Anchorage· Oahu· Hawaii
Waimanalo Bay (Inside the Reef)
21° 20.7′ N · 157° 41.6′ W · approximate
Behind the barrier reefs that parallel much of Waimanalo Bay is small-craft shelter in most weather, with the longest beach on Oahu ashore; a shoal-draft option on the windward coastal passage when you know the entrance.
Practical
Position is the OpenStreetMap 'Waimanalo Bay' label, not a surveyed anchorage. Coast Pilot: the bay between Wailea Point and Makapuu Head affords all-weather shelter for small craft behind the barrier reefs; a 2-mile stretch off mid-bay has no fringing reef; depths of 10 ft can be carried into the bay except during strong trades, when the entrance is closed by breakers. Enter only in good light, moderate trades and small swell, with a bow lookout; this is not described in yacht cruising guides, so treat it as local-knowledge water. NOAA tide station Waimanalo (1612376). 72-hour anchoring limit applies. The Makai Undersea Test Range restricted area lies off Makapuu (keep out when its signals are displayed, 33 CFR 334.1410).
Best for
Shoal-draft shelter between Makapuu and Kailua
Season
Settled moderate trades; entrance closes in strong trades
Nearby
- Waimanalo Bay Beach Park0.5 NM away
- Manana (Rabbit Island) Seabird Sanctuary2.3 NM away
- Na Mokulua (Mokulua Islands)2.6 NM away
- Lanikai Beach3.1 NM away
- Lanikai Pillbox Hike (Kaiwa Ridge)3.1 NM away
- Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail3.2 NM away
- Buzz's Original Steakhouse (Kailua)3.6 NM away
- Kailua Beach Park3.6 NM away