unforgettable

We spend Christmas day at Waimanalo beach and it was an amazing day. The beach was quiet, and clean with bathroom facilities easily accessible and life guards on duty.

We were in Oahu for 7 days and we went to this beach every single day of our trip. My 12 and 9 year old children did some boogie boarding in the waves and also just swam around. No coral or rocks at this beach. Just a beautiful sandy beach. We went to 5-7 beaches and this one by far was the best. There is a tent city of homeless at the top but they didn’t approach anyone at all and never bothered anyone. Look past that and he beach and sun was awaking. Absolutely recommend for kids, teens and adults of all ages (except babies in the ocean of course). Can’t wait to go back in a few months!

Dope spot the beach are so beautiful blue crystal clear water and not crowded good for relaxing sun bath ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Parking ✔️
Shower ✔️
Restroom ✔️

Absolutely stunning beach. The colors of the water are gorgeous. Fun for swimming and snorkeling. However, 4-5 days after a full moon you have to watch out for jellyfish so keep that in mind. It's not usually crowded. There is parking at the main entrance or you can park on the street. Even if you just go to take photos it is worth the stop!

One of the most beautiful beaches in Oahu! The first time we went was very windy, so we had to leave. The next time it was fine. The beach is nice with lifeguards and bathrooms. In the afternoon it get shady,so if you like to sunbathe go early on the day.

If you have a car, this is a great way from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. Parking is limited, however, so best to get there early. Stop at Ono Seafood and get some poke. Poke on the beach. Yeah.

Beautiful clear water, waves just the right size, long expanses of clean sand, shade trees. And not at all crowded!

My least favorite of all the beaches In this area. Not to say it’s not nice but the scene on the way in is a little uncomfortable and the amount of homeless people walking around the area is sad. It wasn’t a place I felt gave off the same positive energy as say Lanikai Beach did. If you do go pull into the second entrance away from the tents and walk up the beach next to the facilities and life guard tower.

The Waimanalo Beach is the exact opposite of Waikiki. There are no fancy shops or hotels, only homeless people camped on the edges of the park. It is so uncrowded you can almost consider it your private beach. I found it to be more picturesque than Waikiki.

We love the drive to waimanalo just as much as the beach.
Top tip - don't enter at the first entrance, continue a mile up and enter after the McDonald's - no homeless and is quieter!
Not ideal of your not a strong swimmer, but grab a boogie board and your winning.

My favorite beach on the island, never crowded, so blue, serene, and perfect temperatures! Come here to be renewed and reenergized by Mother Nature!

So you want a beautiful white sand beach with turquoise water in Hawaii, and think that Waikiki is too crowded, or that you can't find parking Kailua/Lanikai and that the North Shore is too far?

The beach is really great and is not too far of a drive to Honolulu/Waikiki. There are restrooms and parking on the premises.

Only issue of the day we went is that it was a bit windy, and a surf was a bit too strong. But other than that, we had a delightful day. It was worth the drive.

This is a wonderful beach when you're ready to get away from the crazy crowds. The sand is wonderfully soft and the water on this part of the island seem to always show often the most beautiful array of blue hues. The only possible caution is that your experience will be based on the winds when you go since this side of the island tends to be windier.

This beach was recommended...and now I can't recommend it enough. No crowd, silky sand and beautiful tepid water. The only draw back was that there were Jelly Fish advisories...so we did not do much swimming. I understand it is common for that stretch of beach. Still....paradise!

Beautiful; nice views. I’ve been here in the morning for sunrise, but also mid-day. Not always clean though; I don’t know what others have experienced, but both times I came it was pretty dirty (trash, etc.)

Most people drive by this beach park on their drive around the east side of the island, but it is worth a stop. The sand is clean, the water pristine, and the views are spectacular. The beach is easy to walk and the views will sustain you.
The beach has a staffed lifeguard tower/station and restroom facilities. The toilet facilities are worn, but stocked with toilet paper, equipped with closing stall doors, toilet seats and running water. There is also a changing area inside ladies room. A note of caution: be careful of the shore breaking waves, they can be deceptively powerful. Also, be mindful of the jellyfish that make their way to shore certain times each month.

I always liked it much more than Lanikai or Kailua beach! Those are too crowed, Waimanalo probably has the better weather in winter too.

The beach looked nice although we did not want to stop with young children due to the number of homeless people/shelters present. Better beaches in Australia.

Driving around the Oahu coastline seems to consist of one superb beach after another. This large beach with its clean sand and water and only around 20 people on it was lovely. And like many beaches we've stopped at in the last fortnight there were brides haven't their photos taken; mus be wedding season here! Try eating at the rustic Hawaiian Cafe nearby.

another nice beach on Oahu, of special interest for fans of Magnum P.I. You can even walk up to the estate of Mr. Masters

This is by far the best beach on Oahu and is highly recommended to take the beautiful drive to go see for yourself. We just moved here in March and have been every other weekend and have not been disappointed once. The waves are amazing for boogie boarding (when they are there) but if they aren't you can enjoy and nice, clean swim with smooth sand and clear water. This is a must see for anyone traveling to Oahu skip Waikiki and come here instead!

I'm really bummed we didn't spend more time here, this is easily the best beach if you're looking to just relax and enjoy a beautiful beach. This isn't the place to snorkel. The sand is excellent, the water is perfect, the waves aren't that big, the views are beautiful and best of all, there weren't a lot of people. There are trees nearby therefore some nice shade.
There's a 7-Eleven nearby for snacks.
Parking can be a little tough, there is a small lot and a larger lot a little further up.
Definitely recommend this beach.

We stopped here to look around and to use the facilities. The beach is a nice sandy expanse with lots of parking. The water is beautiful greenish blue with Rabbit Island in the background. Not too crowded when we were there.

I thought this was the most beautiful beach we visited in Oahu. I would rank this one higher than Kailua at least in terms of scenery. I know these places are not such secrets any more, but they're not ruined - at least not yet. We visited on a weekday - on a weekend the crowds might diminish it a bit.

This was my favorite beach! Soft sand, clean, beautiful water and not crowded! Walked this beach every morning.

Picture perfect beach. Well worth the 30 minute drive. The water here is just beautiful. So warm and inviting. Sand is relatively clean. Not many people when we were there which was even better. Way better than Waikiki beach.

The best part of the beach is when you turn right at the McDonald restaurant (driving from Sealife park) because it is so quiet. The car park is very small and there are no life guards close by but there are no more than 20 people on the beach at any given time and that is priceless. Clean toilets and showers. Plenty of shade. Gorgeous view. You can walk to the McDonald's to grab some lunch. Can be accessed by bus (check route and time table on DaBus website) from Waikiki. Can get unpleasantly windy when the trades are strong.

I came a couple years ago with family and fell in love with the waves, water and quiet beaches. This time around we rented a car and made a day of it! Bring a boogie board, some food and drinks and you will not be disappointed! Still my favourite relaxing spot!

Another enchanting beach recommended for spending a few hours relaxing away from the palaces of Honolulu and noisy Waikiki. Wide beach, crystal clear water although often rough but still warm, few people... in short, it's worth it!

This is a few miles of white sand. Since its on the windward side you will mostly find decent waves (not good for surfing, but boogie boarding). Water is turquoise due to sand bottom (not ideal for snorkeling since reef is way out). Weekends can get little busier when locals come around 12:30 - so if you're looking for solitude come early and the sunrises are great depending on cloud cover.

A favourite place for us. Most days completely deserted which is great. Weddings taking place on the beach everyday are a fascinating distraction. The scenery is jaw dropping with the mountains just behind you. The water is crystal clear and blue, just like a postcard. Washrooms showers nearby. There is a lifeguard near centre of the park and one down at the campground area. You can park on the streets nearby, just make sure all four tires are off the pavement or you will get ticketed. The only drawback is the presence of jellyfish after some full moons. Don't know why this is but it can be a nuisance if you are there at the wrong time of the month. We noticed the jellyfish were more plentiful at the camping end of the beach. Be warned!

We stop there to have a little pic-nic on the beach and it was perfect. The beach is really nice and you can have a good swim in beautiful water.

There were very few people when we were there and there are services (bathrooms) so it is a plus.

If you are coming from the South I suggest you use the second parking lot (past the big building) because it is near the amenities and you are a little further from the homeless area.

This is a beautiful beach in Hawaii. It isn't as crowded as it's a little off the tourist route. The sand is perfect and the view and colors of the water is breath taking.

