Kuhio Beach(Prince Kuhio Beach)

Located on the island of Oahu, Kuhio Beach - also known as “The Ponds,” Kuhio Ponds, and Kūhiō Beach - is a small and popular beach with light brown sand and nearby palm trees.  This beach is a part of a larger beach area named Waikiki Beach.  Multiple rocky breakwaters are located near the beach, and a seawall divides the beach into two portions.  In addition, there is also another separate seawall near the beach’s southern end - this seawall is called the Kapahulu Groin (and it is also known as the Waikiki Wall).  A recreational park named Kuhio Beach Park is also located near the beach.  Kuhio Beach received its name from Jonah Kuhio  Kalanianaole, who was a prince of the Hawaiian Kingdom and who became a renowned statesman after Hawaii’s annexation into the United States - the area around the beach was once the site of Pualeilani, which was Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole’s home.  Multiple statues and public artworks are located near Kuhio Beach - these statues and artworks include the statue of legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku that was created by Jan Gordon Fisher and the statue of Prince Jonah Kuhio created by Sean K. L. Browne.  In addition, there is another landmark near Kuhio Beach named the Stones of Life  (which is also called Kapaemahu) – this landmark has four large stones that signify four legendary Ancient Hawaiian healers. 

Kuhio Beach offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, picnic areas, nearby watersporting equipment rental facilities, showers, and concession stands.  The beach also offers access to people with disabilities.  Dogs are not allowed at Kuhio Beach.

Kuhio Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, picnicking, fishing, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and parasailing.  The water near Kuhio Beach is usually calm due to the nearby seawall and the rocky breakwaters and this makes it ideal for beginner swimmers.  The water here is also popular with If you like bodyboarding and bodysurfing, the water around the Kapahulu Groin is popular with bodyboarders and bodysurfers - this bodyboarding and bodysurfing area is named “Waikiki Walls” and it is ideal for beginner and expert bodysurfers.  Beginner bodyboarders and bodysurfers bodysurf/bodyboard on the left side of the Waikiki Walls while expert bodysurfers and bodyboarders bodysurf/bodyboard on the right side of this bodysurfing and bodyboarding area.  However, if you are planning to swim, kayak, canoe, or bodysurf near Kuhio Beach, we recommend being careful because the water here is known to have occasional unpredictable rip currents.  It is also important to note that while children often climb atop the beach’s central seawall and the breakwaters to play on them, this could be a dangerous practice because these rocky breakwaters and the seawall are slippery and can cause grievous injuries - however, the seawall on the beach’s southern end (that is named Kapahulu Groin and which is also known as Waikiki Walls) is safe for walking and offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Oahu shoreline.

 Although surfing is prohibited in the water within 150 yards of the Kapahulu Groin, two popular surf sites are located to the west of Kuhio Beach - these sites are named Queen's and Canoes.  If you are planning to fish near Kuhio Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found at the website of the Division of Aquatic Resources(which is a part of the State of Hawaii’sDepartment of Land and Natural Resources).  Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of fish in the water near Kuhio Beach including sea turtles, Hawaiian migrating whales, and many kinds of fish. Many fun cultural events are organized around the beach including the Pan-Pacific Hula Festival and the Kuhio Beach Hula Show.

Getting to Kuhio Beach is easy - the beach is present near 2365 Kalakaua Avenue, where metered and free street parking spaces are also available nearby.

There are many attractions near Kuhio Beach.  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 through the hiking trails located within the park’s premises.  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.  The 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 it also offers many educational programs, along with many fun events including the Ke Kani O Ke Kai Concert Series and the International Koi Show.  Kapiolani Regional Park is a popular waterfront regional 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-acre zoo that is home to over 1230 animals) and a bandshell named the Waikiki Shell - the Royal Hawaiian Band offers free live music performances in this bandshell on Sunday afternoons.  If you are looking for another attraction near Kuhio 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 Kuhio Beach.  Basalt is an upscale restaurant which serves amazing gourmet dishes for lunch, breakfast, and dinner including burgers, salads, steaks, seafood, pork chops, loco moco, eggs, pancakes, and fried rice.  This restaurant has been praised by many online and print media publications and it has also been awarded OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice award and the bronze award for the “Best Outdoor Dining” by Honolulu Magazine’s Hale 'Aina Awards.  LuLu’s Waikiki is a popular waterfront restaurant with a relaxed ambiance.  This restaurant also serves amazing dishes for lunch and breakfast including eggs, burritos, tacos, burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches, and salads.   Tiki’s Grill & Bar is a popular Hawaiian restaurant which has a relaxed ambience - the restaurant offers delicious American and Pacific Rim-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner including pupu platters, salads, poultry dishes, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, pastas, and barbecued ribs.  The restaurant also offers live music performances and it has also been listed as the Best Restaurant of Honolulu by Honolulu Magazine’s Hale ‘Aina Awards and TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice award.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kuhio Beach, ME BAR-B-Q (also known as Me's BBQ) offers amazing Korean dishes including bi-bim-bap, fish jun, and bi bim kook soo, along with amazing breakfast dishes.  The restaurant has also been awarded TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2015

If you are looking for a hotel near Kuhio Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star Espacio The Jewel of Waikiki offers many amenities including a Japanese-French restaurant, a spa, a whirlpool, an infinity pool, a rooftop area, a sundeck, a barbecue area, complimentary car rental facilities (subject to availability), complimentary breakfast, and airport transfer facility.  Another 5-Star hotel is ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach that offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, an aquarium,  a pool, a spa, watersporting equipment rental facilities, car rental facilities, a fitness center, tennis courts, batting cages, and laundry services.  As another upscale hotel, the 4-Star Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa offers many amenities including five restaurants, a spa, a pool, a hot tub, a gift shop, laundry facilities, and an exercise room.   The 4-Star Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel is another upscale hotel that offers many amenities including a restaurant with live entertainment, beach equipment and watersporting equipment rental facilities, a pool, and coffee in the lobby.  A more affordable hotel is the 3.5-Star Park Shore Waikiki Hotel that 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.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kuhio Beach, the 2-Star Ewa Hotel Waikiki offers many amenities including an ATM, ice machines, laundry facilities, a terrace, a sundeck, beach towel loaner facilities, vending machines, and a lei ceremony on arrival.