Kaneohe Bay Sandbar (Ahu o Laka)

21° 27.8′ N · 157° 48.6′ W

A huge sand shoal on the inside of Kaneohe Bay's barrier reef that dries at low tide and sits in knee-deep turquoise water the rest of the time. Boats nose up to its edge, drop the hook on the sand and swing off in 20-40 ft, with the Koolau cliffs and Mokolii as the backdrop.

Practical

Waypoint from Noodle's Notes (author marks it approximate). The western (bay) face drops from 0 to about 40 ft in roughly a boat length; bottom is sand on the bar and mud where deeper than about 25 ft. Classic technique: motor in slowly watching the sounder, nose onto the bar, drop the anchor on the shallow sand, back off and swing to the trades. Overnighters should set a stern anchor so the boat cannot be set onto the sand if the trades die or the wind goes offshore at night; with the trades blowing an unattended boat can drag off the bar toward reefs. Large coral heads litter the approaches: move only with the sun high (roughly 10 am to 2 pm). Slow-no-wake applies on the central-reef shallows (5 ft or less MLLW) including the sandbar (HAR 13-256-73). Temporary anchoring under 72 hours near Ahu o Laka is exempt from the designated-mooring rule (HAR 13-235-35), but the state treats the whole bay as one anchorage for the 72-hours-in-14-days limit (HAR 13-235-9); for longer stays arrange a permit through the Heeia Kea harbor office, 808-233-3603. No alcohol in the Ahu o Laka safety zone on the Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day three-day weekends. Weekends are crowded with day boats and tour operators; it empties by late afternoon. No facilities: nearest fuel, ice and pumpout at Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor. Tides: NOAA station Moku o Loe (1612480) on Coconut Island.

Best for

Iconic lunch stop or settled-weather overnight on sand inside a protected bay

Season

Year-round in trade-wind or calm weather; avoid overnighting in unsettled or offshore (Kona) winds

Practical

Best for

Season

Nearby