Kaalawai Beach

Located near Honolulu, Kaalawai Beach - also called Cromwell’s Beach, Ka’alawai Beach, and Cromwell’s - is a narrow beach with light brown sand, some rocky portions, a nearby seawall, a nearby coral reef, and many nearby palm trees and shrubs in the island of Oahu. The beach is situated near an upscale residential area. The name of the beach - Kaalawai - means “the watery rock” in Hawaiian - the beach received this name because underwater freshwater deposits occasionally bubble up to the ocean surface around the reefs near the beach. This beach received its alternative name - Cromwell’s Beach - because the area around it was earlier a yacht dock for American diplomat and United States Senatorial candidate James H.R. Crowell, who was the husband of renowned American socialite and philanthropist Doris Duke - Duke earlier owned an estate near the beach, which was called the “Shangri La.” Duke’s house is currently the site of a museum named The Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.

Kaalawai Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so please plan accordingly. Dogs on leash are allowed in Kaalawai Beach.

Kaalawai Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and wakeboarding. The water near Kaalawai Beach is usually unsuitable for water activities because the shallow reef near it makes water activities difficult here. In addition, the nearshore ocean bottom here is mostly rocky and this also makes water activities further difficult. The water here can also have unpredictable rip currents and dangerous waves. Surfers seasonally visit this beach - they launch their surfboards from this beach and paddle to a nearby surfing site named Brown’s. Snorkelers also occasionally visit Kaalawai Beach - depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Kaalawai Beach including sea turtles, small crabs, migrating whales between December and May, and rare Hawaiian monk seals.

There is an artificial cove near the eastern end of the beach that is called Cromwell’s Cove - this cove is protected by artificial rock walls and it was used as a yacht harbor by James H.R. Cromwell. You can access this cove by walking east along the shoreline from Kaalawai Beach’s eastern end. However, please note that the shoreline between Kaalawai Beach’s eastern end and Cromwell’s Cove is rocky and it can also be occasionally slippery, particularly during high tides and turbulent water conditions. We recommend walking to this cove only if you are a strong swimmer and an experienced hiker. Cromwell’s Cove offers relatively better swimming and diving conditions as compared to Kaalawai Beach because it has calmer water and a sandier ocean bottom. People also jump into the water in Cromwell’s Cove from the lava rock walls above. However, we recommend being careful while jumping into the water in Cromwell’s Cove from the lava rock walls above because people have been previously injured while attempting this jump.

Getting to Kaalawai Beach is easy - the beach is located near the southern end of Kulamanu Place, and there are a few free street parking spaces nearby. We recommend visiting Kaalawai Beach during low tide because this narrow beach can get almost completely submerged during high tide.

There are many attractions near Kaalawai Beach. Diamond Head State Monument is a state-managed area that is set in a volcanic tuff cone named Diamond Head (which is named Lē‘ahi in Hawaiian) that was formed due to volcanic activity around 300,000 years ago. This monument is spread over 475 acres and you can explore this unique geological wonder via the hiking trails present here. In addition, this site also has many prominent military installations including a Fire Control Station that was built in the early 20th century to direct artillery fire from nearby coastal batteries. Diamond Head State Monument also has a lighthouse and a bunker, and Diamond Head’s summit also offers Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Oahu shoreline. Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design has interesting exhibits that offer a unique insight into the global diversity of Islamic culture and art - you can explore the museum’s premises via guided tours. These tours are held on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Kapiʻolani Regional Park is a popular waterfront recreational park that has many amenities including tennis courts, an archery range, soccer fields, a three-mile jogging course, and picnic areas. The beautifully landscaped 200-acre park also has the Honolulu Zoo (which is a popular 42.5-acre zoo that is home to over 1230 animals) and a bandshell named the Waikīkī Shell - the Royal Hawaiian Band offers free live music performances in this bandshell on Sunday afternoons. If you are looking for another attraction near Kaalawai Beach, Kīlauea District Park offers many amenities including tennis courts, restrooms, baseball fields, a playground, and drinking water facilities. The park also offers many fun activities including softball, baseball, tennis, picnicking, football, and volleyball.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kaalawai Beach. Hoku’s At The Kahalais an upscale restaurant that offers a variety of amazing gourmet Hawaiian-inspired dishes. This restaurant has been awarded a four-diamond rating from AAA and has also been awarded Wine Spectator magazine’s Award of Excellence and Honolulu magazine’s Hale ‘AinaAward’s silver prize for the most romantic restaurant in 2019. Hau Tree offers amazing Hawaiian-inspired dishes for brunch and dinner including seafood, steaks, pork dishes, salads, pupus, eggs, toast, and pancakes. Uncle Bo’s Pupu Bar & Grill offers amazing seafood, steaks, salads, pupu platters, soups, pastas, and pizzas. Fresh Catch (also called Fresh Catch Kapahulu) is a restaurant and deli that offers delicious seafood, salads, stews, poke, Asian-style dishes, and lunch plates. In addition, the restaurant has also been featured in the television channel Food Network’s TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kaalawai Beach, South Shore Grill is famous for its amazing tacos. In addition, the restaurant also serves burritos, burgers, sandwiches, salads, fries, steaks, seafood, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kaalawai Beach, there are many great nearby options. 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. As another upscale hotel, the 4-Star Queen Kapiolani Hotel offers many amenities including a pool, a restaurant, a spa, a cafe, and a cocktail bar. Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head which offers many amenities including morning coffee, evening wine tasting sessions, bike loaner facilities, and beach gear loaner facilities, along with a restaurant. A more affordable hotel is the 3.5-Star Park Shore Waikiki Hotel which offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a fitness center, airport shuttle service, and a pool with a sundeck. The restaurant also offers many amenities for a resort fee including yoga/ fitness classes, access to a recreation room, and beach gear loaner and rental facilities.  Another moderately priced hotel is the 3-Star Aston at the Waikiki Banyan which offers many amenities including a cafe, and a picnic area with barbecue facilities. The hotel also offers many amenities for a resort fee including access to a recreation deck with a pool, two hot tubs, sports courts, a putting green, and a playground. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kaalawai Beach, the 2-Star Ewa Hotel Waikiki offers many amenities including a rooftop sundeck, a coin-operated laundry, and complimentary shuttle to the Ala Moana shopping mall.