Sandy Beach Park
Sandy Beach Park
4.5
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A popular surfing beach with dangerous waves.
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  • Kathryn S
    1 contribution
    Great Beach for watching Surf -Experienced Swimmers ONLY
    I went to university in Hawaii and have recently gone back to visit this month. Sandy beach is one of my absolute favorite beaches, more of a locals beach than many that visitors normally go to. The sun here is much stronger so make sure to pack on the sunscreen. You get great views of people body surfing as it’s a beach break meaning the waves crash on the sand instead of out far. Only go in the water if you are a very experienced swimmer. Lots of times the lifeguards will require everyone to wear fins while swimming. Currents can be fast and surf sets can come up out of nowhere. Best to stay on the beach and enjoy the view which is still great if your not a strong swimmer!
    Visited February 2020
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 23, 2020
  • amy
    Fairfield, Connecticut388 contributions
    Beautiful wave and backdrop
    This beach is not as crowded as beaches in Waikiki. The wave is big, the sand is soft (the best sand is Waimanalo beach), the backdrop is beautiful. A must visit. Especially the drive to halona coast to here is beatiful.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 5, 2020
  • Saskalta
    Lloydminster, Canada76 contributions
    Sandy Beach - Priceless Surf
    We drove by this beach one day and just had to go back.. glad we did.. it must be very popular with locals and their kids.. the waves were something else and the locals spent a lot of time just getting thrashed about by the waves as they rolled in.. One of our group (adult) went out to try it and also got thrashed but had fun doing it... Not a bad beach at all.. however it obviously is overlooked by a lot of tourists.. but it isnt that far from Waikiki... Very neat spot to stop and go into the water and get splashed about!! It would be a fantastic stop for teenagers and young adults.. they would find it to be a blast!! (not great for younger kids or tots)
    Visited January 2020
    Written February 13, 2020
  • Richard
    Florida20 contributions
    Very busy beach
    Sandy beach park was one of the spots I had on my list of to-do’s in Oahu. Driving to it we could see huge waves and thought we gotta check this out. As we pulled in we quickly realized this is more of a local resident hangout. It felt very spring break at this beach. Hundreds of pickup trucks with the huge wheels sticking out the sides. Must be a thing in Oahu. We didn’t stay long as that’s not our thing. If your young and a partier, this is probably a great spot.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written June 25, 2023
  • Rebecca C
    Atlanta, Georgia147 contributions
    Biggest waves I have ever seen
    Sandy Beach is a lovely stretch of beach away from Wakiki. It has (by far) the biggest waves I have ever seen. However, the water break’s extremely shallow and so it is a very dangerous beach with numerous neck and back I injuries every year. We did NOT even wade out into the water because it was extremely unsafe. However, there are expert body boarders that go there and it is amazing watching them literally be inside a huge barrel wave.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 12, 2023
  • wordpix
    Redmond, Washington41 contributions
    Oahu Locals Save the Day
    Kudos to friendly locals Steve and Sarah who, with my daughter, lifted and pushed our rental car out of an 8” drop and got us back on the road. Tow truck was 90 min away. These two enterprising souls were right there when we needed them. Thank you, guardian angels, for demonstrating the aloha spirit and good, old fashioned human ingenuity. We appreciate you!
    Visited August 2022
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 16, 2022
  • al22tecc
    Philippines7,778 contributions
    great place to stay for a while
    Part of our road trip to the south east side of Oahu led us to stop at Sandy Beach. This is a very long beach, providing enough space for all beachgoers. There is ample space along the road and within the premises. There are also shower rooms and toilets to use. During our stay, the surf were not that high, but good enough for some surfers and wakeboards. To the right, we could see Halona Blowhole in action because the tide was coming in. The sand was also good, I found it better than that at Ko Olina and even Waikiki.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 12, 2020
  • Ponderdog
    McKinney, Texas63 contributions
    Beautiful, but dangerous beach.
    Our Uber driver dropped us off here, and led us to believe this was a great beach. Thankfully, the life guard stopped us before we set foot in the water. He told us this was a dangerous beach, and definitely not a place for younger kids. He recommended a beach further along. If you like extreme body boarding this may be the place for you.
    Visited April 2021
    Written April 8, 2021
  • Travelwife
    Tennessee63 contributions
    You will end up upside down on your head like the figure on the sign!
    My teenage sons went boogie boarding here. One of them had a blast riding the strong waves in & the other ended up upside down on his head like the person on the sign several times. He still had fun & did not get hurt, but he admitted it was rough. If you are a tourist, I would leave this beach to the surfer locals.
    Visited June 2023
    Written July 7, 2023
  • Henry J
    Milpitas, California293 contributions
    Beach for locals
    This beach seems to have more locals. I suppose it make sense since it is more remote. Unless you have some form of transportation, it will be impossible to make it out here. It's a nice spot to just chill and hangout. Nothing really special here to see.
    Visited January 2022
    Written January 22, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Richard
Florida20 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Sandy beach park was one of the spots I had on my list of to-do’s in Oahu. Driving to it we could see huge waves and thought we gotta check this out. As we pulled in we quickly realized this is more of a local resident hangout. It felt very spring break at this beach. Hundreds of pickup trucks with the huge wheels sticking out the sides. Must be a thing in Oahu. We didn’t stay long as that’s not our thing. If your young and a partier, this is probably a great spot.
Written June 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rebecca C
Atlanta, GA147 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Sandy Beach is a lovely stretch of beach away from Wakiki. It has (by far) the biggest waves I have ever seen. However, the water break’s extremely shallow and so it is a very dangerous beach with numerous neck and back I injuries every year. We did NOT even wade out into the water because it was extremely unsafe. However, there are expert body boarders that go there and it is amazing watching them literally be inside a huge barrel wave.
Written July 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wordpix
Redmond, WA41 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
Kudos to friendly locals Steve and Sarah who, with my daughter, lifted and pushed our rental car out of an 8” drop and got us back on the road. Tow truck was 90 min away. These two enterprising souls were right there when we needed them. Thank you, guardian angels, for demonstrating the aloha spirit and good, old fashioned human ingenuity. We appreciate you!
Written August 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