A public beach with lots of space for everyone.Calm ocean that is easy to swim in.NOT so crowded beach, even on weekends

The view of the beach and the ocean is beautiful. The waves aren't as high as they are in North Shore either if you prefer calmer water.

This is the most fun I have ever had at a beach in my whole life! My wife and I had a boogey board each and played in the surf for over 2 hours on our first swim.
The water was beautifully warm and clean and the sand on the beach which stretched out for a mile was clean and relatively uncluttered with people.
For the size of the beach there was hardly anyone there, the water is under shoulder depth for a long way out and had nice sized waves all the way along the beach.
An outstanding beach and a must do/ must see thing to put on your list when visiting the east shore of Oahu.

Excellent beach with mountain backdrop lovely sandy area with a few trees for shade good restroom facilities .

Loved our visit to this beach. White sand clear, beautiful warm waters. Restrooms and wash showers stands available.
Loved it.

We stayed a block away from entrance into Waimanalo beach. Very beautiful, fun to jump the waves and boogie board, and very few people. Love this side of the island!

A slight drive from Honolulu but easily accessible by car Waimānalo Beach is huge so you’ll never have to fight the crowds or have a problem finding a spot to setup a chair. The sand is talcum powder soft and the shore break reasonably mild. Definitely my fave each on the island.

There is a park area with parking and washrooms however it can also be worth it to walk in via one of the residential area beach access paths further south for a more serene setting.

Relaxing beach, beautiful beach, the mountain view truly make this beach enjoyable. The beach is not crowded and plenty of tree to enjoy the shade if need be. Plenty of parking, bathroom and changing area available.

We went to this beach around 3pm or 4pm so people were starting to leave. We parked in the parking lot of the beach park.
First of all, the sand was like powder! Some of the other nice beaches around town are corse and filled with small shells. This sand is smooth! Also, the waves were not huge, but more like a wave pool. It was fun!! If you want a shallow calm beach waist deep, go to Lanikai beach. This was my favorite beach. I did notice a lot of tents by the entrance of the park, may have been beach bums, but once you get to the beach, you forget about it.

Also, a couple locals told me about this beach. They warned me not to leave anything valuable in my car. Do yourself a favor and get some of those waterproof baggies so you can have your phone, keys, and money with you.

Free entry. Open daily from 7-6 p.m. No shortage of parking here. Bathroom facilities. Lots of trees for shade. Lifeguard tower although we didn’t see one on the day we visited. Fine sandy beach & turquoise water. Be aware on the south end of the beach/parking lot there are many tents setup there.

I visited here and hiked many trails on 09/11 during my first visit to Hawai'i & posted a vlog! Search "Nikko Gandia Travels" on YT.

Beautiful views, watched the sunrise here.

This beach is a long white sand beach on only about a 40min drive from waikiki. There are no pebbles or rocks when entering the water like waikiki. The water is so blue and a pleasure to swim there. There are changerooms/restrooms there but are slightly dirty It is so peaceful to swimm. No crowds

Amazing blue water and soft white sand. Stunning and really natural as there's not much built up around it. A lot of people come here to do wedding photo shoots and its not hard to see why.

This beach has it all - gentle waves for playing in the water/boogie boarding, nice wide and long stretch of sand, dramatic lush mountains just behind. Unfortunately on the way there (when driving from Waikiki) you are going to see tents everywhere full of homeless people - something that Oahu really struggles with. It also can get pretty crowded on the weekends and the parking is scarce.

This beach has a long sandy stretch and is good for swimming close to shore as well as snorkeling a bit farther out if the waves are not rough. There are rocks so be cautious but not too bad. There are bathrooms as well as a playground and baseball diamond. Plenty of parking and shady spots with tables for picnics and kicking back. There is no entry fee, one of the nice things about Hawaii state parks

Visited Waimanalo beach in June 2018. Took the bus for day pass of $5 from Kapahulu and Kalakau. No need to transfer at Ala Moana mall and then go backwards wasting precious time or head there on the way back to the hotel. Waited at Sea Life park for 10 minutes each way. That's where it turns from 57 to 23 so be aware of that. Waves were strong that day so just ventured in for a short dip and stayed on shore. Nice view of the mountains and turquoise waters for miles. Washrooms weren't the nicest. Bus stop is near the parking lot and on the return it is just a posting not a shelter on a powerline post with bus #s on it located across the road.

We stopped at this beach for about 20 minutes and got our feet wet in the ocean.
Dark rain clouds were rolling in, but the sun was still shining on the beach.

I forgot how annoying sand is. And whenever you step into the ocean, the abrasive sand will stick to your feet and shoes no matter what you do. Thankfully there is a water faucet for showering off your feet near the washrooms.

The good news is this beach is quite remote. But, that's just it's drawback. If you're looking for ice cream, or a bar-b-q stand, you won't find it here!

This beach is just stunning. I thought I had seen beaches before I came to Hawaii. But the beaches here are just second to none. The sand is really soft and slips through your fingers. The ocean is crystal clear and like being in a warm bath. I loved this beach so much. It is nice to visit it at dusk/night time too. Not touristy. Nice place to recharge.

Long stretch of beach with trees at the shore for shade. About 25 minutes drive from Waikiki so not many tourists around. A 7 eleven is conveniently close by where we bought sandwiches for lunch. Mountains as a backdrop make for an exceptionally idyllic location.

I thoroughly enjoy Waimanalo beach. I have visited during two trips to Oahu and it is one of my favorite spots. The beach is wide, clean, and stretches for miles. Every time I am there, it is quiet and uncrowded, and feels like it's my own private beach! Great for sunbathing, snorkeling, boogie boarding, swimming and running. The color of the clear, clean water is stunning!

Buddha Bu turn me on this beach. It is ono. Number one in my hit parade.
I like to sit and eat take poke or spam mushy. Time for Lolo.

This is a nice sandy beach with beautiful waters and not so crowded. It has places to park that makes it convenient. This is a beach to spend time and relax.

The beach is very sandy and has beautiful blue and turquoise colored water. It is sandy a long ways out and not too deep. The views are amazing and the waves are manageable here. There are bathrooms but they don’t have toilet paper or soap. Do not let your kids go in alone. There is a homeless population nearby that sometimes use the bathrooms.

This spot is becoming more and more known, but it's one of Oahu's viral photo location and one of our favorite places! Turquoise waters, white sands and a nice little lagoon make for perfect conditions almost all year round.

In my opinion, Waimanalo Beach is the best all-around beach on the island. Do you like to swim? Do you like to bogie board? Do you like to wind or kite surf? Do you like to lay on the beach in the sun? Do you like to sit in the shade at the foot of the beach? If you answer yes to most of these, then Waimanalo Beach is the one for you. My wife loves to lay in the sun on the beach and i prefer to sit in the shade in a chair. You are able to do that here and still be within 10 feet of each other. The waves are perfect for body surfing/bogie boarding for most months of the year. We always try to visit Waimanalo Beach on our annual trip to Hawaii. We normally stay on the North Shore so this is a bit out of the way but it is worth it!

I visited Maimanalo Bay for a wedding and it was just gorgeous, the surroundings was so pretty.Will have to come visit again.

Calm beach. Safe to swim. My husband snorkeled there but didn’t see much fish. There are public change/washrooms, and shower heads for a quick rinse. Would definitely want to go again and cruise for hours. ;)

This was our favorite beach on Oahu. The waves are a little strong, but fun. Stepping into the warm water, the bottom drops off quickly but not too deep. This is where the waves break. Walk a little further and the bottom comes back up and you can walk out pretty far. The water was a beautiful green. We sat under the pine trees that are just a few steps to the soft sand. Parking is along the nearby street. On the Friday that we went, parking was no issue and even later in the afternoon there were very few people. The lifeguard came by on their ATV twice. Calmer waters are at beaches to the south, but these waves were much more fun.

We visited Waimanalo Beach during our Circle Island Tour with oahu Nature Tours.

This beach is well known as a bodyboarding beach since the waves are not too high and break close to shore.

This beach was also the filming location for Magnum P.I. and Baywatch Hawaii.

We were fortunate when we visited that we saw one of the endangered Monk Seals sleeping on the beach.

During our stay we hit a number of beaches just to see how they compare to Waikiki. Waimanalo is very nice and like most Oahu beaches, any of them are extremely awesome..

We found that this beach was quiet and there were a few homeless around, but those folks didnt cause any issues. The beach is nice, but not as busy as Lanikai or Waikiki.. but worth a visit if you want to get to a quieter beach and perhaps enjoy a cold one while hanging out on a beautiful piece of paradise!!

