Waimea Bay

Bay · Pupukea

Waimea Bay

Bay · Pupukea

4

Hawaii 96712

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Waimea Bay by Photo by Amanda Castleman
Waimea Bay by Photo by Amanda Castleman
Waimea Bay by Photo by Amanda Castleman
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Waimea Bay by null
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Waimea Bay by null
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Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
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Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
Waimea Bay by null
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Highlights

Waimea Bay serves up massive winter waves for pro surfers, summer cliff jumps, crystal-clear snorkeling, and a lush valley backdrop.  

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Jul 30, 2025

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Seclusion, Surf, and Shrimp on Oahu's North Shore

"One of the North Shore’s most iconic surfing spots, crescent shaped Waimea Bay reached the pinnacle of its big wave fame in the mid-1980s with the inaugural Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, which has been held only nine times — conditions have to be perfect to create the enormous swells required to hold this invitational. Encircled by the lush Waimea Valley, Waimea Bay’s sparkling emerald-blue water comes into view as you round a bend on Kamehameha Highway. One of its highlights is “Jumping Rock,” an enormous, craggy boulder that punctuates the bay’s western edge, where daredevils leap from the cliff-like precipice into the sea during the calm summer season." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/island-vacations/oahu-north-shore-kamehameha-highway
View Postcard for Waimea Bay
@afar

"Families gather at this North Shore cove—all golden sand and peacock-colored swells—in summertime. Adventurous types swarm the rocky headland—a riotous scene that resembles Where's Waldo? or Richard Scarry's Busytown—and jump into the ocean, despite warning signs. But in winter, they cede the ground to world-class surfers riding some of the planet's biggest waves. Across the highway stretches historic Waimea Valley. Today it contains a low-key botanical garden, the ruins of traditional architecture, and a 40-foot sacred waterfall at the end of a two-mile out-and-back easy trail. Locals call it Waihee (softly trickling water) in dry periods and Waihi (purging water) when the pressure picks up."

Oahu Sunsets and Picturesque Views
View Postcard for Waimea Bay
@afar

"Families gather at this North Shore cove—all golden sand and peacock-colored swells—in summertime. Adventurous types swarm the rocky headland—a riotous scene that resembles Where's Waldo? or Richard Scarry's Busytown—and jump into the ocean, despite warning signs. But in winter, they cede the ground to world-class surfers riding some of the planet's biggest waves. Across the highway stretches historic Waimea Valley. Today it contains a low-key botanical garden, the ruins of traditional architecture, and a 40-foot sacred waterfall at the end of a two-mile out-and-back easy trail. Locals call it Waihee (softly trickling water) in dry periods and Waihi (purging water) when the pressure picks up."

Wood grain pattern
Oahu Sunsets and Picturesque Views
View Postcard for Waimea Bay
@afar

"Families gather at this North Shore cove—all golden sand and peacock-colored swells—in summertime. Adventurous types swarm the rocky headland—a riotous scene that resembles Where's Waldo? or Richard Scarry's Busytown—and jump into the ocean, despite warning signs. But in winter, they cede the ground to world-class surfers riding some of the planet's biggest waves. Across the highway stretches historic Waimea Valley. Today it contains a low-key botanical garden, the ruins of traditional architecture, and a 40-foot sacred waterfall at the end of a two-mile out-and-back easy trail. Locals call it Waihee (softly trickling water) in dry periods and Waihi (purging water) when the pressure picks up."

Adventure Options on Oahu
View Postcard for Waimea Bay

Fernando Morales

Google
Absolutely gorgeous beach for laying on the sun and getting a nice tan and watching the waves wash ashore. The waves were pretty rough and can be challenging. The lifeguards are true professionals though and will make sure you aren’t doing anything you shouldn’t be. Get there early if you want free parking. Our friends arrived after we did and had to wait 20 minutes to get a spot.

Paul Augulis

Google
Amazing little cove. Easiest snorkeling I could imagine. Plenty of fish. Water is shallow, deepest I found was 5ft. There can be some strong currents when waves break over the barrier rocks but otherwise very calm. Great for kids or anyone new to snorkeling.