al22tecc
Philippines7,778 contributions
Jan 2020
Part of our road trip to the south east side of Oahu led us to stop at Sandy Beach. This is a very long beach, providing enough space for all beachgoers. There is ample space along the road and within the premises. There are also shower rooms and toilets to use. During our stay, the surf were not that high, but good enough for some surfers and wakeboards. To the right, we could see Halona Blowhole in action because the tide was coming in.

The sand was also good, I found it better than that at Ko Olina and even Waikiki.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ponderdog
McKinney, TX63 contributions
Apr 2021
Our Uber driver dropped us off here, and led us to believe this was a great beach. Thankfully, the life guard stopped us before we set foot in the water. He told us this was a dangerous beach, and definitely not a place for younger kids. He recommended a beach further along. If you like extreme body boarding this may be the place for you.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travelwife
Tennessee63 contributions
Jun 2023
My teenage sons went boogie boarding here. One of them had a blast riding the strong waves in & the other ended up upside down on his head like the person on the sign several times. He still had fun & did not get hurt, but he admitted it was rough. If you are a tourist, I would leave this beach to the surfer locals.
Written July 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Henry J
Milpitas, CA293 contributions
Jan 2022
This beach seems to have more locals. I suppose it make sense since it is more remote. Unless you have some form of transportation, it will be impossible to make it out here.

It's a nice spot to just chill and hangout. Nothing really special here to see.
Written January 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nrwich
Phoenix1 contribution
Very dangerous waves that break right on the shore. I was body surfing and got dumped right on my head, nearly breaking my neck along with several ribs. Looks fun and is very inviting. Admittedly, I had no experience but am a very strong swimmer and not afraid of the sea. I should have never been out there. This experience nearly ruined my entire vacation (if not for pain meds) and could have easily put me in wheel chair for life.
This is not a safe spot for children to be playing on the beach.
Written September 10, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sunshine13674
1 contribution
If you are going to visit the island of Oahu in the near future, then you have to take a trip to Sandy Beach. Even if you don't want to get bombarded by the gigantic waves, it is still a great place to go people watching and wave watcing.
Written May 28, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