We went on a Tuesday morning and it wasn’t crowded and the white soft sand continued as far into the water as we could walk out. It didn’t seem real! A dream day on the beach was all we could hope for- this beach was definitely a highlight of the trip.

One of the best beaches on Oahu. Not crowded , however there were no water sports. It's December so maybe that's why but I didn't care the tide was strong but beautiful waters to swim in and take pictures around. Must go!

Beautiful family friendly beach in Waimanalo, Oahu. Gorgeous blue waters and a long expanse of soft warm sand. It is a great beach for families with children and boogie boarding is especially fun. Definitely fun in the sun at Waimanalo Beach!

I was looking for a scenic beach to relax. I found Kaimana Beach first but it was a little too crowded for my taste. I traveled a little further and found Waimanalo Beach and it was simply beautiful. Barely any people there, miles of white sandy beaches and the water was an absolutely breathtaking blue. If you’re looking for a little more privacy to just relax and take in the views, I would recommend Waimanalo Beach!

Great place too relax with not to many people around . Theirs toilets but nothing else so take plenty of water and food with you .

What I liked most about this beach was seeing the jagged rocks and ridges in the distance as well as the large rock face near it. Additionally, I would also consider this beach a good alternative to Lanikai if you don't want to face the parking issues that exist there.

Nearly all the Leeward Oahu beaches are very pretty settings with the mountains as a backdrop, and some have offshore islands adding to the beauty. Except for weekends, very few people on the beach and a great refreshing contrast to Waikiki and its obvious drawbacks. Take the short drive from Honolulu and enjoy.

Hawaii deserves its grand reputation. Amazed at how warm the water was compared to our Northern California beaches. This beach was not crowded in June and we found an Air B&B only two blocks away. Our college graduate granddaughter learned not quite quickly enough about the necessity of sunscreen and the dangers of certain jellyfish. Several of our party were impressed with sunrises but can only believe them.

This beach could be an ideal one cause it's long, wide and plenty of soft sand BUT it's not so clean how I was expecting: strong currents bring some trash on the beach and nobody clean it up. Parking is free. Restrooms and showers are OK.
There is also a sports area. No food in the near by except for a minimarket on the main road, few minutes far by car.
The beach is located Highway 72 in East Oahu.

Bused here from Waikiki Beach area, $2.50 bus ride that took about 1.25 hours. Great scenery along the way.

Washrooms located there, although quite in need of update. Beach was gorgeous and clean and there were lifeguards. Parking lot available if you drove.

This is probably my absolute favorite beach on Oahu. The sand is soft, water is blue, green mountains create the perfect scenic backdrop for a family beach day. Parking is easy, some people are concerned about the homeless tents, but we felt very safe at this beach. Obviously, use reasonable precautions and don’t leave valuables in the car. This beach has amenities like bathrooms and a place to rinse off.

This is a great boogie boarding beach for beginners (or at least it was in August).

this is about 5 miles of unbroken sand beach, shallow about 100 feet out, great fun but look on the shore for Portuguese ManOWar stinging jellyfish, blue, bubble looking creatures about 1" long with long tentacles, very painful.

We travelled through via on way to North shore. This is beach with many homeless living in tents.

The beach looks nice but if you stay homeless will take your stuff.

Best avoided.

I went here as part of an Airbnb experience. It's not crowded and I think it's better than Waikiki beach. It's quite clean as well.

Used to be our favorite beach but with the tent city there now, the bathrooms tend to be even worse and the beach doesn't feel as safe. It's still beautiful however!

The beach is long. And perfect. I found this to be the best beach on the island. You can swim. There are waves but not crushing waves like a lot of the beaches. It's a fun place to go in the water. There are a lot of tents on one end of beach. Campers or homeless people, I'm not sure. But the beach itself is great. I thought it to be the best.

We absolutely love the area, met some other folks from Vancouver Island and this was their 3rd time there.
If you are looking for a tourist area with shops and coffee shops, this is not the place to go then go to Kailua just down the road.
The beach is fantastic, clean and quiet. Yes there are a few homeless shelters at the park. But with 5 miles of beach to choose from , surely you can find a quiet spot.
Highly recommended

This is a free public beach where locals use it a lot. It has quite a few trees providing shades and you usually can find one to your party since there aren't many people there. Wave can be big and even crushing in the afternoon. So go there early in the morning so you can enjoy the calmness, if that's what your look for. Not suitable for snorkeling due to the choppy water but excellent for any kind of surfing and swimming.

Spectacularly beautiful, not very crowded, a bit out of the way. Stay away unless that appeals to you 😉

Facilities are pretty gnarly.

I travel a lot and saw many beaches in many different countries of the world and this one is officially my favorite!! We were heading for Lanakai beack (the instagrammable and most popular one) but were advise to go there instead. I'm glad we did!! We were almost by ourselves, only surrounded by locals.... the bluest water and the whitest sand beach surrounding us.... Try it out!!

Found this gem of a beach while getting out of Waikiki for a calmer and quieter afternoon. The first part of the beach you see does have some tents like people have said but drive past and there is parking area with showers and toilets a little further down the road. We were shocked to find this beach almost empty. It does have a lifeguard. It has the most beautiful sand and shore line and the water collie is what people dream of. The waves at times can be big enough to body board but not great for surfing. There are trees just back from the beach to provide adequate shade if needed. A great parking area that only had 5 cars in it. There are no shops or stores on the beach so bring a picnic. There is almost no rocky areas once you walk into the ocean. It is smooth and soft on the feet. It is only a short drive out of Waikiki maybe 35-40 min.
I would highly recommend this beach and we visited it twice over 5 days and we were 5 min walk to Waikiki beach.

We arrived here when the sun was just coming out. We were here in time to sit and watch the sun ray over the ocean. This was breath taking. We swam into the warm water and it seemed like we had the beach to ourselves because it wasn't that crowded. This is a place you have to visit and stay for a couple of hours, bring lunch, towels, sunscreen and drinks, because you'll end up leaving when the sunsets....

This is a nice beach, but not one of the best in the world, or in Hawaii, as some reviewers on here have said.

It's relatively short (not a lot of space between water/land), has no amenities, and it's a bit dirty. Also, unless the weather's perfect it'll probably be a bit choppy.

There are many nicer beaches on Hawaii's other islands.

Gorgeous beach, beautiful views all around! Mountains in the back and Manana Island on the right. The sun hits this part of the beach in the most perfect way, where all the deep greens and turquoises come out and just take your breath away.

Hard to rate this one. It was the most beautiful of all the beaches we visited, but we did not feel very safe here. We stayed at a spot on the beach where we could still see the car, and one of us always sat with our stuff on the sand. This beach had the biggest homeless population of all the beaches we went to. I refused to use the toilets as my husband came out of them looking ill. It's really a shame as this end of the island was so stunning in its natural beauty, but looked run down and a bit scary once you lowered your eyes to the streets.

Grab a rental car if you can, and come here for a swim, the water is warm and the sandy sea bottom is blemish-free.

The sand was soft and clean and the water was beautiful. It is definitely a less crowded option and is a very nice area.

This is my favorite beach on the island. The water is soooooo turquoise and beautiful. The beach is not crowded and seems that it is mostly locals that gravitate to this beach. I absolutely loved it!

So, you like Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach, but can't stand the tourists? Head over the the east extreme eastern side of O'ahu and go to Waimanalo instead. There's not as many tourists, the sand is as soft as Lanikai, and the water is clear. You will get good sun most of the day as long as you arrive at 11 AM or 12 PM. Check the surf report as sometimes the waves can get a little high, but there is not nearly as much danger as in other areas of the island. You will thoroughly enjoy this beach.

We brought our grown kids and our grandkids here for a full week over Christmas of 2023, visiting from the midwest and from Arizona. Our group of 20 fit very well into the large Cottage #11, adjoining #9, 2 Two-bedroom Cottages #8 and #10, and 2 One-bedroom with sleeper futons #5 and #6. We LOVED the large, upstairs #11 with wrap-around balcony, breezes, a view and large kitchen for gathering, cooking, and eating together. All the cottages, furnishings, kitchen supplies were attractive and in great condition. Carolyn or Tommy were easily reached by texting or a phone call if we had any needs that we hadn't thought of ahead of time. Their beach chairs, boogie boards, paddle boards and such that are there for sharing were readily available. The grounds were pretty, the coin-operated laundry was welcome. the grounds are secure, which made us non-locals very comfortable. The kids and
adults alike enjoyed walking to and on the beach and playing in the waves. Our family enjoyed many visits to 2 walkable restaurants: Ono and Kalapawai Market. From the 5th Cottages, driving to Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, or Costco was accomplished in 30-40 minutes or less.
Jean and Scott

We visited this beach twice while in Oahu for several reasons. It was an actual beach, sandy bottom, waves, lifeguards and restroom faculties. We were staying in Waikiki and didn't like the beaches there along with the crowds. This beach is a lovely drive from Waikiki and you can be there in 35 minutes or so. The second day we planned ahead and stayed from 8:30 to about 2:00 PM. No pay to park. I can see why some have commented about the homeless in the camping area of the park/beach. We did not have any interaction with that side of the park and did not feel threatened or anything. I would highly recommend this beach to family and friends. Keep in mind, it is not for small children as there can be a significant under toe and large waves.