Mark Middleton

Google
Beautiful place to watch the surfers or nature. Absolutely beautiful place to pull off the road or into the beach parking lot and spend some time on the North Shore.

Perry Nally

Google
Great waves, great sand. Someday the surf is too high for boogie boards, but normally perfect. Has life guards. Cliff jumping if the tide is high enough- Don't try cliff jumping if you're not sure it's safe and deep enough!!! Use reef safe sunblock!

JD Hornbacher

Google
Beautiful beach with lots of sand. But we came for the cliff jumping! Easy to get up there, safe to jump. So much fun! Packed parking lot, change area.

Caitlin P

Google
During the summer time there are no waves and the water is so calm, you can swim out super far and see lots of fish. Good for kids 2+ years old. Bathrooms were okay. Parking get there before 9 am to get a spot. Probably my favorite beach on north shore.

Randal Rogers

Google
Grew up here in the 70s. It's always so nice to go back and collect the memories. What a beautiful place to be.

Hien Truong

Google
Very beautiful beach with cliff jumping. The water was clear and warm. Not too long to get to the beach from the parking. It was busy parking and not enough space but you could wait in your until someone left.
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Rebecca C.

Yelp
Not a whole lot of parking, but there are spots along the road that you can park at and walk. The beach has very high waves in the winter, so at times, it will be closed for swimming! Picnic tables and really great lifeguard station, they have warnings for tides and currents!
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Janice C.

Yelp
When you drive up to the North Shore and see red on your Google maps and wondering if there's an accident on Highway 83, chances are, everybody is trying to find parking at Waimea Bay Beach Park, therefore clogging the entire highway. When I say everybody, it's everyone. My gf patiently waited for parking and it took about 25 minutes of stalking people. She dropped us all off by the grassy picnic area so the kids can start unleashing their wild energy ... they have been stuck in the car for almost an hour coming from HNL. There are clean restrooms here, a couple of showers which is usually in use so you'll have to wait and a makeshift water fountain/faucet. The day we came was prime condition for big waves coming in and it rained heavily that morning as well. Now being an adult and manning 4 kids, I immediately looked for the lifeguard tower first. The flag is red. Meaning, dangerous conditions. Mind you, there were still plenty of people jumping into the ocean. And this beach is known to have a deep drop into the ocean and the waves are powerful enough to suck you in despite of your swimming capabilities. The kids played in the sand for about 10 mins before they started dipping their toes into the water. Of course, it was only natural that they imitate all the other adults fully going in. The strong currents were definitely pulling everyone in the day we came. The lifeguard immediately made an announcement that said " for the family would a few small children, we have a dangerous rips while right now. This is not a recreational beach!" So we grabbed the kiddos and threatened them by saying "no shave ice for you!" They complied and moved their shenanigans over to the lagoon. When my gf finally made it to the beach , she asked: "what did I miss?" The lifeguard just basically kicked us out. It was like that one time at the club that we got kicked out ...
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Amy E.

Yelp
Tuesday October 8 2024 : North shore is no joke. The day they shut down north shore beaches is the day we went. I had no idea, no signs. I went in the water and was immediately taken under. Nothing I could do to get me out of it, no joke I thought that was it for me, l screamed for help no one came at all . The life guard was in the parking lot the entire time and not even looking at the ocean. It took everything I had to get out clawing my way up. When I finally reached the surface it took me down again !!! I thought this was it ! I put my hands and feet in the sand at the bottom and literally clawed my way to the beach I barely made it !!! Becareful ! I'm looking to get a lawyer the life guard on duty the entire time was up in the parking lot hanging out !
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Kristina P.

Yelp
Love visiting Waimea when we're in Hawaii! The last couple of visits the waves have been really strong so the kids haven't been able to really go into the water but my husband always jumps right in. Just make sure you are a strong swimmer!
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Jam A.

