Sandy Beach Park

Sandy Beach Park, at 8800 Kalanianaole Highway in Hawaii Kai, Honolulu, on Oahu, Hawaii, is the island's best-known bodysurfing beach, about 12 miles east of Waikiki. The beach is a wide, open stretch of golden sand backed by a grassy park and facing the open Pacific with no reef protection. The water is a clear, deep blue, and the waves break directly onto a steep sandy shelf, producing a powerful shore break that is famous among experienced bodysurfers and bodyboarders. The break is also notorious for injuries, including spinal and neck injuries, and the beach has some of the highest rescue counts on Oahu, so lifeguards are on duty and often post warnings; ocean conditions here demand caution, and children and inexperienced swimmers are generally advised to stay on the sand. In summer the shore break is more moderate and the beach draws sunbathers and families who stay at the waterline. Exposure to wind is high, and trade winds bring steady breezes that also make the beach a favorite for kite flying. The setting is scenic, with the Koolau mountains behind and views toward Molokai on clear days. The atmosphere is local and athletic: bodysurfers, bodyboarders, joggers and families sharing a large park. Amenities include lifeguards, restrooms and showers, a large free parking lot, grassy areas for picnics, and a bodysurf break. There are no concessions, so visitors should bring food and water. Access is by car along Kalanianaole Highway, and the free lot is generally easy to use outside weekend afternoons. The beach is often combined with a drive along the Makapuu coastline, including Halona Blowhole, Hanauma Bay and Makapuu Lookout, all nearby. Sandy Beach is best enjoyed by watching the surf from the sand unless swimmers have real experience.