Kaimana Beach
Honolulu, HI
Past the far end of Waikiki's high rises, where the sand narrows in front of the old War Memorial Natatorium, Kaimana Beach still gets called Sans Souci by longtime residents. The water sits calm behind a shallow reef, sea turtles graze just offshore, and the crowd skews local rather than tourist, even with the Waikiki Aquarium a few steps away.
Turtles, calm water, and a real local crowd two minutes from Waikiki's chaos. The only drawback is how little sand is left once the tide comes in.
How we score beachesSwim toward the reef break past the lifeguard tower in the late afternoon and you'll likely have a green sea turtle for company. They feed on the algae there most evenings.
Metered street parking runs along Kalakaua Avenue and the side streets by Kapiolani Park, and it's tight most days. Walking or biking in from Waikiki is often easier than driving.
A short paved walkway leads from the sidewalk to the sand, flat and close, though the beach itself narrows to almost nothing at high tide.
Calm nearly year round thanks to the reef, though winter can bring a bit more swell past the break than the sheltered swimming area ever feels.
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