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Waimanalo
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Makapu'u Beach
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Makapu'u Beach

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Makapu'u Beach
4.5
About
Stretching more than 1,000 yards of sandy shoreline, this spot is considered the premier bodysurfing beach in Hawaii.
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Tours & experiences
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
13 within 3 miles
Ono Steaks and Shrimp Shack
326
1.1 mi$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Hawaiian
Ono Steak and Shrimp
179
1.1 mi$ • Quick Bites • Seafood
Hawaiian Island Cafe
91
1.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • American • Cafe
Keneke's
223
1.2 mi$ • Quick Bites • American • Polynesian
Kalapawai Cafe & Deli Waimanalo
9
1.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American
Smokey Ranch Barbeque
25
1.5 mi$ • American • Barbecue
Dominican Kitchen
1
1.8 mi$ • Caribbean • Latin • Spanish
McDonald's
18
1.8 mi$ • Quick Bites • Fast Food
Thai Valley Cuisine
23
2.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Thai
Boston Pizza
24
2.9 mi$ • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
53 within 6 miles
Kaiona Beach Park
45
499 ftBeaches • Parks
Makapu'u Point
316
2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Drives
Koko Crater Railway Trail
2,619
2.2 miHiking Trails
Waimanalo Beach
749
1.8 miBeaches • Parks
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
17,165
Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Bellows Field Beach Park
423
2.6 miBeaches
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail
2,656
2.9 miHistoric Walking Areas • Hiking Trails
Diamond Head Crater
596
Volcanos
Sandy Beach Park
385
2.7 miBeaches
Halona Blowhole
830
2.9 miGeologic Formations
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
329 reviews
Excellent
234
Very good
84
Average
11
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Alina G
Germany265 contributions
Beautiful sandy beach
Sep 2023 • Family
Very beautiful sandy beach but with no shadow and big waves and currents. I recommend bringing an umbrella to hide from the burning sun. Also, when we came, there were big waves and it was literally impossible to go in the water. It wasn't even recommended because the currents were very strong.
Written September 17, 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.
JDSoui
Tampa, FL6,487 contributions
Quiet Beach with Few People
Apr 2022 • Solo
The access to the beach is convenient and below the lookout. There are also areas to walk along the rocks and enjoy the swells that come in. A great experience
Written April 1, 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.
p_tong0
Orlando, FL69 contributions
This review is for "Baby Makapu'u"
Oct 2015 • Family
While Makapu'u Beach is known as a great body-surfing and boogie board beach, this review is is for Baby Makapu'u where locals take their keikis to play safely in the tide pools.

To get to Baby Makapu'u coming from the Honolulu direction on the Kalanianiole Hwy, pass the main Makkapu'u beach parking lot entrance (across from the Sea Life Park entrance) and continue to the second parking lot on the ocean (makai) side which is just past the entrance to the Oceanic Institute on the mountain (mauka) side. Turn right into the second parking lot, then left to parking area near the end of the black lava tidepools.

This will get you to several very calm, protected tidepools with sandy bottoms that the little ones will love to splash in. Older kids can explore the rockier tidepools that are filled with little fish and crabs. The beach is close to the parking lot, making carrying the stuff you have to take to the beach with kids a lot easier. No shade, so bring a beach umbrella or a canopy and sunscreen if you are fair skinned. There are no bathrooms or showers at this end of the beach but there is a water spigot for cleaning the sand off your feet before getting in the car.

As a bonus, there are often paragliders that jump off the cliffs behind Sea Life Park that are exciting to watch.
Written October 25, 2015
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.
AMB135
Philadelphia, PA47 contributions
Married on this beach - memories of a lifetime!
May 2014 • Couples
What can I say? It's Hawaii...it's Makapu'u Beach...it's memories we have for a lifetime! From our Reverend to the ceremony (intimate, quick and awesome)...cannot wait to go back in a few weeks to visit the very spot we were married on!!

