Beach· Oahu· Hawaii
Makaha Beach Park
21° 28.6′ N · 158° 13.3′ W
The Waianae coast's classic white-sand surf beach, a few miles north of Pokai Bay and the Waianae Small Boat Harbor. Calm and swimmable on summer days, it turns into a big-wave arena when winter north and west swells wrap around.
Practical
Coordinates from Wikipedia. Neighbors the beaches southeast of Kaena Point, including Makua Beach and Yokohama Bay (Wikipedia). Not an anchorage: the beach is open to the west and north-west swell that builds from November; treat it as a road or dinghy-from-Pokai-Bay visit. TheBus routes reach Makaha Beach but no farther north (to-hawaii.com), so Yokohama Bay needs a car. Makaha Caverns dive site is just offshore (see separate entry).
Best for
Summer swimming and watching big winter surf on the leeward side
Season
Swimming Apr–Oct; dangerous shorebreak and currents in winter surf (Nov–Feb)