Pounders Beach

Located near the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pounders Beach - also known as Pounder’s Beach and now officially called Pahumoa Beach - is a beach that has light brown sand and a small nearby forest in the community of Laie.  A creek also flows near this beach.  This beach was given its main name (Pounders Beach) by the students of Brigham Young University — Hawaiʻi in 1955, who named it “Pounders'' due to the strong and pounding waves in the water near it.  The area near the southern end of the beach has a scenic limestone cliff named Pali Kiloi'a which means "fish-spotter cliff" in Hawaiian.  The northern part of the beach has multiple pilings - these pilings are of a pier (named Lai’e Pier) which was built in the 19th century. 

Pounders Beach does not have lifeguards or any other public amenities except a nearby grassy area, picnic tables, and showers, so plan accordingly.  Dogs are allowed on leash within the portions of Pounders Beach that are below the high tide line. 

Pounders Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, surfing,  kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodysurfing, skimboarding, bodyboarding, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, boating, and wakeboarding.  The water near the northern end of Pounders Beach has a reef, which makes the water near this part of the beach significantly calmer than its other parts and also makes it ideal for beginner swimmers.  However, the water near Pounders Beach also offers fun and thrilling surfing waves - these waves have the largest size and the most consistent frequency during winters.  An annual bodyboarding meet named the Pounders Roundup is also organized on this beach - as a part of the meet, a beach cleanup is also organized here.  If you are planning to swim or surf in the water near Pounders Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here has a steep depth and it also has hazardous waves and deadly currents, particularly during winters.  If you are a beginner swimmer, we recommend avoiding going into the water during this season.  Sharks are also known to be present in the water near Pounders Beach.  Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Pounders Beach including sea turtles and seals - these animals are protected under a law named the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and harming them can result in a fine up to $50,000, along with possible imprisonment.   The Pali Kiloi'a cliff present near the southern end of the beach is a great fishing spot - you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near this cliff including ulua (giant trevally), o'io (bonefish), and moi.  However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Pounders Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations.

Getting to Pounders Beach is easy - the beach is situated along Hawaii Route 83 (which is a part of Kamehameha Highway).  A free parking lot is present near the beach.

There are many attractions near Pounders Beach.  Polynesian Cultural Center is an immensely popular cultural attraction that has eight recreated traditional Polynesian villages - each of these villages represents a different portion of Polynesian culture including Hawaiian culture, Samoan culture, Tahitian culture, and Maori culture.  In addition, the Polynesian Cultural Center also hosts fun shows that offer a unique insight into the vibrant cultures of Polynesia including Hawaiian luau feasts and a multicultural program named Hā–Breath of Life - you can attend these shows for an extra charge.  Kahuku Sugar Mill is a historical site that was operational as a prosperous sugar mill between the late 19th and the 20th centuries.  While many of the sugar mill’s buildings and machines have been removed, this site still offers a unique insight into Oahu’s vibrant history and changing economy - this site also hosts many fun events including block parties and open air markets.  In addition, this site also has a statue of a mill worker named Hamana Kalili, who was reputedly the inventor of the “shaka” sign, which is now used as a popular gesture of goodwill and greeting - Hamana Kalili invented this sign as a method of non-verbal communication after meeting with an accident which severed three of his fingers.  If you are looking for another attraction near Pounders Beach, Kualoa Ranch is a 20-minute drive away and is a 4,000-acre nature reserve and ranch that consists of three valleys - Kaʻaʻawa Valley, Kualoa Valley, and Hakipuʻu Valley.  The ranch offers many fun activities within its premises including ATV tours, boat tours, zip-lining, biking tours, and horse riding tours.  The site has been featured in many movies including Jurassic Park, Kong: Skull Island, and Jurassic World and it also has fruit and flower gardens and an Ancient Hawaiian fishpond - visitors can also explore these movie-shooting locations, cultural sites, and gardens.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Pounders Beach.  Beach House (also known as Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi) offers amazing Hawaiian-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner including burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, seafood, steaks, lamb dishes, and barbecued ribs.  As another upscale dining option, The Polynesian Cultural Center offers a variety of amazing buffet-style food options as a part of its tourist packages - these food options include Hawaiian cuisine including fried saimin, kalua pork, Huli chicken, and poke, along with delicious steaks, seafood, salads, pork dishes, and poultry dishes.  Pounders Restaurant offers amazing Hawaiian-inspired cuisine which is prepared from locally sourced ingredients including steaks, Hawaiian-inspired pizzas, seafood, pastas, chicken wings, salads, poultry dishes, lamb dishes, burgers, and desserts.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Pounders Beach, Papa Ole’s Kitchen serves amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including pancakes, eggs, poultry dishes, barbecued ribs, and roast pork. As another modestly priced option, Guadalajara Grill Hawaii offers amazing dishes including fajitas, burritos, chile rellenos, and tacos.

If you are looking for a hotel near Pounders Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Turtle Bay Resort offers many amenities including a spa, two pools (including one with a waterslide), two golf courses, seven restaurants and bars, and two hot tubs.  The hotel also offers many other amenities for a resort fee including access to a fitness center, multiple tennis courts, and a snorkeling gear loaner facility.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore which offers many amenities including an exercise room, a hot tub, a pool, and a bistro.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Pounders Beach, Malaekahana Beach Campground offers accommodation for tents, RV campers, and brightly colored cabins.  The campground offers many amenities including a camp store, watersporting equipment rental facilities, picnic tables, fire pits, and water spouts.