Halona Beach Cove(Eternity Beach, Halona Cove)

Located near a volcanic crater named Diamond Head, Halona Beach Cove - also known as Halona Beach, Cockroach Cove, Eternity Beach, Hālona Cove, and Hālona Beach - is a popular sand-and-rock beach.  This beach is situated below steep and rocky oceanfront bluffs and is also surrounded by steep cliffs on both sides.  The rocky portions of Halona Beach Cove are made from lava, and the beach also has light-brown colored sand.  This beach gets its alternative name (Eternity Beach) as it was featured in the 1953 movie From Here to Eternity - this beach was the setting for an iconic love scene between two of the film’s characters who were played by the famous Hollywood actors Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr.  Apart from From Here to Eternity, the beach and the area around it have also featured in many other movies including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie 50 First Dates, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.  The main name of the beach – Halona – means “lookout” in Hawaiian.  A natural blowhole named Halona Blowhole is also adjacent to this beach.  In addition, the beach also has a rocky ridge near its western end. This ridge is called Bamboo Ridge and it got its name as visitors could previously see a lot of bamboo fishing poles here, owing to its popularity as a fishing spot. 

Halona Beach Cove does not have lifeguards or any other amenities except a nearby observation area, so plan accordingly. 

Halona Beach Cove offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, picnicking, swimming, paddleboarding, scuba diving, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, skimboarding, snorkeling, surf-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, and boating.  If you are planning to swim or surf in the water near Halona Beach Cove, we recommend doing so during the summer as the water has manageable and gentle waves during this season, making it ideal for beginner swimmers and surfers. Snorkelers and scuba divers also go into the water near Halona Beach Cove to explore its vibrant biodiversity - depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Halona Beach Cove including migrating whales (between late December and early April) and many different types of fish and marine invertebrates including goatfish, frogfish, slugs and nudibranchs.  The water near Halona Beach Cove also has a reef.  You can also view endangered monk seals and Hawaiian green sea turtles on the beach and in the water near it - both these animals are protected under a Federal law named the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and harming them can result in a fine up to $25,000, along with possible imprisonment.  If you are planning to swim, surf, or snorkel near Halona Beach Cove, we recommend being extremely careful as the water here can occasionally have extremely dangerous currents and waves, especially during winters.  The water near the beach’s surrounding shore is particularly dangerous due to its turbulent water currents.  The rocky portions of Halona Beach Cove can also occasionally get slippery and inflict grievous injuries to visitors.  If you are a purely beginner swimmer, we recommend foregoing water activities in Halona Beach Cove.  If you plan to fish in the water near Halona Beach Cove, we recommend following the local fishing regulations.  The bluffside behind the beach has an interesting lava tube that visitors can explore. 

The nearby Halona Blowhole is a natural blowhole that can shoot up water up to 100 feet / 30 meters in the air during high tide and strong wind conditions - this blowhole is one of the most popular rock formations of its kind in the Hawaiian islands.  You can observe this amazing blowhole in action from a nearby observation area – this observation area also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Maui

Getting to Halona Beach Cove is easy - the steep and rugged access trail to Halona Beach Cove is situated along Kalaniana’ole Highway (also called Hawaii Route 72).  A free parking lot is also available near the access trail. 

There are many attractions near Halona Beach Cove.  Japanese Fishing Shrine (Umi MamoriJizo) is a lava rock shrine that has an image of Bodhisattva Jizo, who was an important saint of Mahayana Buddhism. The shrine was initially built in the 19th century by Japanese immigrant fishermen seeking divine protection from hazardous waves while fishing - the present day altar of the shrine was built in 1940 (the image of Jizo was carved by artist Sentaro Otsubo) and priests from the Shingon Shu Japanese Buddhist temple in Honolulu have been continuously organizing annual ceremonies at this shrine since the 1940’s.  Koko Crater Arch Trail is a steep and somewhat hazardous hiking trail that visitors can use to explore a natural rocky archway named Koko Crater Arch.  This hiking trail also offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Oahu shoreline and it also offers an amazing wildlife watching experience.  Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail offers amazing views of the southeastern Oahu shoreline including the nearby Koko Head and Koko Crater - the trail ends at a headland named Makapu’u Head, which has an observation area from where you can view an early 20th-century lighthouse.  You can also view many kinds of birds and animals from this observation area including frigatebirds and tropicbirds, along with migrating humpback whales (between November and May).  Waimānalo District Park offers many amenities including a large playground, restrooms, basketball courts, tennis courts, benches, and large grassy areas.  If you are looking for another attraction near Halona Beach Cove, Pele’s Chair is a unique chair-shaped rock formation which according to local legends was the sitting area of Pele - Pele was the Hawaiian goddess of volcano and fire and she had created this chair to rest upon after creating the island of Oahu.  After resting, Pele left Oahu and further continued her work in creating other Hawaiian islands - the rock formation offers amazing Instagram-worthy photos and an interesting insight into the local Hawaiian folklore.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Halona Beach Cove.  Roy’s at Hawaii Kai is an upscale restaurant that offers excellent fusion gourmet dishes with Hawaiian culinary influences including seafood, steaks, lamb, and pastas.  Liko’s Tap & Table offers amazing dishes for brunch, lunch, and dinner including salads, sandwiches, tacos, chicken wings, steaks, pastas, seafood, loco moco, and pork chops.  Sophie’s Gourmet Hawaiian Pizzas is known for serving amazing pizzas.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Halona Beach Cove, Loco Moco Drive Inn offers amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including eggs, pancakes, loco moco, French toasts, seafood, poultry dishes, pork dishes, and beef dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Halona Beach Cove, there are many great nearby options within a 30-minute drive.  The 5-Star Kahala Hotel & Resort offers many amenities including complimentary surfing and paddleboarding lessons, a complimentary local shuttle service, bike and beach towel rental facilities, five restaurants, a fitness center, a spa, and a private lagoon that has dolphins.  The 4-Star Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel is another upscale hotel that offers many amenities including a restaurant with live entertainment, a pool, and coffee in the lobby.   A more affordable hotel is Waimanalo Beach Cottages which offers many amenities including a garden with a barbecue area, coin-operated laundry facilities, and nearby convenience stores.   In addition, the area around this hotel offers an amazing hiking experience.  A minimum five-night stay is required for staying at this hotel.  As another moderately priced option, the 3-Star Ambassador Hotel Waikiki offers many amenities including a 24-hour fitness center (offered for a resort fee), a pool, coin-operated laundry facilities, and a convenience store.   If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Halona Beach Cove, the 2-Star Hawaiian Monarch Hotel offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a pool with a sundeck and sun loungers, a gym, and a coin-operated laundry.