Yelp
The famous Waimea Bay Beach Park. I call it Sunset Park or the famous surfing beach park. This is where the yearly surf contest happens. The waves get enormous. And break right at the shore. It can get very dangerous for on lookers and people that wanna get in the water. But a certain time of the year the water is very flat and calm. It is a beautiful beach with a lot Sun. They have bathroom, shower and parking parking is limited but if you come with some patient, she'll eventually get some parking. But not on those days where there is surfing contest.
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Nicole F.

Yelp
Small parking lot and very difficult to secure a parking spot unless you arrive early. We arrived towards the late afternoon and the free parking lot was already full. Cars were already in line waiting for a spot to open up and were still waiting when we were leaving the beach. We parked about 1/2 mile down the road near the Waimea Falls visitor's center and paid $10 to park there (used to be free). The beach was clean, water crystal clear. They had showers and restrooms. There was also a small cliff where visitors were taking park in cliff jumping. Others brought their own snorkel gear.
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Nicole P.

Yelp
Great sunset views! We didn't go into the water here. The waves were high and strong. We spent about an hour overlooking the water and watching the sun set.
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Sarah S.

Yelp
I don't want to say too many good things because I don't really want crowds to spoil how wonderful this beach area is. It's already tough to get parking unless you get there prior to 8, even on a week day. It's a super wide beach with showers and restrooms and picnic tables. There are lots of areas to sit in the shade on the beach up against the lava rock formations that provide little carve outs like caves to escape the sun. The rock to jump off of has various heights and platforms to launch from, and it's a good little enjoyable jump you can do over and over again. But the best part of all is the snorkeling to the left of the jumping rock. This is the best snorkeling I've ever done in Hawaii, and I've been snorkeling many places on all the islands. This is a hidden gem of sea life and bright coral. One of the few reefs I'd say is still alive. There is shallow snorkeling, deep water snorkeling, and sea wall snorkeling so you can get a bit of it all. I hope this place stays the natural beauty it is. It's a true treasure to visit when the swell isn't in the north.
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Desiree R.

Yelp
Such an awesome and wonderful and clear and calm water beach. My two year old loved it! The cliff jumping was such a great experience as well! Swam with a turtle here! Ive swam at multiple beaches throughout the island but this is my absolute favorite
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Henry L.

Yelp
Honestly, Waimea Bay Beach Park looked so fun in the photos. But I think there are also dangers people should be aware of. First, people will go to the cliff side and jump off into the ocean. If you plan on doing this, please exercise caution and think about potential risk. The beach is more of a small hill, so every time the waves go back down, they will take the person with them into the water. You should not swim at this beach unless you are a strong swimer, or have a life jacket (not a swimming jacket, as that may not be enough). The plus is that the scenery is quite amazing. However, parking logistically is quite horrid, so it is not an ideal place to just "stop by" for a while and them move on. Expect to stay for longer periods of time.

J W.

Yelp
Traveled up here and no swimming was allowed. You look at the waves, you take a picture, that's it. If the botanical gardens across the road had been open it would have been worth it.
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Harry B.

Yelp
One of my favorite spots on the island. Usually it isn't too busy early or late. Great beach. With a gardens up behind. The beach has the iconic rock to jump from. And amazing blue waters to swim in. Every once in a while you'll see a ship anchored but not often. The sand is really nice and the beach is great for a dip or swim. But be careful of the riptide. Also it gets deep really quick. Better for snorkeling. Such a chill beach and very different from Waikiki. Definitely worth the visit. Parking is free but there isn't much. Down the road is the Waimea valley with additional parking and a great short hike up to the Waimea falls. But it does cost to enter the valley since there is a state park here with botanical gardens. Enjoy Aloha
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Halei J.

Yelp
Beautiful beach with crazy waves. Not really ideal for swimming but nice to watch people in the water getting rocked. Haha! There is also a cliff there that you can jump off. There is some picnic tables and showers as well as restrooms. The parking lot is not very big so if you come on the weekends or later on in the day it's gonna be hard to find parking......
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Amber E.

Yelp
Beautiful beach; huge powerful waves. Limited parking, but when it started to rain, we were able to grab a spot, and then the sun came out. Really enjoyed it. Bathrooms/changing rooms avdvfoot-washing station, plus picnic tables.
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Deborah W.

