Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore

Ah, winter.  Those who say Hawaii doesn't have seasons haven't lived here.  Sure they're mild, but there are seasons none-the-less.  Winter means more rain, cooler temperatures (especially in the mornings and evenings) and big waves on the North Shore.

If you haven't made it up to the North Shore yet this winter you should add it to list of things to do.  It's an entirely different place this time of year than in the summer and watching the big waves never gets old.  

A couple weeks ago we had friends visiting who wanted to see the North Shore.  The surf report said waves were around 15 feet and when we got to Pipeline we discovered there had been a surfing competition there earlier in the day but it had been called off because the waves were too big.  There were still a lot of surfers and bodyboarders in the water and we joined the spectators lining the beach and had fun watching them most of the afternoon.

Pipeline really is a great place to watch bodyboarders and surfers because the main break is fairly close to shore so it's easy to see the action from the beach.

They're not quite as close as they look in this picture but this was taken with the zoom on my little point and shoot camera, not a fancy camera with a big lens.  Definitely easy to see with the unaided eye.

If you just want to see waves, hit most any spot along the North Shore, but if you want to see surfers I'd recommend the Banzai Pipeline.  Have fun and be safe!

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  Banzai Pipeline is located near Ehukai Beach Park which is in Pupukea on the North Shore. 

Directions:  Ehukai Beach Park is located along Kamehameha Hwy. between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach near Sunset Beach Elementary School.  

Parking:  There is a parking lot at Ehukai Beach Park.  When this is full find a spot where you can pull completely off the road that isn't marked 'no parking' and park there.

Facilities:  There are restrooms and showers at Ehukai Beach Park.

Other:  When there's a big swell most beaches on the North Shore are closed, and for good reason.  The water is extremely rough and the currents are incredibly strong.  Follow posted warnings and all lifeguard instructions.  Also be on the lookout for unexpected waves that can wash quite a ways up the beach with lots of force.  •  Take binoculars if you have them, but if you don't you'll still be able to see a lot.  •  Big waves on the North Shore can mean lots of traffic on Kamehameha Hwy.  Be prepared to go slow and relax and enjoy the journey.

Baby Makapu'u Beach

If you're looking for things to do with kids, I would recommend Baby Makapu'u Beach.  We spent a morning there last week and plan to go back soon!  

First off, it's a beautiful spot!  The contrast of the black rocks and the white sand, the blue ocean and Manana Island/Rabbit Island offshore, the sunlight sparkling on the water - you know you're in Hawaii!

Several of the tidepools have sandy bottoms, making them perfect kiddie pools.  The rocks are great for exploring (but watch out for the slippery ones) and my kids had fun finding crabs and other small creatures.  There were quite a few little fish and some of them nibbled our toes when we sat really still in one of the pools.  My son thought that was neat!

Although this was my first visit, it was obvious this is a popular place for families with children.  If you want to miss out on the crowds go early or head there later in the day when others have headed home for lunch and/or naptime.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  Off of Kalanianaole Hwy. (Hwy 72) across from Sea Life Park

Directions:  

• If you are coming from Honolulu/Waikiki drive through Hawaii Kai, past Hanauma Bay, Makapu'u Lighthouse and Makapu'u Beach Park.  You'll see the entrance to Sea Life Park on your left.  Continue until you see the exit to Sea Life Park.  The entrance to this beach is almost directly across from the exit to Sea Life Park.  Turn to the right (toward the ocean) and then when you have the choice to go right or left, turn left to get to the part of the beach pictured and described here.

• If you are coming from the windward side drive through Waimanalo, pass the entrance to Bellows Beach Park, pass the U.H. research pier on your left and look for the exit to Sea Life Park on your right.  The entrance to this beach is almost directly across from the exit to Sea Life Park.  Turn left here and then when you have the choice to go right or left, turn left to get to the part of the beach pictured and described here.

Parking:  There is a parking area here.  As always, do not leave valuables in your car.