Waimanalo Beach has the same sand, water, and views as its more famous neighbors Kailua and Lanikai. However, it is easier to access because you don't have to deal with the traffic of Kailua or the lack of parking at Lanikai. Also, it has a lot of large shade trees, which Lanikai is completely lacking.

It has bathrooms and showers.

Be aware that there is somewhat limited parking. Also, don't leave valuables in your car or unattended on the beach. Personally, I wouldn't stay after dark, but I'm not aware of anyone being attacked.

Waimanalo Beach is very beautiful beautiful with sandy shores and waves crashing on the beach. We went on a Friday late morning and it wasn't very busy that day. There were shady spots all along the beach because of the trees and that was a welcome relief. There were signs warning us about jellyfish and our 10 year old got stung, as did another young girl near us. The lifeguard sprayed vinegar on my son's leg and after about 1/2 an hour he wasn't complaining and we stayed at the beach for a couple more hours (he played in the sand but wouldn't go in the water again). It was a very relaxing time but of course you have to heed the warnings. Nice place for a picnic and to hang out and relax. We would avoid it next time when jellyfish were an issue (apparently 8-10 days after the full moon is what we were told). There are plenty of other beaches that are just as beautiful.

Imagine staying 1 minute away from one of the 10 best beaches in the world (National Geographic -Waimanalo Beach). Imagine you have entered into a tropical paradise - the sounds of waterfalls lull you to sleep each night and the smell of cafe au lait and freshly baking banana bread bring you gently into your next day. I can not even begin to describe this air B&b treasure. I've never seen anything like it, and I probably never will anywhere else in the world. I've traveled extensively, stayed in everything from 5 star hotels to forest kåtas, but this was the best. A beautiful, comfortable bed, a tropical pool, a lovely, spacious kitchen / sitting area, and a private bath for prices a fraction of what you will pay in Hawaii. Stay here -you won't regret it. Thank you Don and Billy for making us feel so welcome. We arrived as guests, and departed as friends.

This beach is located about 35 minutes away from Waikiki by car. I believe there is a bus that can take you there as well. This beach is beautiful. The waters are turquoise blue and the sand is so soft and white. And the best thing is that it isn't as crowded as any of other beaches!

We visited 8-10 beaches all around Oahu and we both enjoyed this one the most. The surf is not too crazy so you can get wet and the best part is few people so you can have your own space. Tons of shade if needed too plus restrooms and parking was not a problem. There is a homeless camp out front but we did not see any homeless on the beach or have any issues. Pack a lunch or grab takeout from the local place Onos and sit and enjoy rhe view. It is worth the trip!

Amazing beach. The ocean is luminous. Perfect waves for the kids. Sandy beach. Plenty of shade. Easy parking. Clean bathrooms and showers. Not crowded. It is lovely.

It's absolutely beautiful with fine sand and not crowded... The negatives are that there were quite a few homeless folks, the restrooms are gross, like bloody pads stuck to walls, poop on the floor, etc. It was really windy both days and there were manawars everywhere. We actually went 2x because the waves were bigger and that's what we were after for body surfing.

We hadn't planned on coming to this beach park, but I'm very happy we did. It wasn't crowded, the water was a beautiful turquoise color and was warm which is a big plus for me. We got some amazing pictures and it's one of the beaches on Oahu that isn't man made. Great place to spend the day the family having fun at the beach.

I find Waimanalo Beach a great place to relax, what with it’s fine white sand, but only almost as splendid as the beaches in Bohol, Philippines where I grew up!
This however is one of the best beaches in Oahu, Hawaii. There are portions however, where the terrain of the beach suddenly deepens, probably because of the big waves that hit the shore from time to time. Locals say that this is one of the beaches best for bodyboarding as the waves are usually not that high.
No restaurants/business establishment within the area. Shower and restrooms are free as with the other beaches.
From the Waimanalo Beach, you can get a good view of rabbit island, an uninhabited island which used to be inhabited by rabbits before, this the name. Its is presently a bird sanctuary, according to locals, and the Pacific Ocean too.
Also a good place to take a hike from one end of the beach to the other. More crowded in the afternoons than in the morning!

On the day we went, there were no crowds, plenty of parking, lots of shady spots and nice, easy waves. The restrooms and showers were clean and this large beach is a short, scenic drive from Waikiki.

I have been to beaches around USA and in my opinion this is easily the best..

The water is Turquoise and blue in color, sand is lighter and softer...waves are just right to be able to let kids swim safely.. the best thing is the easy access since it is still not well known and unlike Lanikai beach is not commercialized yet so you won't hit traffic during weekend too.

Behind you you can see tall mountain ranges covered with rainforest greenery and nestled between the water and the mountains this is really magical like you see in beach mags .. We returned there for 2 more days and this area reflects true Hawaiian spirit...

There is a Shrimp Shack called "Ono Steaks & Shrimp Shack" which serves one of the best Ahi and Garlic Shrimp dishes.. We picked food "to go" from there and had a nice picnic..

There are decent restrooms with facilities and at this beach.

Overall I can say that this was easily the best place to relax/swim in Hawaii without the crowds...

This one takes the cake for me as being my favorite place on the island. Secluded and tucked away in the Southeast side of Oahu, Waimanalo offers a luxurious ocean view with the clearest blue waters, towering mountains, cliffs, and distant mini islands as your ocean backdrop. You’ll find coconuts and the biggest driftwood you’ve ever seen along your walk.

I spent a quiet morning here listening to the waves, warming with the sunshine, and swaying with the breeze. To think, God created all of this vast beauty and still took the time to make, form, and invest in li’l ol’ me. Selah. I was incredibly humbled by His love, in the presence of his amazing creation. Such a great thinking space for self reflection. Healing and inspirational.

Waimanalo Beach is a long stretch of white sand and turquoise water away from the crowds. When I was there it was very windy. There were people camping at the park and it looks like much debris gets left behind on the beach. There was a huge amount of garbage on the beach when I was there. It made me very sad because otherwise this beach is gorgeous and peaceful.

Waimanalo Beach is gorgeous. Islands and mountains in the distance. Turquoise water with pretty surfs. Friendly locals and tourists. All the makings of a great post card. But there were many trash and plastic bits and broken glasses on the beach and in the water to make one realize that we are definitely not alone on Earth. Places this beautiful make environmentalists out of all of us. Members in my party kept collecting trash to throw away. We did see a Portuguese men of war on the beach here. So while on this beach, probably all beaches for that matter, recommend not going barefoot. I saw a lot of people wearing beach socks and shoes which seem like a great idea for me next time. One can walk for miles up and down this beach. Nature has absolutely made a beautiful beach. Hope us human can keep it that way.

This is a locals beach and you will need to worry about theft and being harassed by them. All our guises strongly recommend not going here for our safety.

This are of Oahu was legit. Loved the local feel to this beach. Swells were big but an older local gentlemen showed me how to swim it. Had to pretty much duckdive the waves and anticipate the next one. Felt great to be one with the ocean! Mahalo Billy wherever you are!

from the color of the waters (50 different shades of blue), the backdrop of the cliffs, the nice shade trees right behind the beach and the clean, open white sands, this beach was mesmerizing. I usually hate the heat, crowds, and noise of most beaches, but this was one of the most beautiful spots I've ever seen, and there was almost nobody on the beach. Fantastic.

This is probably my favorite beach on the whole island. The waves are small enough that a "haole" like me can handle them and not get too beat up but big enough that it's fun.

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous beach. Not for beginner swimmers though!! Would never let a kid in that ocean. But if you are an advanced swimmer enjoy the waves and the view. Even if you don’t swim it’s just beautiful. You can see the islands and mountains in background and bluest water I have ever seen. It is also not crowded and has restrooms. I do think since it’s not very touristy to be extra mindful and respectful to the place and not ruin this for the locals by being an idiot and littering or using a speaker too loudly or just going in with no swimming abilities.

