pronounced kah-HAH-nah
Quiet windward bay where a river meets the ocean — shallow brackish water that toddlers love.
NWS forecast for this exact lat/lon — forecasts can change, re-check before you go.
52-222 Kamehameha Hwy, Kāʻaʻawa, HI 96730
Kahana Bay is one of Oʻahu's quieter family beaches. The curved deep bay produces almost no surf even on windy days, and the river mouth at the south end creates a warm shallow brackish pool that kids will spend hours in. Ironwood-shaded grass strip, full park facilities, and very few tourists.
Worth the drive if you want a real family beach without the crowd. The river-mouth shallow zone is the toddler magic — bring a small inflatable. Pack everything; the nearest store is a 10-minute drive.
No lifeguard. Bay depth increases gradually past the shoreline. The river-mouth area is shallow and safe; the bay center is deeper and kids should stay shoreward of adults. Watch for jellyfish drift.
This beach sits in the Tsunami Evacuation Zone per Hawai‘i Statewide GIS. If sirens sound or shaking is felt, move inland and uphill immediately. Hawai‘i Emergency Management →
Free parking lot. Rarely fills.
Public restroom block at the park.
Strong — ironwood and hau trees along the grass strip.
Anytime; this beach rarely gets crowded. Low tide reveals more sand at the river mouth.
Accessibility: Mostly flat. Easy walk from parking to sand.
Big grass park, shallow reef-flat water, postcard-perfect Chinaman's Hat view — a full-day family base.
Sheltered north-shore beach park next to Haleʻiwa Harbor — calm even in winter, when most north-shore beaches are unswimmable.
The Windward family standard — wide white sand, mostly shallow bay water, trade-wind cooling, full park facilities.