Kailua Beach Park

Kailua Beach Park, at 526 Kawailoa Road in Kailua, on Oahu, Hawaii, is a broad crescent of powdery white sand on the windward coast, roughly 12 miles northeast of Waikiki over the Pali Highway. The sand is fine and soft, and the water is famously clear, glowing in shades of turquoise and aquamarine over a sandy bottom. The bay is about two miles long, opens to the northeast trade winds, and is partly sheltered by an offshore reef, so the water near the shore is usually calm and shallow for swimming while the breeze remains steady. The consistent wind makes Kailua one of the island's top spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and the bay is also popular with kayakers and stand-up paddlers heading toward the Mokulua Islands. The beach is lively but not rowdy: families, watersports enthusiasts, and weekend picnickers share a wide grassy park with ironwood trees for shade. Amenities include lifeguards, restrooms and showers, picnic areas, and a boat ramp area, while kayak and paddleboard rentals are available from outfitters nearby in Kailua town. Food and groceries are a short drive away in Kailua town, where cafes, bakeries and restaurants line the main streets. Access is by car on the Pali Highway or Kalanianaole Highway, and parking is free but the park lot fills early, especially on weekends and holidays, so overflow parking on residential streets requires care. The beach connects to Lanikai Beach by a short drive, and the two are often visited together. Surf is generally small, which suits beginner swimmers, though visitors should check flags. Sunrise views over the Mokulua Islands are a highlight of the area.