Makapuu Beach
add photosServices and Amenities
- Lifeguards
- Sand and reef areas
- Picnic areas
- BBQ grills
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Phones
- Poor swimming
- Good bodysurfing
3 Reviews for Makapuu Beach
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0 families found this helpful
"Great Boogie Boarding. Not for Small Kids."
Makapu'u Beach Park, on the windward side of Oahu, offers a nice wide crescent of golden sand with a beautiful mountain backdrop and stunning offshore island views. You definitely want to bring your camera for this beach!
The crowds here tend to be less than in Waikiki or the North Shore. It is a very popular beach with locals for boogie boarding and bodysurfing. The excellent surf conditions here that make it popular for these sports but it can be treacherous for little ones and the inexperienced.
The shore break can be powerful and breaks close to the shore and the lava rocks, so keep close tabs on your children especially when playing near the shore.
This is one of those beaches where you really want to pay close attention to the posted signs and the lifeguards.
There is plenty of room on this beach for sandcastle building and frisbee games or just watching the wave riders.
There is no shade, so this is a good beach for hats and beach umbrellas.
The parking for this beach is limited and a short walk from the shore down a rock and sandy trail. It is a bit laborious if you bring a lot of beach gear.
There are no food or drink facilities so plan ahead and bring your cooler and lunches. There are restrooms and an outdoor shower, however, the last few visits that we have made to this park, the conditions of these restrooms tend to be extremely poor and often are victim to vandalism. You will definitely want to bring your own hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
The beach is just across the highway from the Sea Life Park and around the corner from the Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail (you can see the lighthouse from the beach) so that makes it a convenient stop while visiting either of these sites. There are picnic tables at the top of the hill near the bathrooms and parking lot making it a great place to have lunch and enjoy the views.
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0 families found this helpful
"Family fun, even with infants!"
My father was stationed in Oahu for 11 years, so I had childhood memories of Makapu'u Beach. When my husband and I decided to take a second honeymoon to Oahu, I knew we had to make a stop there.
We brought our then-9 month old daughter - who had a blast! Makapu'u Beach is on the way to Sealife Park, so for those navigating the island with a rental car, seeing both places in one day is definitely doable. For even *more* adventure, you can snorkel/swim/whatever in Hanauma Bay. (If you purchase a Go Oahu card, snorkel gear and entrance fees are included on the card).
Worth mentioning: Makapu'u is a popular wedding destination on the island, no doubt due to the beautiful surroundings. There are rocky areas, and it can be tricky to reach the beach. Use caution and watch your kids if you bring them. :)
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
Unless you’re an expert at bodysurfing, it’s best to experience Makapu`u from the sand if you’re visiting in winter or spring months. Sandy Beach ranks first in the number of annual injuries, but this ranks a close second. During the summer, when the waves and currents are weak, it’s quite safe to swim. This beach is also beautiful and great for picnics and parties.
Offshore are two tiny islands that are sanctuaries for seabirds. Manana, the larger one, is known as Rabbit Island because a rancher tried breeding rabbits there in the late 1880s. It worked, and descendants of those original rabbits still live there. Kaohikaipu, the smaller island, is called Turtle Island by locals because it looks like a turtle lying in the water.
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