Makapu’u Beach Park

Breathtaking beautiful beach! I saw a rainbow and that was it for me! Enjoyed my time in hawai’i Kai away from tourist and enjoying the windy fresh air! Local flavor for sure out here! Just a note: it is super rocky out in this side!

I really enjoyed watching the sunrise from this beach. If you are heading northbound on the road, there is also an entrance to the Makapu’u lighthouse trail on the right. It is an easy hike on a paved road (2 miles round trip). The entrance does not open till 7 AM but you can park on the side of the road next to the entrance and walk in. We did the hike after sunrise but we probably should have just did the hike earlier to get a slightly better view of the sunrise.
If you are planning a trip to Oahu and looking for recommendations, please see

The beach itself is quite beautiful. Lifeguards are on duty incase of an emergency. Great for body boarding and decent for body surfing, depending on the swells of course. Good spot for spear fishing on the right side of the beach. Or if you are just trying to catch some sun before it hides behind the mountains, which can happen as early as 2:30 depending on what time of year it is. All of these are great aspects of this beach. The downside… the parking lot capacity is quite small in comparison to the size of the beach. But you probably wouldn’t want to park there seeing as the asphalt is speckled with glass from broken car windows due to the heavy number of break-​ins. The bathrooms are terribly unkempt, littered with graffiti and even human fecal matter left on the floor next to a perfectly functioning toilet. And the showering area could use a little bit of renovating. I guess this beach park is a little too far from town to be maintained by the city and county. But hey, they can’t all be winners…

07÷19÷13 (last visited)
Beautiful & breathtaking picturesque! A lot of body boarders like to come here, but if you’d rather stay on the sand, there’s a lot of room to lay out. If you look up to the sky you may even see some paragliders! It has a few little tide pools that kids can explore. Swimming there is a little rough because of the powerful waves so you have to be careful.
It is a bit of a hike down to the beach from the parking lot and the surf was a little stronger but worth it all. If there are signs posted pay attention to them. There are no food facilities in the area, so make sure to pack a small cooler with food and drinks before arrival.
It’s unfortunate, but there have been a lot of car break-​ins over the years at Makapuu Beach. I have not experienced any trouble, but it is very important to take all personal belongings with you to the beach and leave nothing visible in the car.
It is right across the street from the Sea Life Park and has a great view of the light house. It does have showers though by the restrooms to wash off all of the sand. The parking is pretty limited. This is one of the best beaches for bodysurfing and bodyboarding. But beware the rough surf, currents and undertow if you are a novice. As with all beaches in Hawai’i, if you are unfamiliar with the waters, make sure to consult the lifeguards before going into the water. It could save your life.
Still, I would definitely recommend going there to at least enjoy the scenery.
*FACILITIES
Restrooms above the parking lot
Beach showers above the parking lot
A couple of picnic tables midway down
A few shady trees
Life guard on duty
Free parking — maybe 40 spots available
Telephones
*Also be sure to check a Jellyfish Arrival Calendar to avoid getting stung!

eddieboy surf report:
north shore swell:15−20?!
south shore swell:
–makapuu 6 – 9 feet
–bellos 1 – 2 feet
–sandys 4 – 6 feet
90 degrees partly cloudy no rain.
nice sets. dark mountain after dark mountain. heavy barrell. no backwash. hurricane swell at makapuu today! uncle mok caught 1 15 footer from waaaaaay outside all the way in w/​barrell at the end. i was gonna chee hoo or something but to be honest i jus choked. stunned bra. shmall kine nervous. kno wat i mean. let me tell u, couldve end up way worse. from way up there. so after i was gon see if u like try testem. fuccit yea we go! so i try ack like im gonna go on the 6 footer n right at the end, im looking down a 1 ½ story building. naaah. maybeh NOT! pulled out right at the end. LOL. haha. no ambulance today. praise the lord. whew! =P

It’s beautiful here! This is always our «backup plan» if attractions on the Eastside of the island (like Hanauma Bay) are full. From Honolulu, you drive past Koko Head and some other iconic scenery on your way.
They have a parking lot, but on good wave days it can get full. There’s some spots along the road, but use caution when parking here because cars are going fast. Just pay attention!
Like the other Unilocalers mentioned, this beach is awesome for boogie boarding! You can see tourist and locals alike trying to catch waves or swim with fins. I usually just splash around with my BF because we’re not strong swimmers.
With that said, KNOW YOUR SWIMMING STRENGTH. This isn’t your average beach. I think a lot of people who come here under estimate the strength of the waves. Scope it out and just take caution.
Bathrooms have seen better days, so use with caution. Bring baby wipes and/​or hand sanitizer.
After playing in the water, check out the tide pools! Lots of awesome stuff to see!

