Kualoa Beach Park is both a beach and a park with perhaps a heavier emphasis on being a park. The beach itself is extremely narrow having eroded over the years but the grass portion of the park is extremely wide. This is a perfect place to throw a football or a Frisbee or have a romp with your dog. Kualoa Beach Park also has the advantage of never being quite too crowded. Weekends will find local folks setting up sun tents and making use of a barbecue while enjoying the ocean views and talking story.

Kualoa Beach Park with the Mountains of Kualoa in the Background
One of the most beautiful views from this park is in the other direction however, toward the mountains and the Kualoa Valley. The Kualoa Valley rises abruptly with a grand flare directly behind the beach park. This valley is so picturesque that it has been used for years as the backdrop for many of the movies you have seen on the “big screen”. Blockbusters like Jurassic Park have been filmed there as well as Mighty Joe Young, Six Days and Seven Nights, Godzilla, 50 First Dates, Windtalkers and the television series of both “Lost” and “Hawaii 5-O”.

Having a Picnic at Kualoa Beach Park
Just off the coast you will see the well known windward landmark of the island called “Chinaman’s Hat”. The island looks so close you feel that you could almost walk there and during low tide some people have. This is not a good idea however and two days prior to our most recent visit to this park two people drowned making that journey. The tides and currents can be strong here and any one of a number of unfortunate occurrences can happen in these waters off the coast so it is best to limit your ocean entry to the waters directly off the sand. In addition this beach, as well as others along this coastline, can be an area which is at times infested with jellyfish or Portuguese Man of War. The lifeguards will usually set up signs when there is a danger but they can also occur at other times as well.

Ocean Caution
Please be advised that all beaches and ocean locations in Hawaii can be potentially dangerous including this location. Be completely aware of the ocean conditions prior to entering the water and of course, never turn your back on the ocean when you are on the shoreline. It should also be noted that all shorelines and beaches in Hawaii, including this one, can be frequented by sharks, jellyfish and other sea creatures which can provide potential harm to people entering the water.