Waimānalo Beach
Wide sand. Windward views. A day beyond Waikīkī.
Windward Oʻahu
Beach park & visitor guide
Photo: Thomas Woodtli · CC BY-SA 2.0 · resized, cropped and compressed
Start at the right place
One shoreline, different park entrances
Waimānalo Beach Park
This guide uses the City beach park at 41-741 Kalanianaʻole Highway as its arrival point. Select the full park name when setting directions, booking a ride or checking the bus.
Hūnānaniho & Bellows
Hūnānaniho, formerly Waimānalo Bay Beach Park, is a separate park farther along the shoreline. Bellows is another destination. Their entrances, access rules and closing hours should be checked separately.
Overview
A beach day with room to slow down
Pale sand, a long sweep of blue water and windward mountain views make Waimānalo an appealing change of scene from Waikīkī.
Base your visit at Waimānalo Beach Park. It combines a shoreline visit with park facilities and a lifeguard location, plus food stops in Waimānalo town. Bring what you need for the sand; cafés and shops are separate stops along the highway.
This is an exposed ocean beach. Wind, waves and shorebreak can shape the visit, so let conditions decide whether the day includes swimming or simply a walk, picnic and ocean views.
Our suggestion: choose a weekday morning if your schedule allows, pack lightly and leave time for a meal in town before the journey back. This is planning advice, not a live crowd forecast.
Getting there
From Waikīkī to Waimānalo
Use Waimānalo Beach Park as the destination, rather than a general Waimānalo beach pin. Directions below start at the Duke Kahanamoku Statue; change the origin to your hotel and choose your travel date.
Via Ala Moana & Kailua
- Waikīkī → Ala Moana CenterTake route 42, E or W and check the correct boarding side.
- Ala Moana → WaimānaloTransfer to route 67 signed KAILUA–WAIMANALO. Stay aboard beyond Kailua.
- Finish on footUse the trip planner for the appropriate stop and walk to the park. Check crossings, your return stop and the last useful connection.
Via Sea Life Park
An alternative follows the southeast coast: take 2 or 2L to Kahala Mall, then 23 toward Sea Life Park and continue or transfer to 69 toward Waimānalo. Route 2L operates on weekdays.
Confirm through service with the driver at Sea Life Park. Extra connections can add waiting time; compare both options for your departure time.
Drive, taxi or rideshare
The southeast coastal route travels past Hawaiʻi Kai and around Makapuʻu. Your navigation app may suggest a different route based on traffic. Avoid a fixed arrival promise: travel time depends on congestion and stops.
For a hired ride, use the exact park destination, arrange a legal pickup spot and check return availability before leaving Waikīkī.
Bus budget: adult cash fare is $3.25 per boarding, with no cash transfers. Adult HOLO fare is $3 with a two-hour transfer window and a $7.50 rolling 24-hour cap. A new HOLO card costs $2. Check current fares.
Plan the return before heading onto the sand. Carry a charged phone, water and enough fare; this page does not show live bus arrivals.
Facilities
The park makes the day easier
Restrooms & showers
Restrooms and outdoor rinse showers serve the park. Comfort stations close from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., even though park grounds normally reopen at 5 a.m. Temporary maintenance or closure signs take priority.
Picnic & shade
Bring a picnic, drinking water and sun protection. Trees provide shade in parts of the park, but your preferred spot may already be occupied. Keep pathways clear and take your rubbish to a bin or carry it out.
Accessible viewing
The City lists a beach access mat leading to a viewing point at Waimānalo Beach Park. That is not a promise of an accessible route into the water. Confirm the mat’s condition and your group’s needs before travelling.
Park works: Pahinui Pavilion reopened on August 28, 2026. Electrical and grass work continues, with access from the Makapuʻu side while finishing work is underway. Comfort-station and recreation-building renovations are expected in early 2027. Check current park works.
Before a visit with specific access needs: contact the park at (808) 768-6840. Ask about the route from parking, comfort stations and the viewing mat. Beach wheelchair availability at this park is not confirmed here.
Parking & crowds
Arrive with a parking plan
Use the designated park parking
Set your destination to Waimānalo Beach Park and use a marked legal space. Follow posted hours, restrictions and any payment instructions. Do not park on grass, block gates or use private driveways.
The park closes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Return to your vehicle before closing. Available spaces and the current tariff are not shown here.