Yelp
Lovely beach park will full facilities. They have restrooms and outdoor shower station. Parking is decent, but it's better to go after lunch when the first wave of people clear out. There's a giant rock that is fondly called "jump rock" where people will climb and jump off into the water. There are signs for no climbing and the lifeguards warn against it, but there was a small crowd participating anyways. Jump at your own risk, I suppose. Beautiful views and strong waves for surfers and boogie boarders. Be ware of the strong current though.
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Ian K.

Yelp
Located on Kamehameha Hwy, everyone knows where this place is. This is for sure a 5 star place. You know there will be problems with parking, especially in the Winter when everyone is there to see the big surf. Almost no chance to get a spot in the lot. You can park along the Hwy. There is also a short residential street Iliohu Pl which is located about 1/4 mile before the parking lot entrance. If you are lucky you can get a spot on that street. It is a short walk but not a problem. There is a large rock to the left of the beach where everyone jumps off in the Summer (see photo). If you go further to the left, away from the main beach, there is a small cove. In that area we ran into a few turtles who were just hanging out all day. When walking from the Hwy there are several paths down to the beach before you get to the main entrance so you can take a short cut to get down to the beach. Just be careful in the Winter, even strong swimmers can get taken down by the current. The lifeguards are very good about judging who can go in and who should not. Sometimes it's funny because they will shout, "hey you in the blue shorts stay out of the water! I don't want to have to go save you today!" If they say this you best be listening.
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Alexander Y.

Yelp
Finally made my way to the North Shore on my third trip to Oahu, so I had to find an appropriate beach to spend some time on. After doing a bit of research, I settled on Waimea Bay Beach Park. It did not disappoint! Unlike my previous beach visit the other day, the vibe here was way more chill. it was pretty clear that the highlight of coming here was to be able to see the sunset. The waters were really calm and the sky was perfect! Everyone here was chilling and have a great time. There are also amenities here like the shower and the bathroom. The parking situation is pretty difficult though. It's not a huge lot and there's always someone trying to grab a spot. Luckily, we were able to take the spot of someone leaving pretty quickly. Anyways, really happy I picked this beach for my first North Shore beach. A great time was definitely had here!
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Diana U.

Yelp
Beautiful 360° scenery. Be aware that this beach is not shallow. The water drops as soon as you get it. So if you're not a strong swimmer or uncomfortable with deep waters just be extra cautious. But it makes a perfect area for cliff diving, which they have on the further left side as you're approaching the beach. The walk in the sand is pretty steep so get your legs ready for a good workout. But the scenery and calm is worth it!
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Kingston W.

Yelp
"Waimea Bay Beach Park" is located off of Kamehameha Highway (Hwy 83) about 5 miles north of Haleiwa Town. You can get to this location using public transportation, but most people arrive by car. When you exit the highway, you enter a nicely configured parking lot. The area between the parking lot and the beach has restrooms, showers and picnic areas. The beach is wide and offers a panoramic view. There's a large rock outcrop; when conditions are "safer", people like to jump from it into the sea. There are lifeguards on duty. During winter the beaches on the north shore and west side are pretty much off-limits and always red-flagged because of dangerous surf. Stay out of the water and watch a surf completion if one is taking place. During the summer months, this location offers a nice location for swimming and snorkeling. If you have water shoes, bring those. If the sand gets hot, or if you want to walk on rocky surfaces, these offer more stability than flip flops. Waimea Bay Beach Park is my favorite beach on the North Shore. But this beach's popularity also creates the biggest complaint: there isn't enough parking.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
Really beautiful beach on Kamehameha Hwy. It isn't too busy off of peak hours and is full of locals. I would definitely recommend if you are already checking out the North Shore.
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wendy l.