Facilities:  There are no restrooms or showers at this part of the beach.  However, where the road splits if you turn to the right there is a restroom in that part of the parking area.

Other:  I've heard this is a great place to take kids tide pooling at low tide.  Wear water/reef shoes to protect your feet and be careful not to step on marine life.

Ko Olina's Fourth Lagoon

It's been fun visiting the different lagoons at Ko Olina and comparing them to each other.  Lagoon Four was the one we spent time at most recently.

Lagoon 4 has, by far, the largest parking lot of any of the lagoons and since we were meeting up with a group on Memorial Day weekend we based our lagoon pick on the size of the lot.  There are parking lot attendants at Lagoon Four who regulate how many cars can go in based on the number of spots available.  We lucked out and a spot opened up just as we got there and they let us in.

The beach and water are very much like those at the other lagoons and the kids had fun building castles in the sand and splashing around in the ocean.  It's great for young children since the water is protected from large waves and it is relatively shallow around the edges.  There seemed to be less shade available at this lagoon than the others, but maybe that was just a feeling and not a fact.

There are no large hotel or time share buildings lining the beach here, but for some reason this lagoon is more highly monitored than the others.  Beach attendants (for lack of a better term) frequently drove by on their golf carts, stopping to enforce the rules - some of which were posted others that weren't.

We enjoyed our afternoon at Lagoon 4 and I'm sure we'll spend time there again.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  Ko Olina is located at the western end of the H1 freeway between Kapolei and Nanakuli.
Directions:  To get to Ko Olina, go west on the H-1 freeway.  You will pass Pearl Harbor, the junction with the H-2, the water park and Kapolei.  Take the Ko Olina exit and go left at the top of the off ramp.  This is a gated community but the beaches are open to the public.  At the guard house, let them know you are heading to the lagoons.  The turns for the lagoons will be on your right and are marked with signs.  The signs are not quite as clear for lagoon four as the others, but the entrance to the lagoon parking lot is just to the right of the entrance to the marina parking lot, so if you find the marina lot you're basically there.
Parking:  As mentioned, the parking lot for lagoon four is the largest.  The attendants will let you in if there is a spot available, otherwise you will be turned away.
Facilities:  There are public restrooms and outdoor showers available here.
More info:  Links to related Oahu Mom posts: Lagoon One at Ko Olina and Lagoon Three at Ko Olina

Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki

If you are looking for calm water for your kids to play in, consider checking out the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki.  The lagoon was renovated several years ago and is now a giant saltwater swimming pool.  It is surrounded by beach on all sides but the water is circulated and kept clean and the beaches are also well taken care of.  On several sides of the lagoon there are nice grassy areas behind the beach that even have some shady spots from the trees planted there.

The lagoon is located next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village at the eastern end of Waikiki near the Ala Wai Boat harbor.  It is considered to be a part of the grounds of the Hilton but is open to the public.

The edges of the lagoon are extremely shallow and there are no waves here, so it's a great place for children to run and play and enjoy the water.

In addition to wading and swimming, the lagoon is also a popular place to try out kayaking or stand up paddle boarding.  These and other watercraft can be rented from a concession stand at the corner of the lagoon nearest the Hilton.

The only thing I don't like about the lagoon is the sand.  It feels dusty and a bit artificial to me and if you want to build sand castles you'll probably want to head somewhere else.  My kids have never complained about the sand so don't let that one complaint of mine keep you from visiting this spot.

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  The Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is located adjacent to the Hilton Hawaiian Village on the Eastern edge (away from Diamond Head) of Waikiki.
Directions:  Get on Ala Moana Boulevard.  Between Ala Moana Mall and the Hilton Hawaiian Village you will turn Makai (towards the ocean) on Hobron Lane.  Then take a left on Holomoana Street and drive until you find a parking spot.
Parking:  After you turn onto Holomoana Street there is a paid parking lot on your right.  There is also free parking along the lagoon on the left and out at the end of the road on the oceanside of the lagoon.  I always check the free parking lot first but if you do end up in the paid lot the rates are very reasonable.
Facilities:  Drinking fountains and I think a water spigot for rinsing off your feet are next to the lagoon.  Can't remember if there's an outdoor shower or not.  There are no restrooms adjacent to the lagoon but the Hilton has restrooms you can use that are just a short walk away.  There's also a snack bar on the lower floor of the Rainbow Tower facing the sidewalk.
More info:  Here's a view of the lagoon from a little different angle.

