Māʻili Beach Park
Waianae, HI
Māʻili Beach Park runs along a long, straight stretch of the Waiʻanae coast, wide enough that even a busy weekend rarely feels crowded. The water here can turn rough with a strong shorebreak, more suited to experienced bodyboarders than a casual dip, especially when a south or west swell is running.
A lot of open sand with genuinely little crowding, but the shorebreak here is inconsistent enough that it's worth checking conditions before letting kids swim.
How we score beachesCheck the shorebreak before committing to swim. It can go from mellow to genuinely rough within the same afternoon depending on the swell direction.
A large free lot serves the park off Farrington Highway.
Flat, paved paths run from the lot to wide open sand.
Calmer in summer, while any west or south swell can bring a rough shorebreak regardless of season.
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