Oahu -

Ala Moana Beach Park -

Location: 1201 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu. The largest urban beach park in Honolulu. Bodyboarding, fishing, scuba dividing, swimming, surfing, picnic areas, softball parks, comfort stations, showers, food concessions, tennis courts and parking. The most popular beach park in urban Honolulu. The Ala Moana Shopping Center is directly across the street. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel complex is 4 blocks south.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve -

A small, horseshoe-shaped bay located in Koko Head, a prominent headland at the southeastern end of Oahu. The Park facilities include restrooms, showers, picnic areas, snack bar, snorkel rental, tram service, park office, lost and found, and parking. A fee is charged for parking and for entry to the beach. For park information call 808.396.4229. The park is located at 7455 Kalaniana'ole Highway, Hawaii Kai. This is a very nice park for young families. Buy some packages of frozen peas to feed the fish. Activities - Scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming.

Kailua Beach Park -

Located at 450 Kawailoa Road, Kailua. Activities - Beachcombing, boating, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, fishing, kayaking, outrigger canoe paddling, surfing, swimming and windsurfing. It is a one-stop shopper for ocean recreation activities. Kailua Beach is one of the best beaches in Hawaii for walkers and joggers. Caution: The windward side of Oahu, which includes all of Kailua Beach, is known for its stinging jellyfish, the Portuguese man-of-war.

Ko'olina Lagoons -

Located between the Ihilani Resort and Spa, 92-1001 Olani Street and the Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor, Ko'olina. There are no other nearby beaches that are protected year-around from high surf and the lagoons are ideal for families with toddlers and other non-swimming children. With their beautiful landscaping, well-maintained facilities, lifeguard-protected beaches, and free parking, the Ko'olina Lagoons now are not only the most popular family beach areas in central Oahu, but are among the best beach destinations in Hawaii.

Kokoloio Beach Park -

Located at 55-017 Kamehmeha Highway, Hau'ula. High surf generates a pounding shorebreak and strong rip currents. No lifeguards are stationed at this beach. Facilities include restrooms, showers and parking.

La'ie Beach Park -

Located at 55-205 Kamehameha Highway, La'ie. Known as Pounders Beach. One of Oahu's popular bodyboarding and bodysurfing beaches. Parking and portable restrooms are available. The beach is exposed to the open ocean and high surf at all times of the year. High surf generates strong rip currents and a pounding shorebreak on the shallow sandbar. No lifeguards are stationed at this beach.

Lanikai Beach -

Location: Along Mokulua Drive in Lanikai, Kailua. Activities are Beachcombing, kayaking, outrigger canoe paddling, sailing, surfing, swimming and windsurfing. DO NOT attempt to surfboard paddle to the Mokulua Islands. They are a long upwind and upcurrent swim or surfboard paddle for novice swimmers and paddlers. The nearest restrooms and showers are to the north at Kailua Beach Park. There are no lifeguards on Lanikai Beach.

Makapu'u Beach Park -

Located at 41-095 Kalanian 'ole Highway, Waimanalo. Just over the hill from Sandy Beach. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Check with them before going in the water. Makapu'u is off-limits to surfers. The lifeguards can point out the extent of the restricted area.

Makua Beach -

Location: Farrington Highway, Ka'ena Point State Park, Makua. No lifeguards are stationed here, so if you are a first-time visitor and you are not sure whether it is safe to go in the water, ask a local resident. If no one else is around, find a safer swimming beach, such as the Ko'olina Lagoons. Especially if there is high surf.

Malaekahana State Recreation Area -

Location: Kamehameha Highway, Malaekahana. Park facilities include restrooms, showers, camping sites and parking. No lifeguard service is provided at either park. The beach is not considered to be one of Oahu's North Shore beaches, it is subject to the same high surf conditions. Although the surf here is not as high as further north, it does generate strong longshore currents. On many occasions the currents have swept waders out of the shallows into the deeper waters of La'ie Bay, sometimes with tragic results. There are no lifeguards here.

Mokule'ia Beach Park -

Located at 68-919 Farrington Highway, Waialua. High surf generates dangerous water conditions, including powerful shorebreaks, longshore currents, rip currents and backwashes sweeping across the foreshore. There are no lifeguards anywhere along the beach.

Sandy Beach Park -

Located a few miles east of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve at 8800 Kalaniana 'ole Highway, Hawaii Kai. Sandy beach has a moderately steep, sloping foreshore and an ocean bottom that drops quickly to overhead depths. It is not a good beach for families with kids. Park facilities include restrooms, showers, picnic areas, a kite flying area and parking. The Beach is subject to high surf at all times of the year. While this is one of its attractions, it is also one of its constant dangers, especially for those who dare to challenge its waves. The pounding shorebreak takes its toll every year in the form of dislocations, broken bones and near-drownings. Note - This is not a swimming beach. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Check with them before going in the water. This beach can be very dangerous.

Sunset Beach Park -

Located at 59-100 Kamehameha Highway, Sunset Beach. The high surf generates dangerous water conditions, including powerful shorebreaks, longshore currents, rip currents and backwashes sweeping across the foreshore. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Check with them before going into the water. Park facilities include portable restrooms and parking.

Waikiki Beach -

Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. Its warm waters and rolling surf have been attracting large numbers of visitors since 1901. The Beach fronts the entire Waikiki resort area. It is accessible primarily from two streets - Kalia Road and Kalakaua Avenue, which is the main thoroughfare through Waikiki. The heart of the Beach fronts four hotels - the Sheraton Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian, the Outrigger Waikiki and the Waikiki Beach. Activities include boat rides, bodyboarding, fishing, kayaking, outrigger canoe surfing, sailing, snorkeling, surfing, swimming and windsurfing.

Waimanalo Bay Beach Park -

Located at 41-043 Alo'ilo'i Street. Waimanalo. Activities include beachcombing, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, fishing, surfing and swimming. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Available are restrooms, showers, picnic tables, camping sites and parking. Permits are required for camping. The windward side of Oahu, including all of Waimanalo Beach, is famous for its stinging jellyfish, the Portugueses man-of-war. Check with the lifeguard before going in the water.

Waimea Bay Beach Park -

Located at 61-031 Kamehameha Highway, Waimea. Internationally famous as the home of some of the biggest surfing waves in the world. During the winter months, waves up to twenty-five feet high provide the most exciting and dangerous surfing conditions imaginable. High surf generates dangerous water conditions, including powerful shorebreaks, longshore currents, rip currents and backwashes sweeping across the foreshore. The combination of the huge waves at the point and in the shorebreak generate very dangerous ocean conditions. Waimea has been the site of untold numbers of rescues, injuries and fatalities. If you are not an expert big wave rider, stay out of the bay during periods of high surf. Come back during the summer when there is no surf and the water is as calm as a lake. Lifeguards are on duty daily. Check with them before going into the water.