Still love this beach. Good body surfing, and surprisingly, decent snorkeling despite the big waves. Next time I’m gonna try snorkeling near the rocks along Makapuu point where the water looks super clear.

This is a really nice park as its right in the ocean and the view is beautiful. I didn’t stay long enough to enjoy the water or sand but just seeing it as well worth it. The white sands and blue water with the ocean smell.

Beautiful Beach with pretty strong waves
On the way to the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail we passed this little beach. It looked nice so we pulled over. There are about 15 parking lots… and a cop car was also there the whole time.
It is indeed a nice little beach, mostly local families with their kids were here. The waves at the beach were pretty strong… brave kids!
We walked along the beach a bit to the rock/​lava formations. It’s a really nice area. Sand, rocks, lots of green… a feast for your eyes.
If you dare, go a bit closer to the shore to really get a feel for the strong waves breaking on the rocks here (check the pics).
It might not be a beach to spend a whole day. But if you are in the area, it’s surely worth spending an hour or two. Pretty and quiet.

This is my favorite place to go to on the island. When it is calm, the beach is great for tourists and children. The general area sometimes has Portuguese man of war (stinging jelly fish), but I have never been stung here. When the waves are up however, I am almost always here. I have been coming to this beach since I was in high school and learned how to body board. This is a good intermediate beach to practice your skills. The break sometimes is a shore break or a crumble on the outside. There are many different types of ways that people can ride to become better. My only concern is the parking. If it is a pretty day and the waves are flat, you will find a lot of tourists, and if the waves are big, you will find a lot of locals. Almost under any type of condition, this beach is always crowded and parking can be a minor problem. You can park on the side of the road if necessary. I would recommend this beach to anyone and everyone, and will always come back here as long as I am in Hawaii.

Makapu’u Lookout is beautiful! Standing (carefully) cliffside looking at the beach, the intense blue ocean, feeling the breeze… there’s nothing better than natural beauty! Perfect for photos too. You can also take a hike to the lighthouse or tidepools below or hang out at the beach and just enjoy one of Hawaii’s gems

This review is for «Baby Makapu’u» beach, which is on the Waimanalo side of Makapu’u beach park.
This is the best beach on Oahu for kids in my opinion and enjoyable for adults as well! It is a calm beach where the waves break on the rocks super far out so there are literally no waves ON the beach. Instead it is composed of small tide pools from 6 in to 4 feet deep. PERFECT for kids of all ages to explore, splash and play.
The scenery is just lovely. With rabbit island in the background, the water sparkles and contrasts with the white sand.
There is a small lot when you go in to the right for this beach and a bigger lot for Makapu’u Beach Park farther up. There are facilities although you need to walk up to them.
Please remember to pick up your trash and any you see on the beach– take care of Hawaii!

Makapuu Beach can get a bit crowded when the waves are good so you’ll have to go early to get a spot in the parking lot. For the most part the beach itself is pretty spacious. It’s fun to explore the tide pools around the area and see what’s living in them. I do like that there are paved walkways to make it more accessible and the fact that there are decent restrooms and showers. The area seems to be pretty well kept and the naupaka flowers are always so pretty. However my one complaint is that beach goers dont clean up after themselves. Multiple times I have found beer cans, candy wrappers, old slippers, and even a sock lying around in the sand or in the bushes. Gross and definitely unsanitary… But at least for the most part the beach is clean and I’ve never seen anything in the water.
Also FYI. If you set up your stuff in the little «nooks» of sand around the trees, keep an eye out for red ants because those little dudes bite.

