Kuhio Beach Park @ Waikiki

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Address 2539 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
 
Protected by seawalls, the calm waters are perfect for smaller kids.

Features
• Facilities: Bathrooms • Facilities: Concession Stand • Facilities: Equipment Rentals • Facilities: Lifeguard • Facilities: Picnic Tables
• Facilities: Showers • Type: Kid Friendly • Type: No Dogs Allowed • Type: Protected From Open Ocean • Sand Type: Regular
• Parking: Fees For Parking • Parking: Good / Plenty • Parking: Street only • Good For: Sunsets • Good For: Swimming

Kuhio Beach is located next to Waikiki Beach (Main / Center) (just a bit south) in Honolulu on O'ahu. So, it has all of the Waikiki Beach (Main / Center) advantages of having facilities nearby, food options nearby, and more equipment rentals nearby but also means that it will be just as packed and crazy as Waikiki always is. Because of that, come early if you want to get a good spot or head further away from Waikiki (towards the south end) where it is usually less crowded.


Since you are getting towards the south end of Waikiki at this point, there are some free street parking options if you go past Kuhio Beach on Kalakaua Avenue. If you can't find a free spot there then turn around when you reach the large fountain and you'll find quite a few metered parking spots on the northbound side of the street. If you didn't bring change with you then turn east on Kapahulu Avenue and park in the parking lot next to the Honolulu Zoo. Note your license plate number then head to one of the many payment kiosks where you can pay with a credit card.


On weekends, chances are good that all of these available parking options will be used up. In that case, try one of the paid parking garages like the one behind the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa on Koa Avenue, next to (east of) King's Village Shopping Center. For more options, read Free & Cheap Waikiki Parking.


Kuhio Beach is where you will see the large sea walls that fence off part of the ocean, essentially making little swimming pools. Because of those sea walls, you'll often find really calm waters here which makes it great for smaller kids and for swimming in general. Keep in mind that some waves will still come over the sea walls, often knocking down people who are playing on the walls in the process, so it still gets some wave action.


We also noticed that the sand here also tends to have a lot of little pebbles, shells, and other annoying bits to poke your feet. Not a big issue, but seems like much of Waikiki (especially Kuhio) could benefit from having a beach combing machine run over it every now and then.


At the south end of the two "pools" is a pier (which is actually called a pedestrian groin of all things) that you can walk on. It's pretty neat when you walk all the way out and a great place for pictures, especially when bigger waves are rolling in. There are signs that tell you that jumping from the pier is not allowed though that doesn't seem to stop everyone. On the other (south) side of that pier (groin) is a bit more beach area which is fully open to the ocean (that part is called Queen's Beach @ Waikiki).


Overall, this is a great beach and probably your best bet if you want to be in "Waikiki" and have kids or anyone who wants a more gentle wave experience. For more on Waikiki area beaches see The Beaches Of Waikiki.