Located at the foot of Koolau crest, Kaiona Beach Park is a small, soft white sanded beach located on the southeastern-most side of Waimanalo in Windward Oahu. Because of its protected and calm aquamarine waters, Kaiona Beach Park is popular among family beach among locals. Even kids and novices will enjoy swimming here as the waves are mellow and the bottom is soft and rock-free.
Though the water is wonderful for swimming, the water sometimes makes poor snorkeling. As characteristic of Windward Oahu, rain and freshwater runoffs and strong trade winds sometimes make the water of Kaiona Beach cloudy. During better days though, the water is clear and the access to the snorkeling spot, easy.
The park behind the beach offers full amenities for picnicking. For big picnics and parties, guests need to get a permit from the City and County Parks and Recreation Department. Where picnics and parties involve a hundred people and more, you have to prepare $100 for deposit. Kainoa Beach Park used to be a popular camping site; the camping grounds, however, have been recently closed.
Services and amenities: restrooms, showers, picnic tables, phones, boat ramp, parking.
5 Unique Things about Kaiona Beach Park
- About 75 yards from the boat ramp down the beach is a national historical landmark: the Pahonu, (meaning “turtle enclosure in Hawaiian) Pond. Made of 50 x 5 stonewall, the pond is located in front of The Master’s Estate’s house. It was used to house captured sea turtles for an Ali’i or chief who favored sea turtle meat.
- The Master’s Estate was the setting of the T.V. series Magnum P.I.
- Half of the Kaiona Beach Park is home of the Waimanalo Canoe Club Halau.
- The beach’s boat ramp is the only launching and landing pad between Hawaii Kai and Kailua.
- The beach park lies at the base of the Kokolau Mountains; it is the first beach on the east side of Oahu.