|
Makapuu Beach Park
Oahu, Hawaii
Makapuu Beach Park is located on the southeast tip of
the island of Oahu, just north of Makapuu Point and the
Makapuu Lighthouse. The beach sits at the base of a
seacliff and it is approximately 1000 feet long and
200 feet wide.
The waves at Makapuu Beach are often too rough for swimming,
especially during the winter months, but it is a popular
spot for advance bodyboarding and bodysurfing. No board
surfing is allowed.
Copyright ©
Kathleen Walling Fry
Makapuu Beach has been a famous bodyboarding and bodysurfing
spot since 1933 when the coastal road around the east end
of the island was completed, and people were able to drive there.
On a high surf day, the waves at Makapuu beach break in the middle of
the bay, off the center of the beach, providing a very long ride.
The lookouts above the beach provide beautiful views of
Makapuu Beach, Sea Life Park, and Waimanalo Bay.
There are two offshore islands at Makapuu beach.
The smaller one is Kaohikaipu (black rock)
and the larger one is Manana (Rabbit Island). The latter
use to be the home of a colony of rabbits but they are gone now.
Both islands are seabird sanctuaries.
In the summer when the ocean is calm the beach is wide
with a gentle slope, but in the winter, high surf
erodes the beach to half its width, exposing
a large lava edge at the water's edge.
High surf at Makapu'u creates a pounding shore break
and swift inshore currents that often run
directly into the rocks in the center and at either
end of the beach
There are also powerful rip currents - one that runs seaward
at the north end of the beach and another that
follows the sea cliffs toward the lighthouse at
Makapu'u point.
Lifeguards are on duty daily, so ask them about
swimming conditions.
See Also
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail
Makapuu Lighthouse
Makapuu Point
Makapuu Point State Wayside Park
All Oahu Beaches
|
Related Links
Oahu Island - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
|
|
|