Yelp
Parking: Parking is a bit rough, the lot is small. We went on a Wednesday afternoon in June, got there around 130ish-2pm. Either you have to wait around until someone leaves or park across the street at the Waimea Valley garden lot for $20. Beach: This beach is beautiful with clear turquoise water, but it can get pretty windy out here in North Shore. Don't forget to secure your umbrellas and towels because it can get blown away. The sand was SUPER HOT to walk on, I had to walk in my flip flop , but the sand cools down towards the late afternoon. There was a dip when you walk into the water. The waves can be a bit rough at times but then it calms down. This might not be ideal for toddlers because of the dip and the occasional rough waves. The waves are not bad at this time of the year (June). During late fall/winter, there will be huge swells and bigger waves. We saw tons of people jumping off the cliffs , but I heard they don't allow it during the winter time because of the huge waves. There is a shower area where you can rinse off by the parking lot. There is a lifeguard station , with a cute nice garden around it. I have to say , it's the prettiest lifeguard station I've seen.
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StaciLei T.

Yelp
Waimea Bay on the North Shore is one of the most iconic beaches on O'ahu. It's located off of Kamehameha Hwy and is about a 8-10 minute drive without traffic from Haleiwa town. There is a parking lot but finding a spot on your first go-around is considered a blessing, especially on the weekends. There are other parking options for a fee or long walk. If you are down for public transportation, there's a bus stop really close by! In high school, I used to take the bus down here and it was honestly really convenient. There are bathrooms and outdoor showers for public use. Also, during the busy season- often people selling drinks, snacks, or shave ice. Waimea in the summer is magical, with the bay being more lake-like with crystal clear waters and minimal waves. Swimming at Waimea in the summer is one of my favorite things and a top tier human experience in general. In the winter, the waves come in and it becomes magical but in a different way. The waves can get up to 30 ft (by Hawaiian measurement) and is a spectacle to watch. Only the most experienced surfers go out during the high wave days at Waimea. Shout out to all the amazing lifeguards here and everywhere around the North shore and O'ahu.
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Olivia C.

Yelp
This is a beautiful place for a photo shoot as they have lots of rock formations which give you variations from just the beach. We also came back and went swimming and really enjoyed that! Not too crowded in January either. Fun place to go to!
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Ellen C.

Yelp
I came to this beach again as the first time I went 9 years ago was memorable. I don't remember it being so crowded and it was definitely more crowded than I remembered but more peaceful than Waikiki beaches. Parking is tough like others mentioned as it's a small parking lot, but we were able to find parking on the street right next to the beach.
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Mikey C.

Yelp
Five Stars because I didn't die. Sure thought I was going to, though. Passed by this beach dozens of times, but never stopped by for anything more than a quick look-see before this visit. Even though it has a sizeable parking lot, it fills up fast. You have to get here early or you will be parking up on K Hwy and lugging your gear down to the beach. I pass by all the time because I'm usually going to Three Tables, Shark's Cove or Chun's Reef. But we had already visited those places this trip and I was kinda tired from snorkeling and needed a day to just chill on the beach or whatever. So we got the idea to hit up Long's, buy some of those foam noodles and just float all around the bay. So that's what we did. It was a solid plan and we implemented it perfectly. We got here way early and got a great parking spot. You can't help but notice there's a lot of action at this beach. I mean, this is like Party Central of the North Shore. Hipsters and random miscreants can reliably be found towards the left side of the beach, where there is a big rock cliff people jump off of. Which is to say, the left side is the Phil Zone. Accordingly, we headed directly to the right side of the beach, or as I call it, the Jerry Side. We found a great place to lay down our towels and then lickety split, we were in the water. Oh baby, let me tell you that water was so warm. Wasn't sure I would like it, but I loved floating on the noodle. It was every bit as relaxing as anticipated. Relaxing because there were not many people out as far as we were. The beach itself was noisy as hell, lame ass music blasting, kids shreiking. But the further you drift out onto the bay, the quieter it gets. My wife was floating a couple feet away from me. We weren't really talking or anything, I mean, there wasn't anything that needed to be said. It was just a pure groove. Then I heard my wife say, What's that in the water? I quickly looked in her direction, then down into the water. We saw this huge dark creature rising through the water, straight for us. I knew it was a shark. Of course it was going to be a shark. Every time I go in the ocean, every time, I'm worried about sharks. I'm so fat, I'd be like that super expensive Japanese beef to a shark. So much marbling! I knew it was only going to be a matter of time before one got me. Now, apparently this was it. They finally found me. It happened so fast there was no time to react. The creature turned its body slightly so it was lined up prefectly with me. It swam right up to me and broke the surface about two feet away. It all happened so fast I couldn barely process what was going down. My heart was pounding so hard I wouldn't be surprised if the people on the beach heard it. For about ten seconds I was pretty sure I was going to die. But it wasn't a shark, it was a huge ass seal. For a moment I was like face to face with this gnarly, impressively whiskered, creature. He sized me up and then slid back under the water and swam away. My wife and I looked at each other. I was like, whoa, what the hell just happened? My wife said, wow, that seal swam right up to you like he knew you. Then she gratuitously added: You probably look like a seal underwater. Ouch. She's right, of course, but, ouch! I said, OK, well all I know is I thought for sure that was a shark. That freaked me the hell out! Then I had a thought. What animal eats seals? Sharks, right? So why am I floating around in the same body of water with seals? Suddenly it seemed like the perfect time to get the out of the water. Mikey C says: thankfully, NOT as seen on Shark Week.
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Memphis S.