The beach itself is just gorgeous...then again, where in Hawaii isn't?
Written April 7, 2015
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.
luvmy32000
San Antonio, TX1,296 contributions
Pristine
Dec 2020 • Couples
My daughter chose this location to get married at. It was a great choice. We finally accomplished the wedding after 6 months of covid delays. What a treat to give her away here.
Written December 11, 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.
converge77
Surrey, Canada329 contributions
Best beach saved for the last of our trip
Mar 2018 • Family
Bussed in to Sea Life Park and then walked down to the sparkling white sandy beach with an awesome lush surrounding. The waves are 10-14 feet high for the surfer's delight and as you get closer to shore, the waves are fantastic for body surfing and boogie boarding. There is a local life guard who warned us to stay in closer to shore because of the dangerous rip currents. We saw helicopters a couple of times circle over head, so I'm sure if they saw any sharks they would have alerted us.
Written April 9, 2018
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.
NeilSwindells
Tampa4 contributions
Every view is a sales brochure!
Mar 2015 • Family
After hiking Diamond Head, we realized it was a bit windy to hang at the beach, so we drove the Windward beach towns to check them out. From Hawaii Koa to Koko Crater to Hanamau Bay (Lot was full REALLY early!) to the "From Here To Eternity" beach to Sandy Beach and then Makapu'u. Needless to say, next day, we came armed with towels and swimsuits, but skipped them all and went straight to Makapu'u!

Fantastic few hours of bodysurfing, wave jumping and just hanging out as a family in what seemed like our own little slice of paradise. Arrived just before 10 and left just before noon on Friday 27th. Red flags were out, but lifeguards (added bonus!) just advised us not to get too far off the sandbars into the blue-blue open water as there was a strong rip that seemed to be pulling towards the rocks on the east side of the beach under the lighthouse.

We heeded their warnings, and the sandbar was a perfect wave break for 6+ footers that lifted me off my feet a fair few times!! I'm 6'1" as is my son, and we got pounded a few times, but generally it was just strong, powerful 6-8' waves breaking onshore. The key was not letting them take you back out with them, of course!

The color of the ocean (bluest blues and whitest whites in a sparkling Pacific, against a rocky, lava outcrops and a lighthouse up on the point....RIDICULOUS postcard views!

We will never forget that day and will measure every other beach against that experience from now on. Yes, Waikiki has the name and the famous locations, but anyone who does not head east to the windward beaches is missing what Hawaii beaches are really about.....oh, and there are 99% less people on them than Waikiki! Bonus!
Written March 29, 2015
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.
Carrie S
Seattle, WA44 contributions
Good snorkeling by the pier
Apr 2014
We went snorkeling just west of the Makai Research Pier, just beyond Makapu'u Beach, across from the oceanic institute. It's a nice little spot with zero crowds, a nice little sandy beach, plenty of parking, and quite a bit of fish to see here. It's not the most amazing snorkeling I've done in Hawaii, but for Oahu, it was pretty good, and very low key.
Written April 28, 2014
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.
kayla0307
San Diego, CA25 contributions
Beautiful!
Aug 2019 • Family
The beach was breathtakingly beautiful with bright blue water against dark volcanic rocks. We didn’t see anyone in the water because the surf was strong that day. Not a very busy place, we only saw a handful of other people wandering around. A must stop if you’re in the area just to take in the beautiful scenery. Restroom facility was decent.
Written September 23, 2019
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.
AF1231
London, UK57 contributions
beautiful but dangerous
Aug 2017 • Friends
Beauty often comes with a price and this beach certainly does. the waves look quite benign, but they are not. I saw several people being taken off guard, and the lifeguards were always calling out to be careful.
Great if you are experienced at surfing, steer clear if not.
Written August 23, 2017
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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Makapu'u Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Makapu'u Beach

Makapu'u Beach Information

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Makapu'u Beach Photos

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