Being at O'ahu island, we pretended to drive from the Makapu Lighthouse to Ko'olau Mountain Range, we found this spectacular beach: gorgeous and no-crowded. You have the beach on one side and the mountain by the other, really amazing scenic paradise. No need to add more pictures, you already can find a lot here.

This is long gorgeous beach where the waves are little bigger than Waikiki. I enjoyed stopping by with my family and this beach is really stretch out. Recommend highly...

Heard that this was a “secret” beach, off the beaten path so we drove by car to check it out. The surroundings around the park were sketchy; abandoned and homes in ill repair along the road as well as a “tent village” near the entrance. The beach itself on the windward side of the island had sand that reminded me of brown sugar and waters that were clear and turquoise blue. Although there were others there it wasn’t crowded by any means. The waters were calm. The sand and waters were clean although scattered trash and debris were on the park grounds. Parking was free and there are restrooms on site.

This is the best beach on Oahu! Never crowded, always beautiful, and the water is lovely! This is the type of beach for everyone!

Wiamanolo beach has a shallow slope with easy entry. Shallow wave break. It is absolutely beautiful!!!

We stopped here fairly early in the morning. There had to been around 100 homeless people sleeping near the beach. We also saw multiple parking spots with broken car window glass in them. I did walk to the beach to see it and it was beautiful despite some broken beer bottles and garbage. It is sad the state allows such an amazing beach to be overran like this.

One of the more beautiful beaches on Oahu, but rough so just a relax on beach and watch water. Quiet.

Very beautiful white sand beach with not too many waves (which is not often the case)
Parking right next door
I recommend

This is what we call God's Country in Hawaii. The sand is the finest you'll ever feel and the water is clean. But when there are warning signs up, please pay attention.

One of my favorite swimming beaches (much less coral compared to say Lanikai), Waimanalo is also huge and less popular, and has a great view of the Makapuu point. There seems to be presence of the sketchy element which raises the concern about car break-ins. But homeless people, very likely not allowed into Waikiki, have to go somewhere. Probably not a good idea to stay there after dark.

Passed by this lovely deserted beach. Almost nobody there. Plenty of room to ourselves to frolic in the water and soak up the sun. Decent restaurant (Ono) nearby. Maybe it gets crowded some days. Worth a drive by as you head up the North Shore.

There are great shallow areas here to snorkel, even when the winds and surf are high. Close to Sea Life Park

This beach is so very clean and if you're a surfer it would be a dream come true! Sine waves were more than 20 feet high!! We spent so much time laying in the sand and brought a bottle a wine to celebrate our 1 year anniversary . The view of the sunset was breathtaking and we will return agaun during our next visit to Hawaii.

This is a lovely spot. It is very private and there are never loads of people. The water had this aqua hue. The sand is white and soft. The back drop of the mountains makes it very picturesque. The only negative is that trash washes up on shore and there does not appear to be a crew to keep it clean.

Pretty pretty beach! I like that there is a good amount of parking! Water is beautiful and the waves are fun! You can see the military helicopters throughout the day too! I also noticed lots of ghost crabs crawling around! They were fun to watch too!

I thought Cancun had some nice beaches here and there. Boy, was I wrong.

Waimanalo Beach has soft white sand, warm waters depending on the season, fun waves, and isn’t as crowded as other beaches.

It’s super accessible and you’ll thoroughly enjoy relaxing here.

Love how soft this beach is. Water is crystal clear and the scenery is great. I can see how this was the 2015 beach of the year.

Best beach on the east side of Oahu. So far the biggest waves and looks more exotic than the rest of beaches on east side.( i.eg kualoa has more grass than sand what remindes more lake than the ocean).

The longest beach 3miles/5km with bigest seaside.
Still some homeless living there.

Really nice beach with planty of space and turquoise water . We stayed in a vacation rental for 11 days just on the beach and it was perfect. The waves can be a little bit rough for smaller kids some days but are ok for bodyboards. There are some man o war now and then so if you feel unsure or are alegic check with the lifeguard at Waimanalo Beach Park. The best ting is that there are very little people on the beach mon-fri so you can have your spot and do some nice walks without stumbeling on people. Defenetly worth spending a day here if you are looking for a nice place.

We found this during my research of beaches to stop at on a drive around the island. It has a very large parking lot so there was no issue there. The sand is soft and the beach extends a fair distance. There were many families here enjoying a picnic, boogie boarding, or throwing footballs. We walked up and down the beach as it has really scenic views looking up and down the beach both ways. We wish we had more time to spend here.

Has a parking lot where you do see a homeless encampment. However they do not SEEM to bother anyone during the day.... The beach was pristine and we enjoyed the beauty. Definitely worth a stop during the day. Would not camp here.

Quiet. Blue water. Nice clear sandy beach. Easy parking. Free. What's not to like. Perfect. Will be back

I just loved waimanalo. I loved the fact that is not the most visited beach, you can relax without many people around, the sea was very calm when I was there, very relaxing.

While Waikiki's beach is famous and nice you get sick of the amount of people after a while. That's where Waimanalo comes in! It's not that far from Waikiki but has a 10th of the people there and SHADE! You can get as much sun as you want but also retire under the glorious trees once you have had enough! Good food in town as well. Dont share the secret too much as what makes 'Nalo special is that it is nothing like Waikiki. Keep it that way :)

My 8 year old son who isn't a strong swimmer handle the waves fine and had a blast in the surf along with my 12 year old daughter. Parking is very easy, the beach stretches out so it is not crowded and the locals were all very friendly. This was probably one of our favorite beaches during our trip. The kids loved playing in the waves, the water was warm and turquoise, the background was beautiful, the sand is fine and smooth. Bring a boogie board.

We chose to get married here based on pictures. We LOVED it! It was gorgeous and the day turned out lovely. It's not very popular, so you will get great pictures!

The day we went there was a jellyfish alert. My daughters (8-9) and I stayed in close to the beach in shallow water and had a great time playing in the waves. As we were leaving a couple small kids got stung by jellyfish. I guess you should obey the warning.

Great beach setting for a wedding. I would recommend this location to anyone. Several homeless around, however they are all over the island. No one bothered us.

We got there in the afternoon and parked at the side of the road near to the restrooms. Super long beach, no problem finding a perfect spot to spread out blanket. The water was calm and the sand was white and powder fine. This is one of the best beaches on Oahu for just relaxing and swimming, there were quite a few families there playing in the water. We snorkeled too and saw a few fish. Someone said they see turtles here but we didn't see any the couple of days we visited.

The beach is beatiful but in the woods are living a lots of homeless wainting for turist with rental car. They gonna broke the car and stole everything.

I loved the windward side. Stay in Waikiki and then just rent a car and explore! This beach is the most beautiful place. I was able to sneak a few beers onto the beach (I know you aren't supposed to 😉) and it was HEAVEN!

Fine sand, lapping waves and a light to moderate breeze. It can definitely get windy, but it's overall just such a beautiful beach. They offer parking and bathrooms, although I imagine it fills up quickly as people in the residential communities do parties/cookouts.

I liked Lanikai the best, bellows and waimanalo tied for 2nd.

we stopped there on our way to north coast and there was nobody there except for a small community of homeless people and the beach was not very clean, i have no idea where the others are saying this is the best beach ever...but im including photos...of the row of garbage and tents from the homeless that seem to be living there.

The color of the beach is such a pretty shade of turquoise. It was windy while we were there... and we wished it wasn’t so cold and windy in March. I was surprised to see a lot of plastic trash in the sands... but the views were breathtaking.

We had this beach on our list of beaches to see. As we drove up to the beach all we saw were tents. It looked like tent city. After reading about so many car break ins, there was no way we were parking our car there. We kept driving. The city needs to put an end to this.

Beautiful pristine beach and water but be aware of your surroundings because some homeless do like to hang out at this beach. Lifeguard had to chase one off because he was harassing some ladies. Try to go with a large group so that everyone can keep an eye out for each other

Perfect beach! Only few people and best wild nature. White sand and blue water, it's look like Maldives.

its a must for the bucket list early morning sunrise is impeccable. easy to catch from the sands of Waimanalo beach or makapuu lighthouse house simple hike

This is my favorite beach for swimming, meditation, and just walking along the beautiful beach... besides Kailua and Lanikai, this is where you want to be... in fact, if you want to avoid the tourists, be closer to the cliffs, and have a much much longer stretch of beach with the same gorgeous water and waves for your swim... this can be your number one! You’ll definitely find parking, so long as it still remains a bit “secret” and less popular than Lanikai and Kailua... how much longer... hmmm... this beach is Paradise! So don’t miss it!!!