Another breathtaking site in our beautiful Hawai’i-nei! Pin this one on your bulletin board…
MAKAPU’U BEACH PARK!
But really… The logistics of the park can include Baby Makapu’u (popular w/​boarders), the research pier (popular with marine biologists), rabbit island aka Mānana (popular with birds more so than rabbits now)…
It’s just one of those classic picturesque sites that is so easy to get to, located between East Hawai’i Kai and Waimānalo, but still takes your breath away every-​time you see it!
My friends say…
«Picture Perfect Postcard Views!» — Lori I.
«Favorite Beach in the World…» — Jean P.
«Great Beach for really good Surfers…» — Marni T.
«One of my Favorite Beaches…» — Michelle L.
«Somewhere Over the Rainbow…» — Bruddah IZ
I agree with everything said above! A not so hidden gem that can be literally seen just driving on Kalanianaole Highway! Parking is usually cake on weekdays, but on weekend and holidays expect to wait or be lucky! I still recommend stopping by and exploring and not just looking and driving away! Stop. Look. Breathe. Explore. Relax. Zen. Think. Be amazed… For absolutely FREE!
So yes, I definitely recommend…
MAKAPU’U BEACH PARK!
A place to simply enjoy!
A place easy to get to!
A place for self or the entire Ohana!
A place to explore and smile!
A place to have a picnic!
A place to remind yourself that… hey, we’re… ALIVE!
What a gift for all of us…
Just be respectful of our Āina, pickup trash, be gentle of all the living, and give space to campsites with the Hawai’i sovereignty flag…
«Well I see trees of green and red roses too,
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world…
Well I see skies of blue
And I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world…»
OVERALL GRADE: 5.0-STARS!
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #413

This is my favorite beach of all time! I’m from california and every time we come to Hawaii I always stop here. It’s not crowded and overrun with crazy tourists like the beaches in Waikiki and has such nice scenery. There’s usually a lot of local people who bodysurf here. it has been known to have some waves so it’s great for body surfing! I’ve been here when it’s been «big» and just have to be careful in the water and listen to the lifeguard. If you are not good in the water or have kids with you I don’t recommend it. It’s a lot more mellow than sandy beach down the road though. This seriously looks like a beach from a postcard it’s that beautiful. I love to stand up on the cliff and look down at the beach below before jumping in the water.

Absolutely gorgeous beach!!! Went there in mid October. The waves and shore break were serious, but still manageable. The key is to get past the shore break and swim just past it, otherwise you will be battling waves the entire time.
Incredible beauty!
Wonderful water!
One of the coolest beaches I have ever been to!

Awesome beach, well worth the drive. Not very crowded during the week and the waves are usually pretty awesome here. One of the best places on the island to play in the water and get some sun.

The good — Great beach and the waves break outside and long rides on the boogie board. Its fairly crowded with good sun for the first part of the day and nice sunrises in the morning.
The bad — The walk down and back up and all the time being worried if your car will be ripped off or stolen. The infamous limu. I can’t stand it and never could get used to it.
The ugly — On occasions, this has to be one of the worst smelling restrooms this side of the island. Mens side is bad. According to the wife, their side is always out of tissue so bring your own tp and hand cleaner if possible.

Makapuu, Sandys and Yokohamas are my favorite beaches to boogie board at.
If you didn’t get the hint, Makapuu isn’t really a beach to lay out in. Boogie boarding, surfing or fishing. So, tourists, go away!
Actually, all kidding aside, it’s a great place. It’s on the windward side over near Sea Life Park. If the waves are pumping, it’s a lot of fun but you better know what you’re doing because if not, you could get hurt.
It’s also a great area for pictures because of the vibrant colors of the water and the island backgrounds as well as the lighthouse.
Again — if you don’t swim well, don’t chance this beach. Go somewhere else where the water is more «novice swimmer» friendly.

PICTURE PERFECT POSTCARD VIEWS! Beautiful scenery, cool breezes, and tidepools = 4 stars plus a bonus star for still having free admission, parking, and facilities!
«BABY MAKAPU’U» is what my son calls this place, which is just to the left of the adult «Makapu’u Beach». He got to choose what would top the «summer lineup» and this was his first pick!
Located on the eastern side of the island between Waimanalo and Sea Life Park, we love this place because it usually isn’t too crowded, even on weekend mornings. By lunchtime this place gets pretty busy, mostly with
1. Brides/​grooms taking wedding pictures.
2. Locals fishing out by the rocks.
3. Large extended families hanging out for the day.
4. Local families with kids who love playing in the tide pools and shallow water.
5. A few brave body boarders.
The sand is not fine white sand (it’s more pebbly and full of coral rocks and shells) and the actual «beach» area can be small during high tide, so if you are visiting and want to lay on a «white sandy beach of Hawaii», please pick another beach. K thx.
We only stayed in the tidepool area and the shallow swimming area protected by lava rocks. (The other area has lots of mean waves and a strong current.) During their marine discovery, the kids were able to find a sea urchin, tons of fish, an eel, hermit crabs, and lots of pretty shells and rocks. They were thrilled to find so many creatures and wanted to take them all home (!!) but we don’t have a salt water tank. (Good thing they didn’t know the Waikiki Aquarium sells salt water because that was up next in the summer lineup.)