Lanikai Beach

We've been to the beach three days in a row this week and summer vacation hasn't even started yet.  My kids are pretty impressed.  Just one of the great things about having friends here for a visit!

We started the week with a morning at Lanikai Beach.  This beach, located just outside of Kailua, has some of the finest sand of any beach on island.  With its white sand and the iconic view of the Mokulua Islands (a.k.a. the Moks) it really is a beautiful spot.

The water along the shore is calmer here than it is around the corner in Kailua Bay, making it a nice place for beginning swimmers and beginning paddle boarders too.  I mention the paddle boarding because I got to try stand-up paddle boarding for the first time there and it's definitely something I want to do again.

As with other windward beaches, on windy days at various times of the year there can be a lot of portuguese man-of-war here so keep your eye out for them in the water.  There is coral not too far offshore so take a snorkel and mask and see what you can discover underwater.

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  Lanikai is located to the east of Kailua on the Windward side of Oahu.  The beach is not visible from the road but there are several prominent beach access paths off of Mokulua Drive.
Directions:  To get to Lanikai, take S Kalaheo Ave. east.  It will become Lihiwai Road and then Kawailoa Road as it crosses the canal and passes Kailua Beach Park.  You will get to a stop sign and take a left onto Alala Road which will quickly become Mokulua Drive.  The road will split and you will stay to the right on Aalapapa Drive.  This is a one way road into Lanikai and makes a loop with Mokulua Drive which is a one way road out of Lanikai.  Pass the first two streets you come to and then take a left on one of the next roads on your left to head toward Mokulua Drive and the beach access paths.
Parking:  There is only street parking in Lanikai.  To avoid parking tickets, pay close attention to any 'no parking' signs to make sure you are not in a no parking area, pull completely off the road and park in the direction of traffic flow on the side of the road you park on.  The good news is that parking is free here, the bad news is that it can get crowded and hard to find a spot on weekends and holidays.  As always, don't leave valuables in your car.
Facilities:  There are no restrooms or outdoor showers on the beach here.

Lagoon Three at Ko'Olina

A few weeks ago we drove to Ko Olina on a Sunday afternoon to spend some time at Lagoon Three.  The water was nice and warm and we enjoyed some time swimming.  The lagoon is shallow around the edges and the water is calm and protected - perfect for little swimmers.  It would be a great place to swim laps too but I wasn't feeling that ambitious so I just hung out near the shore with my kids.

After the kids were done swimming and playing in the sand we explored the area a bit.  Through the hedge on the right end of the lagoon we found this fun place to tidepool.  I'm guessing this isn't always a great spot to be, but it seemed the tide was out and there were no big waves so we enjoyed walking around.  The setting sun made it especially beautiful.  I love the lighting at that time of day!

We ended our evening with a potluck supper on the lawn behind the lagoon.  One of the nice things about Ko Olina - nice grassy areas within sight of the beach.

Do it yourself on Oahu
Directions:  To get to Ko Olina, go west on the H-1 freeway.  You will pass Pearl Harbor, the junction with the H-2, the water park and Kapolei.  Take the Ko Olina exit and go left at the top of the off ramp.  This is a gated community but the beaches are open to the public.  At the guard house let them know you are heading to the lagoons.  The turns for the lagoons will be on your right and marked with signs.
Parking:  The parking lot for the third lagoon is fairly small and fills us quickly, especially on weekends. If you find the lot full and don't want to wait for a spot, head down the road to the marina.  I have heard they have paid parking there that is reasonable.  I should check into this myself on my next visit.  The marina is closest to lagoon 4 but it would only be a short walk on the paved sidewalk behind the lagoons to get back to lagoon 3.
Ammenities:  There are restrooms and outdoor showers right next to the beach.  Unfortunately these were closed/out of order when we were there so we walked to lagoon 2 for showers and to the nearby resort located on lagoon 3 for restrooms.
Other:  These lagoons are man-made and some people dislike them because of that but I think they're a fun spot and great for young children.
More info:  Read about Lagoon One at Ko'Olina here and Lagoon Four at Ko'Olina here.

