Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park

Magic Island, also known as Aina Moana State Recreation Area, is a man-made peninsula at the Diamond Head end of Ala Moana Beach Park on Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. The grassy point extends into the Pacific and faces west and south, giving clear views of the sunset over the ocean, with the Waikiki skyline and Diamond Head to the east and the Honolulu harbor skyline to the west. A paved path loops the peninsula, with palms, a lagoon, and a swimming area that provide foreground elements for silhouettes of paddlers, outrigger canoes, and walkers. Sunset is the signature photograph here: the sun drops toward the horizon in the southwest, producing warm backlight, long shadows, and silhouettes against the water. The clearest horizons generally occur from May to September, when the sun sets farther north and skies are usually less cloudy. Winter sunsets are lower in the south-west but can have dramatic clouds. On Friday nights, the fireworks from the Hilton Hawaiian Village can be photographed from here, at about 8 PM, from a distance, which calls for a tripod and a long exposure. The park is busy at sunset, especially on weekends, with local families, joggers, and photographers lining the seawall, so arriving an hour before sunset helps secure a tripod position. Tripods are generally acceptable for personal photography when they do not obstruct the path. Drones are restricted in this area. There is no entry fee, and parking is available at the beach park lot. Restrooms and outdoor showers are located near the beach, and the nearby Ala Moana Center offers water and food.