Give yourself flexibility
The beach attracts residents as well as visitors. Weekends, holidays and good beach weather can make preferred park areas and parking busier. An early weekday arrival is our suggestion for a more flexible visit.
If the lot is full, choose another legal destination or wait where permitted. Do not assume that Hūnānaniho or Bellows has the same access rules or spare parking.
There is no live crowd counter, Google Popular Times feed or guaranteed parking availability in this guide. Keep valuables out of sight and take essentials with you.
Ocean safety
Check the ocean before entering
Ask the on-duty lifeguard before swimming. The City’s daily tower schedule is 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; actual coverage can be affected by closures. An unattended tower or a beach photograph does not confirm safe conditions.
Shorebreak, rip currents, strong currents, high surf and jellyfish can affect this coast. Waves breaking near the sand can knock people down. Stay within your ability, swim with a companion and supervise children closely.
Wind can push inflatables away from shore. Keep any water activity within current lifeguard advice. A picnic and shoreline view remain good reasons to visit when swimming is unsuitable.
Avoid brown water and storm runoff, and check water-quality advisories after rain. In an emergency call 911 and identify Waimānalo Beach Park and your nearest landmark.
Check current notices and ask at the tower. This guide does not give a live swimming-safety rating.
Food nearby
Make a stop in Waimānalo town
These food stops are away from the sand. Check the correct Waimānalo location, menu and hours before setting out. For walking, use proper highway crossings and inspect the route rather than assuming a beach path connects everything.
COFFEE & A MEAL
Kalapawai — Waimānalo
A convenient town stop for coffee, breakfast, sandwiches or a meal before returning to Waikīkī.
41-865 Kalanianaʻole Highway
Daily: 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
LOCAL GRILL
Keneke’s — Waimānalo
A casual grill and plate-lunch option. Choose the Waimānalo branch; Keneke’s also has a separate Punaluu location.
41-857 Kalanianaʻole Highway
Daily: 7 a.m.–6 p.m.
(808) 259-9800
STEAK & SHRIMP
Ono Steaks & Shrimp Shack
An option on Wailea Street for a meal around your beach visit. Confirm its current opening hours directly before relying on this stop.
41-037 Wailea Street
Listed hours can change and do not indicate “open now.” Pack water and a backup snack, especially for an early beach arrival or a long bus journey.
Explore the area
The beach park & food nearby
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Waimānalo Beach Park
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A simple visit
A relaxed day, with a clear return plan
01
Arrive & orient yourself
Find the park facilities, note your pickup or return bus stop and speak to the lifeguard. If you arrive before 7 a.m., plan around the restroom closure.
02
Give the shore some time
Walk the sand, enjoy the views and settle for a picnic. Let the day’s wind and ocean conditions determine water activities. Keep your belongings and children close.
03
Eat & head back
Choose a town food stop, then leave enough time for traffic or bus connections. If you travelled along the coast, a scenic stop can be planned separately rather than squeezed into the return.
Keep the plan manageable: Waimānalo can fill a beach day on its own. Kailua and Lanikai make useful alternatives for another day; combining all three adds travel and reduces time on the sand.
Frequently asked questions
Before you go
Is this the same as Waimānalo Bay Beach Park?
No. This guide’s destination is Waimānalo Beach Park at 41-741 Kalanianaʻole Highway. Hūnānaniho, formerly Waimānalo Bay Beach Park, is a separate park. Select the exact destination in your map or trip planner.
Can I get here by bus from Waikīkī?
Yes. One option is 42, E or W to Ala Moana Center, then 67 toward Waimānalo and a final walk. Another runs via Kahala Mall and Sea Life Park using 2 or 2L, 23 and 69. Check the itinerary for your date, transfer waits and the return journey.
Are there toilets, showers and parking?
The beach park has restrooms, rinse showers and designated parking. Restrooms normally close from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; park grounds close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Follow current signs and allow for temporary closures.
Is Waimānalo safe for children to swim?
Conditions decide. Ask the on-duty lifeguard about shorebreak and currents, stay within everyone’s ability and supervise children closely. A family shore visit does not require swimming.
Is there wheelchair access to the water?
The City lists a beach access mat to a viewing point. This does not confirm a route into the water or beach wheelchair availability. Call the park to discuss your needs and current access conditions.
When is it least crowded?
Crowds vary. Our planning suggestion is an early weekday visit outside holidays, with flexibility if preferred spaces are occupied. This guide does not show a live crowd estimate.
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