Leeward Coast Beaches

Beautiful beaches with uncrowded sand, clear water, and excellent conditions are the biggest draw of the Leeward Coast. Always check with lifeguards for current surf conditions. Be wary of broken glass in parking lots. The following beaches are listed from south to north.

Nanakuli Beach Park.  (Bodyboarding. Open daily 5am-9pm. Lifeguards daily.) This popular local beach is in the Native Hawaiian stronghold of Nanakuli. A lifeguard mans the south end of this steep, rolling, gold sand shoreline whose calmer waters are usually gentle enough for swimming. The beach, referred to locally as “Subland,” also sees traffic from canoers, fishermen, and local bodyboarders. In the middle of the beach is a camping area referred to as “The Flats,” with 14 sites that are primarily populated by locals. (Nanakuli is north of Hawaiian Electric Beach Park. Turn left into the parking lot at Nanakuli Ave. The park has restroom and shower facilities, basketball courts, a baseball diamond, and a playground.)

Maili Beach Park.  (Bodyboarding. Surfing. Open daily 5am-9pm. Lifeguards daily.) Named for the numerous iliili (pebbles) found along its shoreline, Maili’s long, wide stretch of sand is especially popular among Leeward locals. There are two well-known surf spots: “Tumbleland,” at the center of the beach, and “Green Lanterns,” at the northernmost edge, but they are for experienced surfers only. The best spot to swim is near the lifeguard stands. Swimmers should watch for boat traffic from the nearby jetty. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and showers. (At the south end of the town of Maili.)

Makaha Beach Park.  (Snorkeling. Surfing. Open daily 5am-9pm. Lifeguards daily.) Makaha is famous for its ferocious winter surf (averaging 5-8 ft., with the occasional 15-footer), several surfing competitions, and amazing sunsets. The beach is also popular on waveless days, when the calm water makes swimming safe and superior scuba diving possible in “Makaha Caverns,” the coral and lava caves 150 yd. offshore, where dolphins, eels, manta rays, turtles, and white-tipped reef sharks frequently roam. Makaha also has some of the best snorkeling on the Leeward Coast along the reef on the north end of the beach. The beach has picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and lifeguard towers. (North of Makaha Valley Rd., off Farrington Hwy. Park on the ocean side of the road.)

  Keawaula Bay (Yokohama Bay).  (Bodyboarding. Snorkeling. Surfing. Open daily 5am-9pm. Lifeguards daily.) On the tip of the island, Keawaula Bay is the gem of the Leeward Coast. Nicknamed “Yokohama Bay,” and affectionately called “Yoko’s,” the wide stretch of secluded white sand curves along a vast expanse of crystal-clear water. Watching the powerful waves break is a liberating experience, but only expert surfers, bodyboarders, and bodysurfers should try to tackle them. The beach catches the north, south, and west swells year-round, creating waves as large as 8 ft. in summer and 20 ft. in winter. Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular in gentle water, and local fishermen crowd the point at the end of the beach. There are restrooms and showers. (Keawaula Bay is at the end of Farrington Hwy., in Kaena State Park.)