Hawaiian Electric Beach Park(Tracks Beach Park, Kahe Point Park)

Located in the western part of the island of Oahu, Hawaiian Electric Beach Park - also called Tracks Beach Park and Piliokahe Beach Park - is a recreational park that has a beach with light brown sand, many large black-colored rocks, a sloping incline, a nearby reef, and nearby grasses and nearby trees in the town of Nanakuli.  This beach is named Hawaiian Electric Beach and it is also called Tracks Beach.  This park gets its name - Hawaiian Electric Beach Park - because it is located near a large electric plant that belongs to an electric services company named Hawaiian Electric.  This electric plant uses seawater as a coolant and then discharges the heated water into the Pacific Ocean through two large tubes.  These tubes are surrounded by a concrete seawall.  This park received its alternate name - Tracks Beach Park - because the area around the park has remains of railway tracks - these train tracks were used to transport sugar from a nearby sugar mill to the western and northern parts of coastal Oahu.  After World War Two, this railway line was decommissioned and the railway tracks here eventually became decrepit.  It is important to note that Hawaiian Electric Beach Park should not be confused with another nearby beach named Kahe Point Beach Park - Kahe Point Beach Park is also sometimes called Electric Beach.  In addition, Hawaiian Electric Beach should not be confused with another separate nearby beach that is also named Tracks Beach Park - Tracks Beach Park is located just north of Hawaiian Electric Beach Park.  It is also important to note that the term “Electric Beach” is also used by locals to describe the larger surrounding shoreline of this part of Kauai. 

Although Hawaiian Electric Beach Park does not have lifeguards, it has a few other amenities including restrooms, showers, and grassy areas.  Dogs on leashes are allowed in portions of Hawaiian Electric Beach Park that are below the high tide line. 

Hawaiian Electric Beach Park offers many fun activities including sunbathing, wildlife watching, picnicking, fishing, beachcombing, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, boating, paddle boarding, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, and wakeboarding.  Surfers and bodyboarders occasionally visit Hawaiian Electric Beach Park because the water here sometimes offers fun and manageable surfing waves - winter is particularly ideal for surfing here because the water here offers larger waves during this time.  Scuba divers and snorkelers also frequently visit Hawaiian Electric Beach Park for exploring its vibrant biodiversity and landscape - the water here has reefs and you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including sea urchins, Hawaiian green sea turtles, migrating whales between December and April, Hawaiian monk seals, dolphins in mornings, and many kinds of fish including Hawaiian dascyllus, bullethead parrotfish, tang, and unicornfish.  Please note that sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals are protected under a law called the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and harming them can result in a fine up to $50,000 and possible imprisonment.  In addition, please note that it is also illegal to be within 50 yards of a Hawaiian spinner dolphin. 

The portion of Hawaiian Electric Beach Park near the Hawaiian Electric power plant is particularly ideal for snorkeling.  The primary reason behind the vibrant marine biodiversity here is the recycled water from the electric plant - the warm water attracts many kinds of animals here.  If you are planning to swim, surf, or snorkel in the water near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park, we recommend being extremely careful because the water here is known to have hazardous currents and strong waves.  The rocky shoreline around Hawaiian Electric Beach Park can also cause injuries.  The water near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park is also known to have sharks.  Snorkelers and scuba divers should also note that the underwater visibility near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park may be low after rains.  In addition, snorkelers and scuba divers should also avoid swimming to the south of a nearby rocky jetty - this jetty is located at Hawaiian Electric Beach Park’s southern end.  There is a pipeline to the south of this rocky jetty that is used by the Hawaiian Electric power plant for collecting water to keep the power plant’s system cool - unaware snorkelers and scuba divers can also get sucked into the pipeline, which can be extremely hazardous.  