Lagoon One at Ko Olina

I enjoy the overcast and sometimes drizzly days we get on the Windward side this time of year but they're not always a hit with off-island visitors, especially when one falls on the last day of their vacation.  Solution?  Chase the sun to the Ko Olina Lagoons for a picture perfect beach day.

We went to the first lagoon and had a picnic lunch on the grass by the parking lot.  It was really windy and my son got his exercise chasing the food wrappers that kept escaping from us.  Then we headed down to the beach where there was hardly any wind at all.  Excellent!

It's perfect for children but believe it or not, this was the first time I'd taken my kids to the beach at Ko Olina.  I had my reasons for not going there - the long (on the island scale of distance) drive out there, the limited parking, the fact that my kids don't mind the waves on the beaches closer to us, etc.  But like I said, it really is the perfect beach for kids and now that I've been reminded of that we'll go again.  

Why is it perfect for families?  Calm and shallow water with a sandy bottom near shore, nice sandy beach, grass and shade behind the beach, restrooms and outdoor showers.  What's not to like?

There are four lagoons at Ko Olina and they are all man-made.  There is a paved sidewalk that runs behind all the lagoons.  As I said, we went to Lagoon 1 which is where the Marriott's Ihilani Resort & Spa is located.  It's also the lagoon where Disney is building their Aulani Resort and Spa.  A great beach and a beautiful spot.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Directions: To get to Ko Olina, go west on the H-1 freeway.  You will pass Pearl Harbor, the junction with the H-2, the water park and Kapolei.  Take the Ko Olina exit and go left at the top of the off ramp.  This is a gated community but the beaches are open to the public.  At the guard house, let them know you are heading to the lagoons.  The turns for the lagoons will be on your right and marked with signs.  

Parking:  For the first lagoon there are two parking lots.  If I remember correctly they are labeled Lagoon 1A and 1B.  On the weekends the free parking for the lagoons tends to fill up so it's probably best to go early on those days.

Ammenities:  Restrooms and outdoor showers are available.

More info:  Read more about Lagoon 3 at Ko Olina here and Lagoon 4 at Ko Olina here.

Kailua Beach

While many people in the northern hemisphere are pulling out their sweaters and decorating with colorful leaves we're still enjoying great beach weather here in Hawaii.  My son's fall break was last week and we spent part of it at the beach.

Kailua Bay is surrounded by miles of fine white sand.  This is where the Obamas like to spend Christmas vacations and no matter what your political views you can't argue that they have good taste when it comes to beaches.

This past week we headed to the southeast end of Kailua Beach which is adjacent to Kailua Beach Park.  It's more crowded than other parts of the beach but the waves aren't as big as they are in other places like Kalama Beach Park and there are trees that provide a lot of shade which help make it a good spot for kids.

We all had fun swimming, playing in the sand, eating our picnic lunch and relaxing in the great outdoors.

Do it yourself on Oahu:

Directions:  To get to this part of Kailua Beach, go east on Kalaheo Ave. until it intersects with Kailua Rd.  Take a left here.  Kalapawai Market will be on the corner.

Parking:  Parking is free but can get crowded on weekends.

Ammenities:  There are fresh water showers and restrooms located in the middle of the beach park, just inland from the beach.

Other:  This might not be the best beach to visit on a windy day because of blowing sand and portuguese man-of-wars brought in by the wind.  Although on windy days it is a great spot to watch kite boarders, but bring a sweatshirt and don't try to have a picnic unless you love the taste and texture of sand in your food.

