pronounced kai-MAH-nah
Diamond Head-end of Waikīkī, less crowded than central Waikīkī, with a small reef-protected swim area.
NWS forecast for this exact lat/lon — forecasts can change, re-check before you go.
2863 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Kaimana is where locals take kids when they want Waikīkī conditions without the Waikīkī crowd. Small sand strip, very calm shoulder-deep water, a shallow reef just offshore. Best for families who don't want the food-cart density of Kūhiō and don't mind a short walk from Kapiʻolani Park.
Locals' Waikīkī. Cleaner sand than central Waikīkī, fewer aggressive cart vendors, easier to find a patch on the sand. The New Otani Kaimana Hotel café is on the beach if you need a real bathroom and a Diet Coke.
Lifeguarded. The reef offshore creates the calm — but it also means watch for shallow coral if your kid swims out. South-swell days can push water over the reef.
This beach sits in the Tsunami Evacuation Zone per Hawai‘i Statewide GIS. If sirens sound or shaking is felt, move inland and uphill immediately. Hawai‘i Emergency Management →
Free street parking on Kalākaua Ave or use the Kapiʻolani Park lots. Walk in is 2-5 minutes.
Public restroom at the beach; cleaner restrooms at Kapiʻolani Park or the New Otani hotel lobby.
Mature shade trees behind the beach. Diamond Head wall provides afternoon shade on the east end.
Weekday late morning is the sweet spot — lifeguard on duty, locals at work, calm.
Accessibility: Sand reaches close to the parking area; minor steps in places.
Two enclosed swim ponds along Waikīkī, walled off from the surf — the safest Waikīkī option for non-swimmers.
Reef-sheltered shoreline with a protected swim lagoon on Magic Island — the calmest big-beach option in town.
Reef-protected snorkel preserve in a volcanic crater — Oʻahu's best-known snorkel beach, with a strict reservation system.