blackeldo
Kiama, Australia2,203 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
Listen up thrill seekers. If you are an adrenaline junkie or thrill merchant SANDY BEACH is the place for you. Or maybe you’re a fan of extreme sports viewing – hey, you get this free at SANDY - forget about paying for cable
This is because SANDY BEACH has one of the most GNARLY SHORE BREAKS anywhere. What we have is swell approaching the shore suddenly rearing up into a steep wave and breaking** - crashing down into very shallow water virtually onto the sand at the foreshore. Crazed body boarders and death-wish body surfers launch themselves onto these waves and get totally smashed into about 3cm of water – the life-guards come out at low tide with shovels and dig the bodies out of the sand.
FACT – THERE ARE SEVERAL NECK AND SPINES ETC BROKEN EACH YEAR. If you are a watcher take care if you decide to go into the water – you really have to time your entry and exit.

**SANDY’S shore-break is more consistent than most places because very close to the beach is a steeply shallowing section of rock which causes incoming waves to break quickly (waves tend to break when the water under them gets shallow enough). A rock bottom does not vary over time like a sandy one and so the break is consistent.
The other ingredient needed is consistent swell. The swell blocking reef off SANDY seems to be less effective than further west – WAIKIKI had its usual ankle ticklers hitting the sand the same day SANDY was 2 to 3 feet – sometimes a 4 footer was sneaking thru.

A NICE BEACH – this is a pretty sweet strip of silica. The main beach is about 400m long from west to east and is reasonably wide – it then narrows behind some offshore rocks for another 200m – the eastern most section is narrower again between rocks and bush in back of beach and curves north east for another 350m. The sand is pretty nice, the water clean if tricky. Surfboard riders will find an okay reef break left off the rocks towards the east. There is an amenities block near the car park and a life guard tower. A food truck was doing good business in the car park. SANDY is a pretty popular location – at least on weekends when I called by. People seeking a more isolated spot to lay their towel should head east into the narrower areas.

LOCATION and GETTING THERE – SANDY BEACH is on OAHU’S southern coast about 19km12/mi east of WAIKIKI and less than 4km/2.5mi from the south-east corner of the island.
I came in by bus – BUS 22 from WAIKIKI will drop off across the road. Cost is only $2.50 and you can call in at HANUAMA BAY for a snorkel and at the end of the day push on to SEA LIFE PARK on the one ticket by using the 2 free transfer stubs.
If you come by car the drive along the winding coastal road east of HANAUMA is very scenic. There are several car parking lots at SANDY – if the several locations adjacent the wide section of beach are full look further east where there is more space in several areas. As far as I could see, parking has no charge.

MAKE A DAY TRIP OF IT - SANDY BEACH is probably good for 2 or 3 hours and is an excellent stop off on a DAY TRIP to points to the east of WAIKIKI
Coming from Waikiki are many other interesting places to spend time: DIAMOND HEAD CRATER, HANAUMA BAY SNORKELLING, the super tough KOKO CRATER RIDGE TRAIL-LOOKOUT, KOKO CRATER BOTANICAL GARDENS, HALONA BLOWHOLE and HALONA COVE (scene of the iconic kiss-cuddle in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY). The last two are only about 300m west of SANDY.
To the east we have HAWAII KAI GOLF COURSE, MAKAPU’U POINT/LIGHTHOUSE TREK-VIEWPOINT, the roadside MAKAPU’U LOOKOUT (lower than the LIGHTOUSE but still surprisingly elevated, MAKAPU’U BEACH (be careful: often big waves/dangerous currents), SEA LIFE PARK and the adjacent CHIEF’S LUAU.
Most of the latter are at OAHU’S south east corner – if you have time to push north further we have within the next 10km my 3 favorite beaches on the island – WAIMANALO/BELLOWS, compact LANIKAI and KAILUA. And anyone who goes there and doesn’t check out the excellent panorama from the LANIKAI PILLBOX TRAIL is either nuts or suffering severe time deficit.

But hey, for sheer entertainment value ii's pretty hard to beat SANDY BEACH. Did I mention it also seems to be the G string bikini capital of OAHU? I called by several times. To check the shore-break lunatics of course.
You have to trust me on this.

Have a safe visit, trendsetters.
Written May 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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