Scenic Sunday: Shoreline

Scenic Sunday...because I never cease to be amazed by the beauty of these islands.

shoreline in Waikiki

Visit Delicious Baby to see more beautiful photos from around the world.

Surfing at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki

On Sunday we spent the day with a bunch of friends at Queen's Beach in Waikiki.  While we were there my boy got his very first surfing lesson - and in my proud opinion he did really well!  We sure had the right crew there for it.  A friend with a long board who would help launch him into the waves, Daddy to catch him before he ended up on the sandy shore, and even another friend on a surfboard with a video camera in a waterproof case to film the whole thing.  

It was really flat on Sunday but not quite as flat as it looks in the picture.  The waves were indeed big enough to give him forward momentum.  It was a perfect spot for a first lesson.  Shallow enough for adults to easily help, deep enough that he didn't get banged up on rocks when he fell in, and right next to a rock pier where I could stand and be close to the action with my camera and document his progress. 

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Queen's Surf Beach is on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki across from Kapiolani Park.  

• Hawaiian royalty used to frequent this beach and Queen Liliuokalani had a beach house here, hence the name.

• The beach is known for its body boarding (some areas are exclusively for body boarding), snorkeling (there's a nice reef out in front of the Waikiki aquarium), and of course swimming (although it is a little rocky in some areas) and playing in the sand.  The beach is popular with the LGBT community but on any given day a wide variety of people can be found enjoying this beautiful spot.  There is a nice lawn next to the beach with some shade and a couple great banyan trees with roots that are fun to swing on.  

• There are restrooms and outdoor showers here.

Starting the Weekend at Magic Island

I lived on Oahu for quite awhile before I figured out what/where Magic Island was.  I think I thought it was an island, which it isn’t.  It’s more of a peninsula.  It also isn’t magical really, although the peacefulness I feel after an evening there makes it feel like maybe there is a little magic there.

Now that we know what and where Magic Island is we like to go down there on Friday evenings for a picnic supper and an evening in the park.  It’s become a family tradition that we all enjoy.  Our boy likes to take his bike or scooter to ride on the paved paths there and during the summer we sometimes take swimsuits for the kids so they can swim in the protected area at the end of the island, I mean peninsula.

It’s a beautiful spot and a great place to watch the sunset.  A few months ago it was there that I finally saw the first green flash I’ve seen in Hawaii.  As if all of the above wasn’t reason enough to head down to Magic Island there are also fireworks.  Hilton Hawaiian Village shoots off fireworks almost every Friday at 7:45 PM and Magic Island is a great place to watch them over the water.

The only bad part about evenings at Magic Island is it’s hard to get our kids to stop running around and playing long enough to eat their supper.  But no matter how much or little they eat they sleep well from all the exercise they have gotten.

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Magic Island is on the Waikiki side of Ala Moana Beach Park, across from the Ala Moana Mall.  Here's a map link.

• Parking is free and there’s usually plenty of it, although in the summer months it can sometimes take a little while to find a spot.

• There are outdoor showers and a number of bathrooms that are usually decently clean.

• Fireworks are at 7:45 PM except on the rare occasions when they are cancelled due to bad weather.  There are no fireworks on Good Friday.

Tidepool by Sharks Cove

Two trips to Oahu's North Shore in almost as many weeks?  Crazy, I know!  And I have to say I thought I was going to go crazy on the drive up there which seemed to take FOREVER because a certain boy in the back seat talked nonstop the entire time!  But at least the little girl in the backseat got a nap on the way up there, so it was all good.

The plan was to meet up with friends at Sharks Cover where people could snorkel in the cove or hang out in the big tide pool to the left of the cove.  Unfortunately the surf was up a bit higher than predicted so only the bravest grown-ups in the group ventured into Sharks Cove but the rest of us had fun in the tide pool.  The water was really clear and we saw several different kinds of fish, some purple sea urchins and a couple crabs.