This is a nice beach but watch your valuables. There is a lot of people living on the edge of the beach and it is a poor area. Nothing happened but just be careful as you would anywhere else.

This stretch of beach along the "windward" side of Oahu features a fairly long walk from the shoreline into the chest-high waters and that distance will be traveled at a brisk and exhilarating pace as you torpedo back toward that shoreline atop or amidst one of the plentiful waves that rolls, and sometimes, thunders in from the ocean. They are not a bone-crunching or clavicle-breaking as either Makapu'u or Sandy Beaches (BEWARE!! Sandy's shoreline is a neck-buster), but they are there to be had and if you catch one just right you'll get quite a lengthy ride that'll land you chest-first onto the shoreline.
The bonus about traveling to this Waimanalo Beach is that you can cap you body-surfing day off with a trip to nearby Ono Steaks & Shrimp Shack and get what might be the best lunch or dinner you'll EVER devour at an off-the-road, "fast food" establishment. Believe me: it's worth a bus ride from Wakiki Beach for a good day of body-surfing topped off with a meal you'll be talking about until you return, possibly the next day.

There is a BBQ area and also rest rooms and TheBus has a drop-off nearby about a 10-minute walk from the shoreline. Plenty of shade under trees that are located about 20 yards from the surf. The three times that I visited (I was instantly addicted to Ono's) I noticed that this beach seemed to be a good place for families with kids to congregate. I think that's due to the fact that the surf is not pounding nor particularly alarming and because that long walk out to the deeper water (unlike Makapu'u and Sandy Beaches where you're almost instantly in the mix) provides a buffer of safety for the youngsters.

This was my family's first trip to Hawaii (Oahu) and during our 10 day stay, we visited quite a few beaches, but Waimanolo Beach was by far the best and our favorite! Powdery white sand, clear blue water, not overcrowded (even on weekends). The ocean combined with the mountains in the background make this beach picture perfect. So my advice, skip Waikiki Beach and visit a REAL beach (Waimanolo) Can't wait to go back next year!

This beach park is about 45 minutes by car from Honolulu, and about 20 minutes from Hanauma Bay. There is plenty of parking here and facilities with bathrooms, showers and picnic tables. There is a large green lawn fronting the beach. There are many trees here for shade. The sand is a soft golden/white color. The ocean is clean with some waves; the water is inviting. The sea floor at the beach is soft and sandy. The views from the beach, out to sea and down the coast are strikingly beautiful. This beach park is popular with locals and visitors. Definitely visit here, especially if the crowds are densely packed on Lanikai/Kailua Beaches nearby.

Ever heard the song and seen the video from Izzy Kamakawiwo'ole?
The pictures are of this beach.
Hawaii is already paradise. How do you say I've found paradise in paradise.
Along the koolau mountains, which are impressive, right up to ocean.
Recommend driving around hnaunama bay, the mountain, ciliff and ocean really is breath taking.
Lanikai beautiful, but getting too busy.
Several areas to park and enjoy the beach.
Liked the north one with the main park entrance.
Has washrooms/change room, not great but convenient when there all day.
There are a range of family friendly restaurants nearby in the town from vegan/organic to Hawaiian BBQ to McDonalds.
Usually several campers in the area.
Don't leave anything in your car.

Some shade available which helps for us non-locals. Great for spending the day, not getting over heated, taking a nap, reading.

The beach is almost empty, can walk for miles. The best thing to do with your loved ones or ponder the best things in life.

We've been many years. For dec 2015 major el nino helped with fantastic waves for boogie boarding, rent at snorkel bobs, nice sandy bottom. However only for those comfortable with ocean and waves.

Let's keep it our secret lol.

First of all, the beach is the most breathtaking i have ever seen. It stretches across the island as far as the eye can see. BEAUTIFUL!!!! The water is a crystal clear aqua that i have never seen in person. The "local" population that I interacted with were nothing but courteous and kind.

That being said, don't look past the HUNDREDS of tents that border of the park. While at the beach multiple families had their personal belongings stolen and there was broken glass bottles that do not belong in an area where your family plays in the sand.

I am deeply saddened by the homeless population and do not understand how such a beautiful place does not address the issue. The Hawaii Government has to do something. There was homeless people EVERYWHERE and their nightly news is a non stop warning that people and their valuables are not safe. Cars being broken into, things being stolen while enjoying their vacation, brazen assault in the middle of Waikiki... Maybe not Waimanalo Beach Park's fault but Hawaii is no longer the paradise i seen only 5 years ago! Please be on alert when visiting any "tourist" spots as you will be a target.

This beach is gorgeous--so long, lots of that soft, powdery sand. Breathtaking views. We went with our kiddo (16 months old). Unfortunately, with the increased winds that day--man o wars were on the beach. I spoke with the lifeguard about it and we opted to stay out of the water that day because they had already had several stings. However, my baby had a blast here! He still ran all over the beach, he even found a "ball" (a coconut) and he had a blast throwing it around with his daddy.

soft white sand, beautiful views, excellent sunrise, quite a pull though from the ocean. Lots of cut throughs for frequent public access to the beach from the street

Ive been to a fair few nice beaches but this one is simply stunning! Maybe we got lucky that the water was particularly calm that day. The colours, the peace and quiet, its quiet magnificence - it's something to experience! Highly recommend. In my books its got one up on Meelup beach in Australia's south west

We stayed in an airbnb, so the beach was a short walk. Very few people on this beach. We were far away from the Waimanalo State Park , we didn't see the homeless people that we read about in other reviews. The views are just beautiful there, and you can walk for miles.

Beautiful beach - about 3 miles long with soft sand and the most amazing blue colour of water.
It was not busy when we went. Just a couple having wedding photos and people mainly tourists scattered along the length of the beach.

It was very nice to just sit and watch the waves and be at one with nature.
Would definitely recommend if you want to go away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Waikiki. We will definitely be coming back to this spot.

Away from the hub hub of Waikiki, this beach is quiet and much bigger waves. There is a bathroom and several places to eat nearby. The sand is super fine and soft and tree offer some shade after noon. The shoreline is long too so it is a good place to walk the beach.

thank goodness we ran into a Hawaiian local in Sydney that highly recommended this beach. Is was absolutely breathtaking. The water, the waves, the sand, the sun, the location, the amenities - shower with fresh water to rinse off. All amazing amazing. Probably better off going here than Waikiki Beach if you love waves

Visited this beach on a Sunday and expected to find it very busy, especially as the car park was full and there was a huge group of visiting bikers, but to our surprise it was not. The sand is light golden and fine and the sea is turquoise and warm. A good swell without being dangerous and plenty of palm trees for a bit of shade. Absolutely beautiful.

On a solo trip to find myself, the valet at my hotel recommended this peaceful beach on the east coast of Oahu. Do not be alarmed by the massive tent camp along side the entrance. The beach is calm and has clean facilities. It doesn’t get the same foot traffic as Lanikai beach so you are more likely to have a peaceful beach day with calm waters and smooth white sand.

A large beach that stretches along the coast so you are bound to find some space with less people (it's not as crowded anyways). It's got parking and bathrooms with change rooms. The only downside was that because most of the shoreline has palm trees, there are tiny pieces of wood either been washed onto shore or had fallen off the trees. That doesn't take away from the experience of the beautiful turquoise waters.

Our private tour guide brought us to this area and told us some detailed info about Waimanalo Beach and this area. Waimanalo Beach is a four-mile stretch of sand 20 minutes past Makapuu Lighthouse on the Windward Coast. This beach park has ample parking and is host to many local picnics and parties. Its gentle waves make it a great place to bodyboard or bodysurf. Waimanalo Beach is arguably the prettiest stretch of pristine white-sand beach on the island with backdrops of the beautiful Koolau Mountain Range. Unlike Kailua, the sand isn't as powdery. There are also trees that drop pine cones on the sand, which make the same less than pleasant to walk on, when you're in the shaded areas. We plan on coming back here in the future when we can spend more time here.

beauty! lots of weddings happening the day we went here. we did not stay on the beach area as we were checking the area out and heading to bellows beach

Nice place to take the kids and let them enjoy the water. There were a lot of families there and they were having fun. We laid there for some time. Just enjoying the sun, water and sand.
This is a very nice beach for all!

