Waimanalo Beach Park

Perhaps because it is conveniently located close to Honolulu, Kailua, and Kaneohe that makes it popular among tourists and locals, yet there's no question that Waimanalo Beach Park is often sited as the most volleyball drills beach park of locals. Perhaps the beach park is the reason in itself--- its wide and long sand beach, its reef-protected aquamarine water, its full facilities, its scenic views.

Located in the middle of the Waimanalo Bay Recreation Center, the 38-acre Waimanalo Beach Park is fronted by a wide sand beach that's over 3 miles long--- the longest in Oahu. Offshore, Rabbit Island and Makapuu Point provides a breathtaking background. From the shoreline, one is also afforded a view of the windward coast.

Also offshore, about a mile away, a coral reef protects beach from big waves. Moreover, the sand slopes gently, the sandbar is shallow, and the waves are small. Altogether, these features make the beach safe for swimming all year round for the whole family and for amateur wave riding. Beachcombing, fishing, surfing, and boogie boarding are the other favorite pastimes here.

In the backshore, ironwood trees provide ample shade. The park has athletic fields where a lot of volleyball drills like volleyball and basketball are always going. Locals love to picnic here, too, cooking BBQs on the grill, or spreading on the sand with minicamps listening to radio music.

Though the surf is generally safe, watch out for the Portuguese man-of-war; they tend to swarm the beach when northeast trade winds are strong. When there are jellyfish postings, stay out of the water or you'll risk getting stung. Jellyfish stings can be very painful and, sometimes, fatal.

Services and amenities: lifeguards, restrooms, showers, phones, basketball courts, volleyball court, ball fields.

5 Unique Things about Waimanalo Beach Park:

• In Hawaiian, the name of the beach means "potable water."
• With over 3-mile long strip of sand, it is the longest beach in Oahu.
• The former Waimanalo Landing used to be located here; it was used by interisland steamers and ships when visiting sugar towns and communities.
• In the television series Magnum PI, this is where Magnum takes a dip after sleuthing.
• Pulitzer-prize winning novelist James Michener wrote his novel "Hawaii" here. The novel was later turned into a film starring Julie Andrews.

Book your Hawaii hotel and come to enjoy Waimanalo Beach park and other Oahu beaches.