At Shark's Cove itself there is only a tiny bit of sand, but on the other side of the tide pool there is a bigger beach and that's where we spent our time when we weren't in the water.  The beach toys we took were put to good use!  We had taken food for supper on the beach and we were there to see a beautiful sunset reflected in the tide pool.  Ah, this is the life!

Do it yourself:

• Location: Sharks Cove and the adjacent tide pools are part of Pupukea Beach Park on Oahu's North Shore.  This spot is located between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach.

• Parking: Spots are located within the park on the ocean side of the road.

• Facilities:  There are restrooms and showers here but I don't think there are life guards.

• Recommendations:  Wear shoes appropriate for reef-walking.  The rocks are sharp and there are sea urchins too.  I wore thick-soled slippers (kinda like tevas) which worked okay but had the kids wear shoes that provided coverage on the tops of their feet too.  

• The tide pools would be a great place to teach kids to snorkel.  The water is calm and shallow enough in many places that they can stand up if they need/want to.  But even if they don't snorkel they can still see fish and other things in the water as they walk along.

Laniakea Beach, a.k.a. Turtle Beach

After swimming and playing in the sand at Sunset Beach we headed towards Hale'iwa and stopped at Laniakea Beach, commonly called Turtle Beach.  I think this beach is so pretty, especially in the late afternoon.  The lighting is great, the rocks on the beach add interest, the coconut trees make it look so tropical...  We took a few group shots that were the "we've just been at the beach having lots of fun" type pictures and not the type to enlarge and hang on the wall, but maybe someday we'll have a nice family portrait taken here.  It's a beautiful spot!  I also took a few silhouette photos which I always think are fun.

The reason the beach is nicknamed Turtle Beach is because Hawaiian green sea turtles seem to love it here.  This time we just saw a bunch of them in the water, but it is common to also find them up on the beach here just hanging out and relaxing.  Word has gotten out about this spot as you can see from the crowd of turtle watchers below.  

Turtles or not, this beach is definitely worth stopping at!

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Located off of the Kamehameha Hwy (Hwy 83) between Hale'iwa and Waimea Bay.  I recognize it by the fact that the beach comes right up to the highway with no trees between the beach and the road and parking is across the street in a big dirt pull-out type area.

• When we've seen turtles on the beach here they have always been on the far right end of the beach as you're facing the ocean.

• Hawaiian green sea turtles are a threatened species protected by law, and touching or harassing them is illegal.  Give them their space and save yourself possible fines and even jail time.

• There are often volunteers at this beach keeping a watchful eye on the turtles.  They are a great source of information, so if you have turtle questions, ask them!

Sunset Beach

I've joked that I go to the Mainland more than I go to the North Shore and the truth is, it's probably not as much of a joke as you might think.  Afterall, the North Shore is SO far away!  You know, far, as in 40 whole miles away from my house!  It seems that people who live here either get island fever and feel claustrophobic or they adjust so much that their frame of reference changes and going anywhere outside of a 10 mile radius takes advance planning.  I'm definitely in the second category.  But we really like the North Shore and this weekend we used off-island visitors as motivation to make the trek north.  

We drove up the Windward coast through Ka'a'awa (love the name of that town!), past the Polynesian Cultural Center and on up past Turtle Bay Resort.  Such a beautiful drive!  We picked Sunset Beach as our destination and when we got there we found a spot on the beach, dumped our stuff under our umbrella and headed for the water.

It always amazes me what a different place the North Shore is, depending on the season.  In the winter the waves are huge and swimming is definitely at your own risk.  In the summer the waves are much calmer and the North Shore becomes a place for swimming and snorkeling.


As its name suggests, this beach is a great place to sit and watch the sun set over the water.  On this particular visit though, we left before sunset so we could get the kids home and to bed at a decent time.  Because, you know, we were so far away that if we stayed 'til sunset imagine how incredibly late it would be by the time we made it all the way back home.  Oh, that and we had a couple more stops we wanted to make, but I'll save those for other posts.

For now, I'll leave you with another picture of Sunset Beach.  Definitely worth the "long" drive!