Yelp
Dont bother!!! Unless you purely want to stare at the waves don't go! if you are not a local surfer or boarder that the lifeguards know personally they will not let you surf or board. Our whole family born and raised surfing and boarding in San Diego. Sucks we wasted our time going there.
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Richard A.

Yelp
Nice beach with a nice grassed area before the beach. There is limited parking in the park , other parking across the street. Bathrooms are typical beach bathrooms.
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Steve L.

Yelp
Water was beautiful and clear. No rocks on the sea floor. A huge rock to jump off of. Great for floating. Beach is beautiful. Not a lot of shade really. Waimea falls are just across the street also.
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Dani S.

Yelp
Definitely one of the coolest, prettiest beach parks on the North Shore. This is a very small beach park located on the bay. Normally the water is flat as a lake, but when there's a huge swell it could be breaking outside with faces as big as 40 feet. Cute small parking lot that is always super busy and very hard to find a parking spot. Especially on the weekends. There is a bathroom and showers and a lifeguard tower that is probably the coolest feature in this whole park. You can park in this parking lot and walk across the street and hike the Waimea Falls Trail.
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Tyler S.

Yelp
One of my favorite beaches in Oahu. We went in the summer and there were hardly any waves which allowed us to jump off the rocks safely. Locals told us the waves in the winter are higher than the rocks and lifeguards don't allow people to jump off because it's too dangerous. Luckily this time of year was calm and it was super fun. The area to the right to the rocks was about 8-10 feet deep so don't dive off or you'll hit the bottom.I did a test jump from a lower rock before jumping the top. Also, this park gets super busy so get there early to get a parking spot. Well worth it for this beautiful beach.
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Brian H.

Yelp
Quite possibly the most fun I've had at a beach ever. Waves are intense and very fun to play in and boys had a blast in the power of the crashing waves. Riding the waves while body surfing was truly an adventure. If you're in Waikiki make sure to visit the North Shore and enjoy the adventure mother nature has to offer. 5 solid Yelp stars.
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Lorren P.

Yelp
One of my absolute favorite places to visit. When I lived in Hawaii years ago, we were here at least once a week. Most recently, I brought my family to visit. I love that the park has lifeguards- during certain times. The beach is clean and has great shower facilities. The best part is the jumping rock. It's not only an experience but something you won't forget! Make sure you keep you body still as you jump, otherwise you will smack the water and it will sting! You have a a bit of a climb to the top but the views and jump are worth it. In the winter the waves are bigger so watch for swells. Personally my favorite time to visit is in the evening!
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Lurine J.

Yelp
Beautiful beach! As most of them are here on Oahu! I was not expecting the rough surf today, especially since this beach is an hour away from me in Kaneohe. Not very crowded on a Friday! We literally sat and watched the waves for almost 2 hours my daughter and I. I am assuming in the summer the surf is calmer and this beach is lagoon like? Either way beautiful views!!
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Molly L.