Boaters and spear fishermen also frequent the area around Hawaiian Electric Beach Park - any spearfishing or boating-related incidents can cause grievous injuries to visitors.  If you are planning to fish near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park, please ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of the Division of Aquatic Resources (which is a part of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources).  If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, Hawaiian Electric Beach Park offers amazing views of the western Oahu shoreline, particularly during sunset.

Getting to Hawaiian Electric Beach Park is easy - the beach is located along Hawaii Route 93 - this road is a part of a larger highway named Farrington Highway.  There is a free dirt parking lot near the park.  We recommend being careful while parking near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park and avoiding leaving any valuables in your parked car because burglaries have been known to occur in this area.  We also recommend visiting this beach early during weekends because it can get crowded during this time.  The park is open between 6 am to 10 pm. 

There are many attractions near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park.  Pu‘u O Hulu Trail (also called the Māʻili Pillbox Hike and Pink Pillbox Hike) is a hiking trail that offers an amazing way to explore the rugged and vibrant landscape of western Oahu - this hiking trail also of multiple World War Two-era concrete bunkers (the bunkers called “pillboxes” because they resemble 20th-century medicine boxes) including one particular pink-colored bunker that is a locally-famous landmark.  Kapolei Regional Park is a recreational park that has many amenities including sports fields, grassy areas, a playground, and restrooms.  Kamokila Community Park is a recreational park that has many amenities including a large grassy area, basketball courts, walking paths, baseball field, benches, walking paths, a playground, a tennis court, and restrooms.  If you are looking for another attraction near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park, Mermaid Cave is an interesting wet cave (wet caves are caves that are partially filled with water) that is popular with visitors because it offers a fun exploration session - the water in this wet cave is naturally sourced from the Pacific Ocean.  We recommend visiting this wet cave during low tide because during high tide the cave can get substantially filled up with ocean water and this can potentially lead to visitors getting drowned - we also recommend wearing sturdy footwear while visiting this cave because it has sharp lava rocks, which can cause injuries.  In addition, we also recommend exploring Mermaid Cave with a friend because one of the main methods to enter it is through an opening from the cave’s roof - this makes the cave dangerous for exploring alone.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park.  Roy’s Ko Olina is an upscale restaurant that offers amazing dishes for lunch and dinner including seafood, salads, steaks, sandwiches, poultry dishes, pork dishes, sushi, and sashimi - some of the restaurant’s dishes exhibit Hawaiian culinary influences.  Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman - Ko Olina is another restaurant that offers amazing pizzas, salads, seafood, burgers, steaks, pork dishes, poultry dishes, and local Hawaiian cuisine.  Longboards Bar & Grill is a restaurant that has a casual vibe and it also serves amazing American cuisine including sandwiches, Hawaiian-inspired appetizers, burgers, seafood, and barbecued ribs.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park, Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory offers excellent Asian-inspired dishes including dim sum, bao buns, Thai curry chicken, manapua, and char siu.

If you are looking for a hotel near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a private beach area, a fitness center, kids’ clubs, and a spa.  The hotel also offers many fun activities including yoga classes and watersports.  The 4.5-Star Aulani (also called Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa) is another upscale hotel that offers many amenities including multiple pools, a spa, and 10 bars and restaurants.  The hotel also offers kids’ entertainment performances, movie nights, pool parties and breakfasts with Disney characters. In addition, the hotel was named one of the top 10 resorts in the Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards 2017 in the category of “The World’s Best Hotels and Resorts for Families” and it was also listed as one of the “Top 5 best Hawaii resorts for families” by the HAWAI’I Magazine.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Beach Villas at Ko Olina which offers many amenities including three hot tubs, barbecue grills, a gym with a sauna and a steam room, a pool, and a bar.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Residence Inn by Marriott Oahu Kapolei which offers many amenities including a restaurant, a convenience store, a pool, and a barbecue area.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Hawaiian Electric Beach Park, the 2-Star Pacific Marina Inn is 25 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including a pool, a 24/7 shuttle service, a restaurant, a lobby lounge offering cocktails, laundry facilities, and complimentary morning coffee.