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Sunset Beach is located off of the Kamehameha Hwy. on the North Shore between Waimea Bay and Turtle Bay Resort.  

• There is parking right along the road at the top of the beach, as well as additional parking across the street at Sunset Beach Park.  

• There are no restrooms or showers on the beach, but I think there may be some across the street in the park.  I should have paid better attention.

• If you are planning to venture very far from shore, check with the lifeguards about the strong rip current that occurs at this beach.

Kalama Beach Park

We went to the beach this weekend!  It's so sad that is a newsworthy event when we are surrounded by beautiful beaches.  We definitely don't get there as often as we should, especially in the winter.

We went late Saturday afternoon to Kalama Beach, our beach of choice for a short visit.  Our boy decided he wanted to surf (ride his boogie board actually, but he calls it surfing) and he actually carried the board himself all the way to, well, a few feet closer to the trees than he is in this picture.  Still well within sight of the parking lot!  Oh well.

It was on the cloudy side so the ocean wasn't as brilliant as it sometimes is, but it was still a beautiful day.  A group of our friends were already there and we joined them.  I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing with my toes in the sand.  Our girl didn't seem to care whether or not she got in the water and since it was cooler and breezy I was happy to stay on the beach with her.

True to his plan, our boy got right in the water with his boogie board and his dad, who really didn't want to get wet but was a trooper and did it anyway.  My husband's such a good guy!

We left feeling refreshed and relaxed and determined to go back again soon!


Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Kalama Beach Park is in Kailua off of N. Kalaheo Avenue near the intersection of Hauoli St. and Kalaheo.
• There is a small parking lot there but it's often full on the weekends.  If that's the case, look for street parking on the side streets nearby.  If you do park in the lot, check the hours.  I think they lock the gate around 6PM.
• You can't see the beach from the parking lot but it's just a short walk away.
• The beach park has restrooms and showers.
• There is more shade here than many beaches on the island, but take an umbrella if you want to move away from the beach access where most of the shade is.
• The waves here are often good for boogie boarding and/or surfing.

Thanks to Steady Mom for hosting the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge each week!

My Favorite Beach - Bellows

Our visiting friends decided to spend their last day on island at Bellows Beach and my kids and I joined them for some fun in the sun. Bellows has got to be my favorite beach on Oahu, maybe my favorite beach anywhere. So why haven't I been going there weekly, or at least monthly? I'm not sure, but I need to fix that.

I love the first glimpse of the ocean at Bellows. I'm always amazed at how beautiful the water is there.

The adult to kid ratio was good so even though my husband wasn't there I was able to get in the water with my boy and help him catch some waves on a boogie board. (Thanks friends!) The water stays shallow for quite a ways out so I could stand next to him and help him get the board pointed in the right direction, give him a shove when a wave came and with a little kicking on his part he could ride it all the way to shore. Sadly I didn't get any pictures, but he caught some good waves and had fun!  Since it was shallow I wasn't worried about him falling off or getting tumbled in a wave because I knew he could just stand up if that happened.

All the kids enjoyed playing in the sand building castles and walls and digging holes. My girl played 'til she was so tired she just laid down on the sand, but surprisingly she didn't get as much in her mouth and eyes as she often does. My boy has recently gotten into writing his ABCs and he had fun using the beach as a canvas.

And me? I got stung by a Portuguese Man O' War. I was standing in the water and felt a tingling/stinging sensation around my ankle. I looked down and could see the Man O' War with its long tentacle trailing along behind it. For all the times I've seen them I'm surprised I haven't been stung before this. I think I got a minor sting because it didn't hurt that bad and only for a few minutes; although now, two days later, I do still have welts on my ankle and they really itch. But that didn't keep me out of the water on Sunday and it won't keep me out of the water in the future, especially at my favorite beach!

Do it yourself on Oahu

• Bellows is located just south of Waimanalo off of the Kalanianaole Hwy.

• This beach is part of a military installation. The northern part of the beach is always open to military members and dependents. The southern part of the beach is open to the public on the weekends.