Kaluahole Beach

Located along the southern part of the Oahu shoreline in Honolulu, Kaluahole Beach - also known as Tongg’s Beach and Tonggs -  is an extremely narrow beach with light brown sand and rocky parts. 

Kaluahole Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities other than nearby restrooms and picnic areas, so plan accordingly.  Dogs on leashes are allowed on Kaluahole Beach. 

Kaluahole Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, fishing, wildlife watching, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, paddle boarding, bodyboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, and boating.  If you are planning to swim or surf in the water near Kaluahole Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and it also has a steep depth.  The rocky shoreline around Kaluahole Beach can also inflict grievous injuries to visitors.  In addition, the water near Kaluahole Beach is also known to occasionally have high levels of microbial contamination.  If you are planning to fish in the water near Kaluahole Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations.  Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Kaluahole Beach including migrating whales, dolphins, and sea turtles - the sea turtles in the water near Kaluahole Beach are protected under a Federal Law named the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and harming them can result in a fine up to $25000, along with potential imprisonment.  Kaluahole Beach is ideal for those visitors who are looking for a quiet beach experience as this beach sees fewer visitors than other nearby Oahu beaches.

To access Kaluahole Beach, you need to first reach another nearby beach park named Makalei Beach Park.  The entrance to Makalei Beach Park is located near 3111 Diamond Head Road, and there is street parking along the roads situated to the northwest of the park including Hibiscus Place and Hibiscus Drive.  You can then easily walk to the entrance to Makalei Beach.  As another parking option, you can drive to a nearby recreational park named Kapiolani Regional Park, which is located a quarter of a mile away from Makalei Beach Park along Kalakaua Avenue - you can park at the metered and free street parking spaces and paid parking lots near this park.  Once you park at Kapiolani Regional Park, you can walk to the entrance to Makalei Beach.  From the entrance, you need to further walk through a grassy area on a walking path that will lead you to the beach in Makalei Beach Park.  Once you reach the beach in Makalei Beach Park, you need to walk west along the shoreline to reach Kaluahole Beach.  We recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide this beach is almost completely submerged.  

There are many attractions near Kaluahole Beach.  Waikiki Aquarium is the second oldest still-operating public aquarium in the United States and it is home to more than 3,500 animals belonging to more than 400 species including seals, octopus, jellyfish, and clams.  The aquarium also has a gift shop and rain gardens and offers many educational programs, along with many fun events including the KeKani O Ke Kai Concert Series and the International Koi Show.  Kapiʻolani Regional Park is a popular waterfront regional park that is present near the beach - this park 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, a popular 42.5-acre zoo that is home to over 1,230 animals.  It also has a bandshell named the Waikīkī Shell - the Royal Hawaiian Band offers free live music performances in this bandshell on Sunday afternoons.  Diamond Head State Monument is a state-managed area which 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.  The hike is one and a half miles long, and it will take you approximately two hours to the crater, so come prepared with water.  In addition, this site also has many prominent military installations including a Fire Control Station, which 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.  If you are looking for another attraction near Kaluahole Beach, 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.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kaluahole Beach. Arancino di Mare is an Italian restaurant that offers amazing Neapolitan dishes including pastas, pizza, risotto, and carpaccio.  LuLu’s Waikiki is a waterfront restaurant with a relaxed ambiance.  This restaurant also serves amazing dishes for lunch and breakfast including pupu platters, eggs, burritos, tacos, burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches, and salads.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kaluahole 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 Kaluahole Beach, there are many great nearby options. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, 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 option, the 4-Star Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head offers many amenities including morning coffee, evening wine tasting sessions, bike loaner facilities, and beach gear loaner facilities, along with a restaurant.   The 3.5-Star Kaimana Beach Hotel is another upscale hotel that offers many amenities including three restaurants, a fitness center (available for a surcharge), multiple stores, and complimentary beach towels.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Sheraton Princess Kaiulani which offers many amenities including a fitness center, a pool, a bar that serves Japanese bento boxes, and a restaurant that offers nightly entertainment.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kaluahole Beach, the 2-Star Ewa Hotel Waikiki offers many amenities including a rooftop sundeck, a coin-operated laundry, and a complimentary shuttle to the Ala Moana shopping mall.