Yelp
On the North Shore, I've noticed this is a very, VERY popular beach. On the weekend, it's almost impossible to find a parking space unless you drive around waiting for someone to leave. However, in the morning you shouldn't have any issues getting a spot - the early bird gets the worm! Weekdays are good, too. The beach is beautiful and comes equipped with bathrooms, showers, and a drinking fountain. The bathrooms are decent and what you would expect for a beach. These seem to be well-maintained though! Plenty of families and kids come here it seems. Off to the far left of the beach, there is a jumping rock that people like to jump off of. Waves can get pretty big here, so it's not an ideal spot for beginner swimmers. Although there is a lifeguard on duty here, it's really better for people who are used to swimming in these current conditions.
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Nan L.

Yelp
two visits this time around, one that ended in failure for parking reasons - 10am on a sunday, parking lot was completely full with multiple cars waiting; we gave up and went to chuns beach west of here which still had tons of parking just across the street, seemingly at all hours - 8am on a thursday, parking lot was less than 25% full so why this beach: i was determined to do the rock jump and didn't want to risk missing out on it a third time (the last time we were in oahu many years ago, the tide was too low for anyone to attempt it) to be clear, this isn't something i ever do, so i tried to do as much research as i could before going but couldn't find all that much online (plus, i'm old now man i can't afford to break a bunch of stuff anymore). some info for anyone out there like me: when i went, waves were 3-5 ft per magicseaweed and tide was 'low'/~0.5ft per usharbors in mid/late october. but most importantly, i first swam out to the landing and noticed my feet still weren't able to touch the bottom (i'm 5'9) + swimming back to shore was easy/fine, so all my boxes were checked -- good to go i probably could've waited forever gathering up strength/courage but i looked over and a rainbow appeared above the rock: it was a sign, time to just do the damn thing. you can't be brave without fear first; i'm a total chicken and i'm happy to report back, it was totally safe and worth it i recommend doing it at the highest point because it has the safest landing/is the most clear of the rock looking forward to bringing my friends here and doing it again :) thank you hawaii for being such a wondrous, magical place
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Stephen W.

Yelp
A great place to spend a day and hang at the beach. The surf is not too rough. There is a very nice beach that is large. Very popular spot so expect a lot of people. Parking is very limited and you have to arrive early to have any chance. Because it's a park, there is a washing area and a restroom. Also a lifeguard. We went a couple of times and really enjoyed it.
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Cheyne T.

Yelp
Definitely my favorite beach in North Shore! You can't beat the amazing views, cliff diving experience, and fewer crowds. Parking is tough, so you'll have to get there by 9:30AM, wait around for someone to leave, or what we did was go across the street to the Waimea Valley entrance where there is a small lot available for beach parking for $10 (it was full by the time we got back around 1PM). Overall highly recommend Waimea Bay Beach Park. The water was really nice to swim in and we even saw a few turtles peek out their heads which was awesome! The sand is hot so make sure you wear sandals. They have showers and bathrooms as well.
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Eric C.

Yelp
Possible my favourite beach in the world. If not, it is certainly on the top five list. Nice coral sand and relatively mild wavesale for a great time with friends or family. If your brave or crazy enough, you can join the folks jumping off the cliff. If you're heading up to the North Shore, it's worth the stop and a great place to sunbake.
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Gary G.

Yelp
We drove up to North Shore to see the unique 25-35' waves and the possible Eddie surf competition location here at Waimea Bay. Given the size of waves, the drive to the park was verryyy slow and bumper to bumper for what seemed close to an hour. I dropped off my family and waited for parking to open which was maybe 10 minutes. It would be nice if there was more parking but there is only so much space on an island. There are bathrooms, changing areas, and fresh water to rinse as needed. There is a lifeguard on duty although on this day was mainly ensuring people didn't go in the water given the dangerous waves and swirling water. They had caution tape up to prevent people from accessing the water so visitors were simply wave watching. In the distance, surfers, presumably pro surfers were in the water riding the waves in.
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Justin F.

Yelp
This beach is amazing, some of the clearest waters I've seen on the island. There are bathrooms with a changing room & showers. The only negative part is there isn't hardly any parking but local tip you can park on the side of the road and take the path down to the beach!
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John S.

