Makua Beach(Mākua Beach, Pray For Sets Beach, Pray For Sex Beach)

Located in the north-western part of the Oahu shoreline, Makua Beach - also known as Mākua Beach, Pray For Sets Beach, and Pray For Sex Beach - is a large beach with light brown sand and some rocky portions, along with a few nearby trees.  This beach is a part of a state park named Ka'ena Point State Park.  The area near Makua Beach has towering mountains - these mountains are a part of the Waianae Mountain Range.  The beach gets its alternative name (Pray For Sex Beach) from a “Pray 4 Sex” graffiti that is painted on a rock near the beach’s parking lot.  “Pray 4 Sex” is a popular word-play on the high surfing activity in the water here - surfers here often “pray for sets” of good waves before entering the water here.  Over time, the phrase “pray for sets” was distorted into “pray 4 sex.”  Makua Beach was featured in the 1966 Gene Hackman, Julie Andrews, and Max Von Sydow movie Hawaii. The United States Armed Forces regularly conducts training sessions in the Makua Valley behind Makua Beach. 

Makua beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on Makua Beach. 

Makua Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, swimming, tidepooling, surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and boating.  The water near Makua Beach offers amazing surfing waves, particularly between November and March - this makes it popular among local and visiting surfers during this time.  In addition, the water near Makua Beach is also popular among bodyboarders during calmer water conditions.  Snorkelers and scuba divers also enter the water near Makua Beach to explore its vibrant biodiversity and marine landscape - the water here has many reefs, along with canyons, sea caves, and trenches.  Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Makua Beach including migrating whales (usually during winters), sea turtles, spinner dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, and many kinds of fish including Hawaiian lionfish, perch, and pennant fish - Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles are protected under a law named the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and harming them can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and possible imprisonment.  It is important to note that it is illegal to be within 50 yards of a spinner dolphin.  However, if you are planning to surf or swim in the water near Makua Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here has unpredictable rip currents and deadly waves, especially during winters. The water near Makua Beach also has a steep depth.  In addition, the shoreline around Makua Beach is rocky, and this rocky shoreline can inflict grievous injuries to beachgoers. Water-related rescues have also been reported from Makua Beach.  If you like tidepooling, you can explore the interesting tidepools present around Makua Beach - you can view many wonderful kinds of creatures in these tidepools including sea anemones and crabs.  If you are planning to fish in the water near Makua Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations, which can be found on the website of the Division of Aquatic Resources (which is a part of the State of Hawai’i’sDepartment of Land and Natural Resources). 

Getting to Makua Beach is easy - the beach is present along Hawaii Route 93’s north western end.  Hawaii Route 93 is a part of a larger highway named Farrington Highway.  A parking lot is available near this beach - the area around Makua Beach’s parking lot is often dirty.  We also recommend being careful while parking in the parking lot here and avoiding leaving any valuables in your parked car as burglary-related attempts are known to occur here.  It is also important to note that you may need to possess a permit to access Ka’ena Point State Park - if you are planning to visit Makua Beach, you can visit the Ka’ena Point State Park’s webpage on the website of the Division of State Parks (which is a part of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources) for more information regarding the permit booking procedures. 

Ka’ena Point State Park gets its name from a spot called Kaʻena Point or Kaena Point - this point is the westernmost tip of land on the island of Oahu and its name means “Heat” in Hawaiian.  This point was named after a cousin or brother of Pele (who was the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire).  According to Hawaiian legends, Ka’ena Point was also the spot from where the spirits of the departed leapt into the afterlife.  Ka’ena Point State Park has a vibrant and rugged coastal landscape - you can explore this coastal landscape via the state park’s hiking trails.  One of the most famous trails in this state park is the Ka’ena Point Trail.  This trail offers visitors a unique insight into the local flora and fauna and you can watch many kinds of seabirds (including the rare Laysan albatross) and native Hawaiian plants while hiking on this trail.  This trail also offers an amazing Instagram-worthy view of the Pacific Ocean and the western Oahu shoreline.  In addition, you can also view an offshore rock formation near the western part of the state park named Pohaku o Kauai, meaning "rock of Kauai" in Hawaiian.  It is important to note while visiting Ka’ena Point State Park that the water around Ka’ena Point has dangerous rip currents and an extremely rocky shoreline, and we strongly recommend that you forego participating in any aquatic activities in the water near this part of Ka’ena Point State Park, particularly during winters.

There are many attractions near Makua Beach within a 25-minute drive.  Mt. Kaala Trail (also called the Kaala Trail and the Mt. Ka’ala Trail) is a long and strenuous hiking trail that leads to the peak of one of the tallest mountains in Oahu.  The trail offers a unique way to explore the rugged Oahu landscape and gain an insight into the local biodiversity - depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals and birds while hiking here including boars, quail, peacock, and pheasants.  Wai'anae Harbor is a harbor that offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the western Oahu shoreline and the Pacific Ocean, especially during the sunset - this park is a great place for seeing migrating whales (usually during winters).  In addition, the harbor also offers sportfishing charters, cruises, and wildlife watching boat excursions.  If you are looking for another attraction near Makua Beach, Kaupuni Neighborhood Park is a recreational park that has many amenities including a large grassy area, a playground, restrooms, and a basketball court.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Makua Beach within a 20-minute drive.  If you are looking for an upscale restaurant, La Hiki Kitchen is 35 minutes away by car and offers amazing Continental American dishes for lunch and breakfast infused with Hawaiian culinary influences including salads, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, tacos, poultry dishes, and eggs. The Beach House by 604 is a waterfront restaurant that offers fusion cuisine exhibiting mainland American and local Hawaiian culinary influences for dinner and lunch including seafood, pastas, pizza, pork dishes, burgers, and sandwiches. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Makua Beach, Spinners Cafe offers outstanding dishes for breakfast and lunch including sandwiches, wraps, burgers, salads, hot dogs, pancakes, and French toasts. The restaurant also offers amazing barbecued dishes on Saturdays.

If you are looking for a hotel near Makua Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 40-minute drive.  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.  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 Makua Beach, Harbor Shores Apartment Hotel is a 50-minute drive away and offers many amenities including a laundry facility, outdoor saltwater pool, a picnic area, and a barbecue area.