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Ahu o Laka, the Kaneohe Bay Sandbar
Information about the sandbar in Kaneohe Bay known as
Ahu o Laka, the Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, the Sunken Island,
the Disappearing Island, and sometimes just the Kaneohe Sandbar.
The Ahu o Laka Sandbar in Kaneohe Bay is open to boaters
and others for recreational purposes such as
swimming, sunbathing, beach volleyball, diving, and picnics.
It is also a popular resting place or destination for
sailboats, kayakers, jet skiiers, and other boaters.
Note that Ahu o Laka only appears above the water line
at high tide so when you are planning a trip there,
need to check a tide table.
Ahu o Laka is about three acres in size and it has beautiful
views of Kaneohe Bay and the Koolau Mountains.
No birds nest on Ahu Laka and it has no vegetation.
It is a part of a larger sand wedge that is approximately
a mile long. It sits about a mile off the coast
on the lagoon side of a barrier reef. Ahu o Laka
on only accessible by boat and many weekends there are dozens
of boats anchored by the sandbar. Many people access
it by kayaking about two miles northwest from the Heeia Pier.
In March of 2006, the Office of Hawaiian
Affairs and the Water, Land, and Ocean Resources
committee approved Senate Bill 2004,
which established Ahu o Laka as a State of Hawaii Historic
Monument. The bill directed the Hawaii State Department of Land
and Natural Resources to determine and establish rules
to protect and maintain the sandbar, however the state of
Hawaii stated they did not intend to prevent picnics
on the sandbar, only to control other activities
that were harmful to the sandbar, disrespectful of the
islet's historic signifigance, dangerous, or unsanitary.
There have been complaints in the past about huge concerts
on the sandbar that resulted in fighting, littering,
and excessive drinking. A brawl and alcohol related
disorderly conduct on Ahu o Kala on
September 3, 2007 caused the State of Hawaii to be
pressured again to establsish more restrictive rules
See also:
Other Islands in Kanoehe Bay
More of Oahu's Offshore Islands
Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor
Kayaking and Kayak Rentals on Oahu
Other Oahu Attractions
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Related Links
Oahu Island - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
Elsewhere on the Web
2001 Aug:
Kaneohe Sandbar is a Gold Mine
2004 Aug:
Two Pictures of Ahu o Laka
2005 Sep:
Sand Bar Blast
2005 Nov:
State Might Crash Sandbar Parties
2006 Feb 09:
UFO's Could Restrict Use of Sand Bar
2006 Feb 13:
Bill Would Restrict Activities at Sandbar
2006 Mar:
Residents Disagree on Sandbar Policy
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