Permit· Oahu· Hawaii
Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Mokapu) Restricted Waters
21° 27.2′ N · 157° 43.9′ W
The Mokapu Peninsula that closes the south-east side of Kaneohe Bay is Marine Corps Base Hawaii, with a 500-yard prohibited area around it and a live-fire danger zone fanning 3.8 nm out to sea from Ulupau Crater.
Practical
Position is the origin point of the Ulupau Crater Weapons Training Range danger zone on Mokapu (21-27-11.84N 157-43-53.83W, 33 CFR 334.1380); the zone is a sector 3.8 nm seaward between bearings 357.1 and 124.9 degrees true, overlapping the 500-yard prohibited area. Firing may occur any time between 6 am and 2 am, seven days a week; dates and hours are published in the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners. Signals: two large red triangular pennants at Ulupau Crater by day, flashing red beacons at night; no flags or beacons means no firing. If firing is scheduled, leave or transit directly at best speed; firing is suspended while a vessel is in the zone; base personnel hail on VHF 16. Range manager 808-257-8816/17. Inside the bay, Noodle's Notes says stay at least a quarter mile off the base (stand-off buoys are in the bay). On approach from sea, the Pacific Cup notes warn to keep yellow danger-zone buoys A-E to starboard and stay clear of the breakers off Moku Manu. Coast Pilot 10: Kaneohe Bay is a Naval Defensive Sea Area (Executive Order 8681, 1941); naval control of entry is suspended except for a 500-yard prohibited area around the perimeter of Mokapu Peninsula, but it may be reinstated without notice. Crashboat Channel, about 0.4 mile west of Mokapu, is inside the prohibited area and must not be used by pleasure craft. Divers, rafts, aircraft and amphibious or search-and-rescue exercises may be operating in the bay day or night near 21-26-06N 157-46-11W and 21-26-45N 157-46-55W; contact Waterfront Operations on MARBAND 82A or 808-257-2941 (also if using sonar). The Navy monitors VHF 16 and 82A.
Best for
Planning a Kaneohe Bay approach or the windward coastal passage
Season
Year-round; check Local Notice to Mariners
Nearby
- Moku Manu Seabird Sanctuary1.2 NM away
- Mokolea Rock1.4 NM away
- Pyramid Rock Light (Mokapu)1.9 NM away
- Kailua Bay Anchorage (Summer)2.5 NM away
- Pacific Cup Finish at Kaneohe Yacht Club (even years, July)2.8 NM away
- Kaneohe Yacht Club3 NM away
- Kailua Beach Windsurfing and Kitesurfing3.2 NM away
- Kaneohe Bay Special Anchorage Areas3.2 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).