Wow. We stopped here very briefly as part of a North Shore Tour and I wasn't prepared for how gorgeous and long this beach would be. I could have stayed here all day. Looking to the North, the beach was completely deserted. To the South, there were just a handful of people for a weekday morning. I guess there is a reason our guide called it "Secret Beach."

I can't give much other info, but if/when I go back to this area, I will definitely stop here. Such a beautiful and dramatic setting.

Absolutely one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the world; comparable to Pampelonne Beach in St. Tropez but even prettier with softer, whiter sand and no crowded beach clubs. Faces east so shady in the afternoon with nice breezes. Park on north lot away from homeless shelters. Simply beautiful. Risk - people let their dogs off leash here so beware of that risk.

This is a large, long beach and park area. There are picnic areas, restrooms and on the northern section are ball fields. Not only beautiful views of the beach and ocean, but turn around and take in the majesty of the Koʻolau range. This beach was not very crowded on a Saturday. There are lifeguard stations, do not know if they were manned or not. Also had Man-o-War warnings posted, no one was in the water. But that did not detract from a great time. Only drawback is the beach has a lot of litter, whether from visitors or flotsam, I don't know.

Fabulous beach! Wide open view, soft sand, shallow water to swim in! Beautiful blue-green turquoise water! No rocks to step on in water! Super good time!!!

This 3 mile long beach was one of many absolutely beautiful beaches along the windward coast of Oahu. The water was as turquiose as anywhere I have ever been including the Caribbean and Cozumel/Cancun area. It was also relatively secluded except for some of the homeless that seem to live in and around the park - a bit unsettling but did not feel unsafe to me.

It seemed like a great place to spend a day to get some sun and ocean. It was a bit rough the day we were there to look around, so I suspect you would need to mindful of surf conditions before doing any water activities. Definitely worth the drive!

This was probably my favourite beach in Oahu. Oahu has a lot of great but this one probably has the nicest blue water. And not too crowded as well. Would recommend a visit here!

This was one of the best beaches I visited in Hawaii.
The water was perfect, having just enough in the way of waves to be fun, without being too strong.
There was shade under the trees if you wanted, or a long stretch of sand if you wanted sun.
There are showers and bathrooms by the carpark.
You can park there easily.

Best beach on the island hands down. Away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and view of Rabbit Island is just as magnificent as Diamond Head.

Its one of the few beaches that a lot of the crowds wont be at. It peaceful, serene & family friendly. white sand for miles, picturesque. Go early in the morning & watch the morning sun come up it outstanding. Blue water all day.

My love affair with Waimanalo Beach began last July and I am happy to say that Waimanalo Beach is still dear to my heart.  Unlike Waikiki Beach which is so crowded you often feel that you have Waimanalo Beach all to yourself during the weekdays.  It is the kind of beach where you can find happiness by simply putting down your beach towel, eating a bowl of spicy Poke for lunch, and simply enjoying the beautiful scenery of the surrounding Banyan trees, and mountains. The day is even more perfect with the beautiful sound of the waves from the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the water at Waimanalo Beach is the most beautiful turquoise ever.  
My son had an amazing time Boogie Boarding during our visit. The conditions were a little rough however, a lifeguard was always on duty.  Spending a few hours at Waimanalo Beach definitely put me in my happy places.  I only wish I could snap my fingers and somehow magically return whenever I desired.  
There are restrooms available and parking.  Just make sure to not leave any valuables on the seat of your car.  I didn’t have any problem however, I have read about a variety of incidents that occur in beach parking lots.  Overall, the beauty of the beach and the sound of the waves provide you with all that is needed for an extraordinary day.  See you again Waimanalo Beach in 2024!

Went later in the day and the beach was quiet and rather empty. Bathrooms nearby. The waves were small enough for elementary school kids to swim in. The views were stunning. Ample parking.

We saw homeless and an encampment of about 13 tents. We didn't spend that long here after spotting the encampment.

This may be a little bias as this is the beach I most remember as it is one where I learnt how to swim. The waters are calm (beware of portuguese man of war), these blue airbubble float on the top of the water jellyfish type creatures that take claim to many beaches and I saw 1 on the shore and recall being stung by one when I was 12. This beach also houses the Magnum P.I. house (high walls so you won't see much but it is there!). Great view of Rabbit Island too as a backdrop to the clear snorkel friendly waters.

Friends sent us here from some fun boogie boarding. We arrived relatively early and had this gorgeous beach largely to ourselves. Beautiful, silky sand and turquoise water.

High waves, blue water and white sand. That’s what we expected to find on this island and you’ll find it here.
They have changing rooms and toilets. Parking was no problem for us.

Water is as seen on pictures. Picture perfect, like standing in front of a post card. We arrived early 10sh. Theres a life guard. The waves are mild. My 7 yr old hold up well. My 3 year old not so much. Only a few people are there, we stayed until 2sh. It is a different feel than the crowded Waikiki Beach ( we also enjoyed Waikiki Beach ) this is just a whole new different experience. There is ample parking, wash rooms, outdoor shower. A small park with a rock climbing structure for little ones. There's picnic tables. We brought a pack lunch, but there are hole in the wall eateries close by the gasoline station not far down. About 1 hr drive from Waikiki with traffic.

It’s nickname is called ‘Sherwood Forest’ with all the theft there. The police are always there.

So many other beautiful beaches to go to. Don’t waste your time or worries about this place

Unbelievable beach with beautiful turquoise water. One of my most favorite beaches in all of Hawaii. Can be rough and certain times of the year there are man-of-war present. You will see many weddings being photographed here because of the beauty.

I have one Hawaiian track in my life which I love as it is one of my favourite songs. Famed forever (in my opinion by Eva Cassidy), this version is also great and I loved being able to tell my daughter who was singing when she asked about the track out of the blue. This song came on so many times in my recent trip to Hawaii and I, several times was able to identify Israel (Iz) when my friends who have lived in Hawaii for years couldn't. However I went to the Gabby tribute here in April 2016 and got such a surprise when I realised that when Iz says "This one's for Gabby" that he meant Gabby Pahinui. x

I would give this beach 100 stars if I could. Hands down my favorite beach on Oahu. Perfect for sunbathing and swimming, with just enough surf to catch some mild boogie boarding waves. Practically deserted every time we go. If you are looking to escape the chaos of Waikiki and find some much needed solitude, then this beach is for you.

We loved Waimanalo Beach which was seconds from our property that we stayed at. It was all that we hoped - turquoise water as far as you can see and bordered by mountains with outlying islands. Rabbit Island is in direct view from the beach. Soft, white sand {perfect for castle building} and amazing waves which are perfect for boogie boarding. We didn't see any sea creatures where we were - but could walk south on the beach for about 20 minutes and come to the Canoe Club where there is a fantastic reef filled with tropical fish and sea turtles. We would carry our snorkels with us and spend the morning there, then walk back and boogie board for the afternoon. It was perfect for us!

Beautiful and off the beaten-path. Trees for shade and clean white sand for playing! We got lunch at a little stop next door and had a wonderful day at the beach.

Very long stretch of beautiful sandy beach with lots of shades and easy parking, utility access. It has the amazing mountain backdrop on the side and back. Locals come here to camp, fishing. On Oahu, we love this beach and Kailua beach the most for the beach beautiful sand and shades. It’s a bit more wavy than Lanikai. We’ve probably explored over 20 beaches on Oahu over a total of 4 weeks.

Avoid the Wakiki crowds and spend your beach day here instead! This beach offers pristine views and was basically deserted while we were there. Visibility in the water was poor so we couldn’t see anything while snorkeling, but the beach was fantastic. Perfect white sand and light blue water. Public bathrooms can be found next to the public parking lots.

I love going to this beach. Never crowded. Safe. Beautiful views. Grab a plate lunch at Keneke's and enjoy your time there.

One of the most beautiful beach in Hawaii don’t miss it
To get there you need a car or an Huber
There are no restaurant but the place is magic

Ah aha beautiful views white sand blue ocean ⛲️great beach to swim an surf many different locations to surf at fun fun fun fun Great beach highly recommended 🍮🍧

Gorgeous! The best sand on Oahu. The water was a bit rough but it was fantastic.
The only downside, the far end was filled with an encampment, very dirty and some very aggressive people there.

Driving from Northshore and what a view. Stopped to take pictures as this is more of what we thought the Northshore would be like.

