Beaches in Haleiwa

Get to know the beaches in Haleiwa and start planning your vacation! In this guide, we'll explore the beaches surrounding charming Haleiwa Town, offering valuable information and recommendations to ensure your North Shore trip is unforgettable.

Haleiwa Beaches

In Hawaii, it's no secret that the beaches in Haleiwa are some of the most popular and beautiful on Oahu's North Shore.

While there are many well-known beaches on the North Shore, such as the famous Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach, there are four beaches just outside the main street of Haleiwa Town that are a must-see:

1. Haleiwa Beach Park
2. Ali'i Beach Park
3. Pua'ena Point
4. Kaiaka Bay Beach Park

Here, we'll review these four beaches so you know what to expect from each one, whether you're looking to swim, surf, fish, or soak up the warm Hawaiian sun.

Haleiwa Beach Park

Out of all of Hawaii's beaches, one of the most famous is Haleiwa Beach Park. Here, visitors can enjoy calm waters, sandy shores, and stunning sunset views.

Amenities: The park is full of amenities such as picnic tables, a playground for kids, a basketball court, restrooms, showers, and plenty of free parking.

Activities: The calmer waters make it an ideal spot for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing, and you may even spot canoe paddlers. One downside is that the water can be a little murky and not that ideal for snorkeling.

Haleiwa Beach Park is one of the best locations to watch the sunset! It is also a great location to enter the Ana'hulu River and cross under the Haleiwa Rainbow Bridge with kayaks or stand-up paddleboards.

Lifeguards: There are no lifeguards present on site.

Best time of year to visit: You'll be able to enjoy this beach all year long! Even during the surf season in the winter, this area is protected from the surf.

Ali'i Beach Park

When visiting Haleiwa Town, you must make a stop and check out the popular Ali'i Beach Park! It's also known as Haleiwa Beach, and it's located just west of the Haleiwa Boat Harbor.

Amenities: You'll find plenty of free parking adjacent to the harbor, a large grassy area with picnic tables, plenty of shade under the trees, restrooms, and showers. Most importantly, the lifeguards are on duty all day making sure everyone is safe.

Activities: Ali'i Beach Park provides an incredible vantage point for witnessing breathtaking sunsets. In the winter, it transforms into an excellent spot to watch surfers riding waves, while kids can enjoy the smaller surf near the inside reef.

Moreover, during the summer, it becomes an excellent location for scuba diving in the deep Haleiwa trench. You see live coral, fish, numerous turtles, and if you're fortunate, even spot some reef sharks!

Lifeguards: Lifeguards are present on site.

Best time of year to visit: While beachgoers can enjoy this beach year-round, it's crucial to be aware that swimming is not recommended from October to late April due to hazardous currents and surf conditions.

Pua'ena Point Beach Park

Situated right next to Haleiwa Beach Park, Pua'ena Point is a popular beach and surf spot with locals, families, and visitors alike.

Amenities: Pua'ena Point offers access to the same amenities available at Haleiwa Beach Park, including free parking, showers, restrooms, picnic tables, and plenty of shaded areas beneath the trees.

Activities: Pua'ena Point is a popular surf spot for beginner surfers, with numerous surf schools offering lessons here.

The waves on the inner reef are mellow and ideal for beginners. Its also great for longboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, and foiling. When the surf is bigger, you'll see advanced surfers on the outer reef as well.

Beyond surfing and throughout the year, Pua'ena Point is also a great spot to walk along the shoreline taking in the amazing views of the ocean and mountains.

Lifeguards: There are no lifeguards present on site.

Best time of year to visit: Pua'ena Point is a fantastic year-round spot for surfing or taking surf lessons in the winter months. There is occasional surf in the summer, and surf schools continue to operate.

Kaiaka Bay Beach Park

Another beach located just outside this historic town is Kaiaka Bay Beach Park. It's known for its campgrounds and the legendary mushroom-shaped rock named Pohaku Lanai.

Amenities: Similar to the other beaches in the area, Kaiaka Bay offers amenities such as restrooms, showers, picnic tables, shaded areas under the trees, ample free parking, and overnight camping permits.

Activities: Kaiaka Bay has stunning views and a spacious grassy area, making it a popular place for camping and fishing. Additionally, tourists visit the area to witness the historical balancing mushroom rock, a site where Hawaiian chiefs once worshipped their gods.

The northern end of the peninsula features a sandy beach good for swimming and lounging. In contrast, the western side is rocky, the water is murky, and it's an area favored by fishermen.

Furthermore, with its expansive grassy area, Kaiaka is an excellent choice for families, offering a space for children to run around and ideal spots for family picnics.

Lifeguards: There are no lifeguards present on site.

Best time of year to visit: With Hawaii's consistently beautiful weather, you will enjoy visiting or camping in the park all year long!

Where to see the turtles

Your chances of spotting turtles swimming in the ocean close to the beach on the North Shore are high!

However, out of the four beaches near Haleiwa Town, the best place to see them resting on the beach is on the western side of Ali'i Beach Park.

Best beach to swim, snorkel & surf

• Swimming: With its calmer waters throughout the year, Haleiwa Beach Park is our recommended and best place to go for a swim!
• Snorkeling: Unfortunately, none of the four beaches we list here are recommended for snorkeling. We suggest exploring Sharks Cove or other beaches on the North Shore during calm surf conditions for better visibility, coral and fish diversity.
• Surfing: During the winter months, Ali'i Beach Park, Pua'ena Point, and the surrounding outer reefs offer excellent surfing conditions.

Where to rent beach gear

There are three locations in Haleiwa to rent snorkel and scuba gear, surfboards, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards:

1. We recommend checking out Surf-n-Sea, conveniently located next to Haleiwa Beach Park and the iconic Rainbow Bridge. They have all the rentals you need!
2. Rainbow Watersports is a rental van located at Haleiwa Beach Park, and they offer kayaks and paddleboard rentals.
3. Also, check out the rentals from Blue Planet Adventure right across the street from Surf-n-Sea. When you rent their equipment, you can paddle directly from their dock on Anahulu Stream.

Haleiwa webcam

Did you know you can see the beaches in Haleiwa live on webcams? There's a website called Surfline that offers live webcams throughout the North Shore and beyond.

The Ali'i Beach Park webcam offers two different live angles, and the Pua'ena Point webcam shows one angle. Check them out!

Their live cams play uninterruptedly with a membership, but they do offer a few seconds free in between ads. This is cool because it allows you to check real-time conditions before you go!

Insider tips & suggestions

• All the beaches in Haleiwa and on the North Shore have free parking, bathroom facilities with showers, picnic tables, and other free amenities.
• Driving on the beach is not permitted.
• Be sure to bring a sweatshirt or wind blocker jacket when you go to the beach! We have warm tropical weather, but the trade winds can sometimes be chilly.
• Consider bringing or renting a springsuit or wetsuit top if you take a surf lesson or go snorkeling. The water temperature is about 78°F year round, but the wind can make you cold.
• Don't forget the essentials - hat, sunblock, sun shirt, sunglasses, towels, beach umbrella and chairs, a cooler and snacks.
• Check the daily local surf report and watch for the lifeguard warning signs on the beach before jumping in the water.
• Avoid leaving valuables in your car or anything visible to minimize rental car break-ins.