Yelp
Beautiful but overpriced. $25 per person. Should be more like $12. Only one shuttle cart operating, so we had to hike it.
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Jeremy B.

Yelp
Definitely a must visit spot if you're looking to catch some big waves . I mean it's not an overly crowded spot & the waves make it worth it. The waves are consistently coming in pretty high. I had a few waves hit me dead square in my chest & knock me flat on my back. My first time experiencing waves this consistently strong. The temperature was perfect with plenty of space for spreading out on the shore without crowding on of others. We'll definitely make this a must visit spot every time we're in Hawai'i.
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Lisa G.

Yelp
BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL! The North Shore offers some of the most beautiful beaches. One of my favorite parts of Oahu...the beaches are not just beautiful, they are relaxing and fun. I don't usually like being part of the food chain, but I don't even worry at this beach. They have a lifeguard on duty and post any warnings (high tide, jellyfish, etc) if there are any warnings. If you go down the road to some of the other beaches, you can get lucky to see sea life in the ocean or on the coast. As we drove down the coast we saw huge turtles on the shore. Just a beautiful place and experience. The North Shore is a must if you go to Oahu'!
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Phg T.

Yelp
I love this area of the beach where it's not too crowded with tourists. There's a lifeguard on duty too if there's concern for young children swimming... Stop here if you truly want the beach experience without too many people to overcrowd you. Parking maybe tricky since the lot always seem full but there's a lot that is free you're willing to walk a little further into the Waimea Falls park.
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Emily C.

Yelp
Of all the beaches i have been to up and down;left and right of Honolulu... this was the best beach. They also have a rock for you to jump off of. The water is beautiful and the sand is not rocky. Just perfect! Definitely recommend. The parking is small so we did park on side on road.
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George M.

Yelp
Best beach in Oahu! White sand beach, clear blue water and 100% free. Waimea Bay Beach is probably the best beach I have visited im this island.
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Chelsie H.

Yelp
We love our Waimea beach days/evenings. Probably our favorite spot to watch the sunset too!
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Daniel O.

Yelp
Well worth the 1 hour drive from Waikiki. Go early (like really early) to beat the crowds and so you can park next to it, otherwise you'll end up having to walk a ways from the waterfall parking lot area. If you got a car, don't miss out!
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Irena S.

Yelp
Came here for the rock jumping! I'm a pretty big weenie so it was a decently significant life changing experience haha! Came here in March while visiting for a friend's wedding on Oahu! Parking was decent but it was also like a Tuesday afternoon. For rock jumping - if you haven't done it - you will legit feel like you're floating and not moving in air for a hot sec, and it can be pretty scary. You have to climb up the rock but it's pretty doable, just be careful and don't slip. People are super nice and will tell you what to do - make sure you hop off the rock and not too close to it, because you don't want to hit the rocky bottom right near the base of the rock. Also, time your jump so that it happens when the wave is a little smaller. Although it's semi-shallow, you won't hit your feet/head on the bottom below (and if you jump in the correct spot, you'll land where there's soft sand. I'm 5'3'' and my toes BARELY touched the bottom after I jumped. Also, try to pencil-jump straight into the water. I low key panicked the first time and sort of let my body lean posteriorly, and I ended up entering like with my feet and my hamstrings (got a huge spotty bruise on the back of my thigh that was sore for like 3-4 days, but still totally worth it!) I would suggest that you be a decent swimmer because the waves don't stop after you dive into the water. Try to be quick and start swimming to shore, because the waves will start coming and will wash you ashore (you're going to get sand up your butt, up your nose, etc, so just be prepared). YOU WILL GET POUNDED BY THE SHORE BREAKS! The water literally spun me around like multiple times (it was funny for me and my friends but it can be scary if you're not a confident swimmer). The only thing you should watch out for is that some parts of the beach bottom are pretty rocky - don't kick too hard and scrape your foot on it - that's probably the only thing I don't absolutely love about this beach, so just watch out for the rocky spots and kind of steer yourself away from them if you're trying to swim.