Located on the windward side of Oahu, Waimanalo Beach is known for its turquoise blue waters and white sand. The beach is an uninterrupted 3-mile long one. There is a north and south entrance. At the northern end, it is called Waimanalo Bay State Park and the southern end is known as Waimanalo Beach Park. Both have the same amenities (showers, restrooms, picnic tables, lifeguard) but the park has camping by permit only.

Very nice beach with clear and shallow water. It's also much less crowded than Waikiki and not too far away from Hanauma Bay, so spending and afternoon at Waimanolo after a morning snorkelling in Hanauma Bay is a great plan.

If you don't have a car (as we did when visiting Oahu), take bus 57 westbound toward Sea Life Park; it's a couple stops before the park.

We ended up here on labor day because there was no available parking on koolina beach, it was so crowded. It is a nice beach but it was too windy, maybe we'll come back on a nice day.

I LOVE this beach! It's the calmest waters I could find on this whole island. Most of the beaches were hard for me to enjoy because they were too rough with large waves. This beach was perfection. The clear water and powdery white sand... felt like I was right back in the Caribbean.

Beach is large and not crowded. Waves are active enough to have fun but not dangerous for 12 year olds and above roughly. Nice change from the laid back Lanikai and Kailua.

Hands down the best beach on Oahu. Miles of pristine white sand and aqua water with lush green foliage and hills as a backdrop. A great place.to.spend the day.

This is a gorgeous beach to spend a day. Just amazing blue sea and the mountains are in a backdrop. Just a perfect scenario. I really recommend to go and enjoy the place. Not so many people, you can chill and relax with no crowds.

The place has a nice area for picnic and parties 🎉. There’s a lifeguard on duty. Kids enjoy playing the sand making sand castle

Ummm NO!!! We stopped here to let my daughter play in the sand. Our first clue to not stop should have been all the tents that were lining the side of the road. We drove a little further from that area and parked in the parking lot.

There the beach seemed quieter. I went to the restroom. There was an horrid stench in there. Most stalls had broken toilets or not toilet paper. I found one that had toilet paper. On my way back to my family, I saw two tents with homeless people in the bushes behind where my family was. We packed up and left.

Incredibly beautiful beach, with soft sand, great waves and beautiful clear blue water. Plenty of room, very uncrowned even on State holiday.

This is the second to best beach on Oahu (Bellows Air Field has the BEST!) and most tourists don't know this exists. Hopefully those of you reading this will respect the beauty of this place and keep it clean and beautiful.

Beautiful beach and the water was just lovely. Plenty of parking and shade. Showers available but the restrooms left something to be desired. Lifeguards on duty. Drove up from Waikiki twice and the coastal road and lookouts were stunning.

This beach has scenic views of offshore islands and the koolau mountain range. There were people body surfing and I also saw a couple riding their horses near the beach. There is a restroom with changing areas. sight of one of Hawai’i’s premier celebrations of Hawaiian music - Gabby Pahinui Waimānalo Kanikapila

Having spent a week on Oahu I visited most beaches and this was one of my favourites! I love a picturesque beach and this one certainly delivered with the calm turquoise waters, the islands in the distance and white sand that stretches for miles. I think the waves at this beach depend alot on the wind direction and season. When I visited it was very calm with no waves (which suited me!). Not at all crowded compared to Waikiki as there is lots of space to spread out and plenty of trees to sit under. On the drive here you'll pass quite a few homeless living in tents but that's the norm on most of Oahu. Would highly recommend this spot for those wanting a serene beach experience away from all the tourists.

My favorite beach on Oahu!! Loved it! Quiet and water and island/Mountain View’s are absolutely spectacular! Can’t wait to return!!

My family and I traveled to a different beach day in our rented car. When we found this one, we returned to it a second time. It is very beautiful, and has a long stretch of beach for a walk, which we always enjoy. During the week, we found it to be sparsely attended, but much more so on the weekend. The aquamarine color of the water, the white sand, and the land masses in the sea make for a lovely spot. Highly recommended.

We did a 4 hour jeep tour and were brought to this beach to swim and relax. It was us, the couple we came with, our tour guide and literally one other couple. Beautiful and serene!

I headed out of Honolulu in my rental car for the morning looking for some uncrowded beaches. I had heard good things about Waimanalo and while they were true...it was a big long beautiful sandy beach surrounded by gorgeous blue water, unfortunately it was covered that morning with homeless shelters, so I just kept moving.

Beach is quiet, lots of parking, has a life guard and rest rooms, and waves are perfect for playing with boogie boards. Glad we ran into a lifeguard at Sandy Beach and recommended Waimanalo. He saw us with our beach toys and kids and told us that Sandy Beach has very strong waves even at the shoreline (known for giving neck and back injuries). Sandy beach is good beach for surfing.
Drive 10 minutes more after Sandy Beach, go past McDonalds and look for the wire fence. Drive for a few minutes to reach the parking lot.

Definitely one of my favourite.
Silky soft sand, the best I experienced so far.Softer than in Dominican.Restrooms,water to rinse, not so crowded( everyone is in Lanikai,LOL)

Pretty beach with nice backdrop of mountains and island in the distance. Water was a bit rough when we were there, but we were told that the week before it was very calm and you could stand-up paddle board on it. When we were there, that would've been difficult due to the waves and swells at the time.

I whent here twice, it was so beautifull i had to come back. The sand, the waves, the mountains in the back ground... Really beautifull. It was some strong currents, so i stayed in the water a short time, but thats Hawaii. Bring a cooler ;)

If you find Waikiki beach a tad suffocating, give this beach a try. The view is spectacular: you have the beach in front of you and the mountains behind you. There seemed to be a tent community on a grass portion beyond the sand, to the right of the lifeguard. I'm not sure if this is a permanent fixture or not, but they didn't seem to bother anyone.

I may be a little biased because we were married on this beach but it is absolutely gorgeous. Big white sandy beach and it is definitely less crowded than some on Oahu. We would definitely stay in Waimanalo again, it's perfect!

Great views up and down coast. Long wide beach, was not crowded. Very fine sand.
Was able to see a Sea Turtle close to shore.
Tough to get to without tour or car.

Nice white sand with beautiful waves and memories you'll never forget.. whether you're there to sit down and relax or get married.. this is the place to do it.. the drive from Waikiki to Waimanalo was so breathtaking.. huge waves crashing against the rocks and shoreline makes for great photos..

We were so blessed that when we went, there's no one there! No crowds, more fun. But BEWARE: There's a jellyfish sighting!!! Nice beach to hangout, i'm not sure about swimming in it. But the whole place is stunning.

Turquoise water, beautiful sand, incredible scenery, shady trees if you need a break from the sun, quiet, easy access from the road...what more could you ask for? (I might ask for one of those stunning beach front homes.)

Strong currents, not safe for swimming. Amazing to see the waves crash. Clear blue water. Picturesque, amazing.

Stopped here on our way around the island. Go groups!! Not to crowded but not empty. Absolutely beautiful!!! A must see. Can't wait to go again!!

Favorite beach to visit in Oahu. On the east side and is not very busy. Amazing breeze and incredibly soft sand. Also located near some great eats!

We were introduced to this beach on a LOST tour, as it was where they filmed Jack's Thailand flashback. But even if you aren't a LOST fan, this beach should not be missed. It is just stunning. The colour of the water is just unreal. We found it very quiet on a Wednesday morning.

Beautiful stretch of beach. Sand is super fine & sometimes requires. Second wash to get out of your hair. Beware of man of wars in the water & on the beach especially on windy days. They can leave a painful sting & a nasty reaction for some.

This is a beautiful beach. There is a fairly large parking lot and some restroom facilities. There were signs warning of jelly fish and we heard that someone had gotten stung earlier in the day.

Love this beautiful beach. Not crowded in early or late afternoon. Clean beach in local area with great food around.

45 minutes from downtown Honolulu with traffic. Plan for a picnic here. Never crowded and just absolutely beautiful. Public washrooms and change rooms but limited parking. Water is perfect. Winter waves can get serious here. Generally shallow sandy bottom for about 150 feet from shoreline. ENJOY!

My wife and I stayed in Waikiki for our anniversary trip. We rented a car to explore the island. Waimanalo beach was our favorite on the island. Not as crowded as Waikiki and better sand than the north shore! Not that any beach in Hawaii is bad but this was are favorite.

Gorgeous!! The only reason i give 4 stars is because the waves were too strong when i went in march "rainy season" be weary of this.
small parking as well, not many people here when i went

This is a stunning white sand beach, with the Koolau mountains as the back drop. The water is crystal clear. There is a restroom. Please be sure to lock your vehicles and do not leave valuables in the car.