Kualoa Regional Park And Campground - Beaches On Oahu Kaneohe, Hawaii

Kualoa Regional Park and Campground is a large regional park located about 45 minutes away from Waikiki (see Waikiki Guide) by car. It has just about everything you might need for a fun day in the Kaneohe area on the windward side of O'ahu. It's located on 150 acres of land across from Kualoa Ranch. The beach width from the start of the sand to the ocean is pretty narrow.

This is more of a park recreational area than a sandy beach you might see in Kailua or the north shore. On weekends you'll see families picnicking here and enjoying this area which has plenty of parking. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months of June through August, and on weekends the rest of the year.

The campgrounds here are quite nice. There are 2 separate camping areas available from Friday to Wednesday. You'll need to reserve your permits at least 2 weeks in advance. There are two bathroom facilities and outdoor showers. Note that there are only 15 campsites, so be sure to book well in advance.

Campsite A has a lot of trees, which provides much needed sun protection over the camping site. This part of the beach is facing south, which protects it from open ocean. Campsite B is on the grassy area facing Chinaman's hat. This is an exposed area without trees for shade. Campsite A feels more secluded. If your preference is to camp under open stars without trees, campsite B would be phenomenal for watching stars.

Chinaman's Hat

A few hundred yards out is the iconic Mokoli'i Island, more commonly known as Chinaman's Hat - The Giant Lizard. During low tide, you can actually walk across to the island via Chinaman's Hat Trail (Mokolii Island). Many people take kayaks or kick their boogie boards across. There can be a tidal current, so check the tidal charts and weather reports before heading over and make sure you know what you're doing before attempting this crossing as it's not for most people.

There are two beaches on Mokoli'i Island. One small beach is facing Kualoa Park, and another cove on the far side. You can then walk up a narrow dirt path, climb a few rocks and get to the top. Pretty cool, and quite a beautiful 360 degree view. The island is a bird sanctuary, so be careful of the environment. Finally, since this beach is exposed to onshore winds, be careful of Portuguese Man-O-War.

The grassy areas of Kualoa Beach Park have very few trees for shade. The beach here is somewhat rocky, and not ideal for playing along the shoreline. However, the green mountains, beautiful water, and Chinaman's Hat make this a great place for taking photos. Be sure to frame your friend's head just below Chinaman's Hat so it looks like he's wearing it or holding it his palm. That's a classic for Facebook that nobody else is likely to have. Um, right :)

• Facilities: Bathrooms	• Facilities: Camping	• Facilities: Grassy Area	• Facilities: Lifeguard	• Facilities: Picnic Tables
• Facilities: Showers	• Type: Kid Friendly	• Type: Protected From Open Ocean	• Sand Type: Regular	• Parking: Good / Plenty
• Good For: Fishing	• Good For: Kayaking	• Good For: Snorkeling	• Good For: Sunrises	• Good For: SUP