You'll Want To Spend More Time At This Inconspicuous Park In Hawaii
By Megan Shute|Published October 23, 2018
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
With approximately 750 miles of stunning coastline, it comes as no surprise that the Hawaiian Islands are home to some jaw-dropping destinations that fly under the radar. From waterfront parks and beaches to sea cliffs and lava formations, these unique coastal gems are all worthy of a visit, but today we’re headed to one of my favorite places. Measuring in at less than one acre in size, this might just be one of the smallest beach parks you’ll find in the Aloha State.
Nestled at the base of Diamond Head Crater between Waikiki and Diamond Head Beaches is Makalei Beach Park, a small stretch of sand that is often overlooked for more popular beaches.
Because Makalei can’t be seen from the road, it doesn’t attract much attention and depending on when you visit — weekdays, in particular — you might just find that you have the beach to yourself.
The beach is backed by a few luxury homes, and you’ll find that a large banyan tree in the center of the park as well as a handful of other trees provides plenty of shade.
Makalei is most wildly used by surfers to access a few surf sites found offshore, many of which have scary or strange sounding names — Graveyards, Suicides, Radicals, Sleepy Hollows, and Ricebowls, for example.
Though swimming conditions are limited here due to a reef on the nearshore ocean bottom, the tiny .7-acre beach park is the perfect place for a quiet picnic.
What you won’t find here, however, is official parking, restrooms, or lifeguards on duty. That’s just the way we like it, though, as it lends itself to a peaceful, laid-back atmosphere you won’t often find in the heart of Honolulu.
When you want to truly get away from it all without ever venturing outside Honolulu city limits, head to Makalei Beach Park, an inconspicuous begging to be visited.
Makalei Beach Park is located at 3111 Diamond Head Rd., Honolulu, HI 96815, and is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you’re looking for another unique coastal gem along Oahu’s southeastern shore, click here to learn all about Cromwell’s Beach.
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