Wildlife· Oahu· Hawaii
Popoia (Flat Island) Seabird Sanctuary
21° 24.0′ N · 157° 43.2′ W
A low, flat islet a quarter mile off Kailua Beach Park, a state seabird sanctuary and the classic first kayak paddle on the windward side, with turtles in the surrounding water.
Practical
Coast Pilot: small, flat, low-lying island 0.2 mile north of Alala Point. Landing is allowed only on its small sand beach; the interior is closed to protect nesting seabirds (wedge-tailed shearwater burrows). No facilities or lifeguards. Reach it by kayak or dinghy from Kailua Beach Park; anchor any dinghy on sand, not coral. Green sea turtles are commonly seen snorkeling, especially in summer. A Hawaiian fishing shrine on the island was destroyed by the 1946 tsunami.
Best for
Kayak or dinghy landing and turtle snorkel close to Kailua Beach
Season
Year-round; calmest in light trades
Nearby
- Buzz's Original Steakhouse (Kailua)0.4 NM away
- Kailua Beach Park0.4 NM away
- Kailua Beach Windsurfing and Kitesurfing0.4 NM away
- Lanikai Beach0.5 NM away
- Kalapawai Market (Kailua Beach)0.6 NM away
- Lanikai Pillbox Hike (Kaiwa Ridge)0.6 NM away
- Kailua Bay Anchorage (Summer)1.3 NM away
- Kailua Town Provisioning (Whole Foods / Target Kailua)1.3 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).