I’m staying in Kaneohe for a couple of weeks and I’m having trouble finding somewhere to swim open water. Right now the North Shore is swelling up and it comes around to this side. Yesterday we went to Kailua Beach but there was too much surf. I tried, my wife didn’t, but it just kicked the crap out of me. This morning; Kaneohe Bay, the water was nice but the bottom is mucky and it wasn’t like swimming in Hawaii. Tomorrow we’re going to try Lani Kai beach
My first couple of days I swam at the Hilton Hawaiin Village. That’s what I’m looking for, surf breaking way out and nice and smooth in shore. But I want it over here. Where should I try.
If you’re active military Bellows Beach is really calm. The beaches around Bellows might also be calm but I’ve never used those. If you do be really careful about break in’s. I don’t remember Other than that, for the east side, Kailua might be it.
the Kailua pool. it’s free and long course over lunch.
Just kidding.
Swim at Kailua beach near the boat ramp (out to flat island and back, or just along the bouys) or down at Lanikai. Swim out to the island on the left. There is a beach access at Lanipo St. about 1 1/2 miles round trip.
Waimanelo looks like it might be good for tomorrow. It’s a little further down the coast so might be a little calmer
Right now I’m in Wahaiwa, my daughter and her husband just bought a here. There is a 25 Meter pool here that’s free to all with two lap sessions per day. We could end up here but I really want to swim in the ocean.
Good thing we got our swim in early this morning in Kaneohe Bay. It started to rain right afterward and then poured all morning. We were even getting flood warnings on our cell phones “move to high ground”!
There’s a free 50M pool in Kaneohe that has very extensive hours. Swimming in Kailua would’ve been fine today. The swell has dropped a lot. Swimming in Kaneohe Bay is pretty sharky. Flat Island is way better, or it’s really not much of a drive to get to Ala Moana beach park, where I guarantee they’ll be no waves no matter how big it is on the North Shore.
We stay in South Kona and swim from Manini Beach to Captain Cook and back or around in a giant circle the whole area depending on what we are swimming. Also there very run friendly road with few cars to use as well. We can go for miles in the area without seeing a sole. It is Puuhonua Road. The dolphins will come check you out, there is a beautiful spinner family there. If you have a trisupporter with you stop at Kona Boys and have them throw a kayak on your car if they are not swimming. Have fun!
My daughter, who was in the Coast Guard here for years said the same thing, so we will be staying out of Kaneohe Bay. Looking out from our deck I can see that the surf has died down at the entrance to K Bay. We will take another look at Kailua. We drove down, past Foodland, over the bridge to the first beach access. Anyplace better?
You are on the windward side, it gets choppy over here.
But you are lucky as we have Kona weather now so it’s flat flat flat in Kailua! Take advantage of it. When the wind returns, so do the man-o-war and they are big right now so they aren’t fun. Especially on your face!
Swim the buoy line at Kailua. .45 miles one way. Wonderful in the morning with the sunrise and no wind!
Swim out to flat island (don’t go around the back if there is a swell)
Look up the Kailua Master’s group - they usually do group swims either to flat island, the Mokes or the buoy line on Sat mornings.
If you swim Lanika, go during high tide or you’ll have to dodge the coral heads!
Watch for man-o-war at Bellows and Waimanalo.
There really isn’t any place to swim in Kaneohe that isn’t gross.
I’m not a Kailua person, but I think that most people who swim the buoy line or to Flat Island just park at Kailua Beach Park. You are smart to be cautious about swimming off of Oahu. If you have any doubt about the swell, winds, or currents, you should ask the lifeguards about what not to do. If they tell you that you shouldn’t go out or that you might want to try some other specific location, it’s a good idea to follow their advice. Too many people don’t recognize the very real dangers that sometimes exist in the ocean out here.
There’s another probably warning-level (25-foot faces) Northwest swell heading our way for Friday/Saturday of this week.
I lived in Hawaii for many years, visit every year, the only place that I swim without fins is Ala Moana Park & maybe Kaimana Beach to the flag and back or into Waikiki. Anywhere else on the island I do not go in the water without fins on, yes, some hardy folk may say I am a “wimp” but I have been pulled out at Pipe in a rip at 23yrs old and it will scare the shit out of you if you do not know what to do. I luckily was trained and able to swim out of it. Spent many days at Makapuu and Sandy’s back in the day.
Where fins people = especially tourist who do not know how to swim in the open ocean.
Enjoy your stay OBAMA is on his way to your beach.
I live on Oahu, but rarely do any ocean swimming. When I do get in the ocean, it’s usually at Ala Moana (aka the Toilet Bowl) because other than monthly jellyfish, it’s very predictable as far as parking, currents, and waves. No boats, just paddle boarders to avoid.
This may help though. Get in contact with someone in this group and I’m sure you can find a spot to swim, or better yet a group to swim with. They know the typical routes you should go rather than…start at this beach and swim “wherever.” Our oceans are used by fishermen, boaters, surfers, etc. We have rip currents, reef, and areas that can be dangerous. Go in the water informed.
If interested my club will be Swimming this Friday @Ala Moana 6:30 am from the Lifeguard Stand 1E
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Thank you, I’ll PM you if we are coming over. With the wave forecast for the weekend it might be our only option. This is a busy trip for me so I was hoping to do my swimming close to home. I’m staying in a spectacular house, with an even more spectacular view in Kaneohe and working on my daughter’s new, old, house in Wahiawa. I’m focused on the work, but I want to still save some time for fun.
The owner left me a about 10 year old Merlin road bike to use, so I hope I can get out on that at least once or twice.
