Mālaekahana Beach
Laie, HI
Mālaekahana stretches for nearly a mile between Laie and Kahuku, backed by ironwood trees and open enough that even weekend crowds spread out and disappear along the sand. Offshore sits Mokuʻauia, known locally as Goat Island, a bird sanctuary that's walkable at low tide when conditions are calm.
Long, uncrowded sand and a genuine wade out island make this one of the windward side's best all around beaches, though the entry fee and gate hours mean it's not quite as spontaneous as the free beaches nearby.
How we score beachesCheck with the lifeguard before wading out to Goat Island. The channel current can turn dangerous fast even when it looks calm from shore.
A gated lot with a small entry fee serves the recreation area off Kamehameha Highway.
Flat, sandy paths under ironwood trees connect the lot to the beach, easy walking though not paved.
Calmest in summer, when the wade out to Goat Island is safest. Winter swells can make the channel too rough to cross.
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