A Local's Guide to Ala Moana Beach Park, Oʻahu

There was a time when I woke up every morning, slipped on my swimsuit, walked three blocks to Ala Moana Beach Park and swam across it before starting my day. I wasn't the only one. From the moment the sun rose, I'd see locals swimming laps or hopping in the ocean for water aerobics. One of the uncles I used to see there snorkeled everyday, another one pulled up in his VW bus with stand-up paddle boards and, of course, the dawn patrol surfers were always there paddling out too. It was a quiet, peaceful time and felt invigorated afterward. Looking back now, those mornings were some of the best times of my life.

Located in Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, Ala Moana is a local's beach. You'll find a fair share of visitors too, but mostly you see families with pop-up tents barbecuing, people exercising and kūpuna (elders) talking story or playing ʻukuleleʻ. Thanks to its man-made reef that stretches end to end, the water is calm and generally safe for children.

Originally, this area consisted of a coral reef known as Moana Park. In 1912, Walter Dillingham purchased the land and conducted more than 400,000 cubic yards of dredging to widen the park. In 1947, the park was renamed Ala Moana, meaning "road, or pathway, to the ocean." In 1955, a mile's worth of sand was brought from Oʻahu's west side to create a beach.

Unlike the beaches of Waikīkī, Ala Moana is not bordered by hotels and resorts. Instead, youʻll find 100 acres of grass, walking paths and picnic tables. Instead of shops and bars there are tennis courts and volleyball nets. Instead of rows of resort lounge chairs, you'll see birthday parties, frisbee golf and hammocks strung up between shady trees.

Ala Moana Beach Park is also home to Honolulu's biggest Memorial Day festival, the end of the route for the annual Honolulu Marathon in December and located across the street from one of the largest outdoor shopping malls in the world.

Beach Amenities

• Ample free parking

• Restrooms and showers

• Multiple lifeguard stands

• Volleyball nets

• BIKI stations (bikeshare)

• 0.6-mile walking/jogging path

Location

1201 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu (South Shore of Oʻahu)

Friday Night Fireworks Show

Every Friday night, and on the 4th of July, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort hosts a fireworks show across the harbor from Magic Island. Locals and visitors arrive to Magic Island with beach chairs, blankets and picnics to watch the show, or just catch it as they are strolling the park. The show lasts for about 5 to 10 minutes.

Time: 7:45 p.m. (winter and spring), 8:00 p.m. (fall and summer)

Magic Island

Adjacent to Ala Moana Beach Park on the Lēʻahi (Diamond Head) side is Magic Island. This is also where you will find a large parking lot (there is also free parking along the beach). This man-made peninsula is where you will find grassy areas for picnicking, trees to hang your hammock, a good vantage point for the Friday night fireworks (if you face Lēʻahi) or the sunset (if you face the other direction) and a calm, protected lagoon at the end good for snorkeling and swimming. In 1970, Magic Island was saved from becoming developer Henry Kaiser’s new 6-hotel resort. Today, it continues as a place of recreation for the public.

Memorial Day Lantern Ceremony

Rooted in Buddhist tradition, lantern floating festivals honor the departed. People decorate candlelit lanterns with the names and images of loved ones who have passed and either let them go into the sky or float them out to sea. It is a popular custom in Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Hawaiʻi — where there is a large Asian population.

In 1970, founder of Shinnyo-en — a school of Buddhism in Japan — visited Punchbowl (National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific) and the USS Arizona Memorial on Oʻahu. He dreamed of hosting a lantern floating ceremony in Hawaiʻi for fallen soldiers. In 1999, his successor, Her Holiness Shinso Ito, carried out his wish and held the first ceremony on Memorial Day at Keʻehi Lagoon on Oʻahu in 1999.

Three years later, Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaiʻi moved to Ala Moana Beach Park. The ceremony is held here every year on Memorial Day.

Before setting the lanterns free into the ocean, there are taiko drum and hula performances and Her Holiness Shinso offers a blessing either in person or via livestream, ringing her bell to signify when the lanterns can be released.

If you want to customize a lantern, look for the lantern tent stationed in the middle of Ala Moana Beach Park on the morning of Memorial Day. The line is usually quite long, but moves quickly. Lanterns are free, but they do eventually run out, so I advise you to arrive early. Once you get your lantern, you can assemble and decorate it there or take it with you. During the years I participated in the ceremony, I took it home, pasted on photo copies of my loved ones I wanted to honor and brought it back in the evening to float. Many families will make their lanterns there, spend the entire day at Ala Moana Beach and stay through the lantern floating ceremony. Alternately, you can also stop by the Collective Remembrance tent, next to the lantern tent, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where you can write a message that will be placed on a lantern floated out to sea for you.

If you're staying in Waikīkī, I recommend walking back to your hotel afterward. When the ceremony ends, Ala Moana Boulevard is closed to cars, so everyone from the beach can exit at once. Hundreds of people flood the streets and traffic backs up. If you must drive, consider parking at Ala Moana Center and hanging out for an hour or so after the event before driving home.

Don't count on using rideshare. They won't have anywhere to pick you up near the beach. You'll need to walk at least a mile away before ordering one.

Lantern tent: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ceremony: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Watch a livestream of the ceremony here.

Nearby Places to Eat

On both end of the beach you'll find L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, where you can purchase plate lunches, ice cream and cold beverages. The franchise chain is a staple in Hawaiʻi and provides an affordable, easy, take-out option if youʻre hungry but donʻt want to leave the beach.

Across the street at Ala Moana Center is Foodland Farms. I like to stop here for salt and vinegar fried chicken wings, poke, seaweed salad, chips and fresh fruit on my way over. It's the perfect beach food, in my opinion.

At the farthest end of the beach (opposite of Lēʻahi, or Diamond Head), across Ala Moana Boulevard in Kakaʻako, you'll find Whole Foods and several restaurants, including Merriman's and Ginza Sushi. A block from there, South Shore Market has casual takeout spots, such as Ocean Taste for poke and Nalu Health Bar and Café for acai bowls.

Beach Rentals & Tours

There isn't anywhere to rent beach equipment on Ala Moana Beach. Here are some options nearby:

• Surfboards and Stand-up Paddle Boards

• Beach Chairs and Snorkel Sets

• Hoverboarding Tour of Waikīkī, Magic Island and Ala Moana Beach Park

• Hoverboarding Tour of Ala Moana Beach, Magic Island and Kakaʻako street art

Surf & SUP Lessons

While there are no schools located on Ala Moana Beach, many instructors will meet you there with a board for private or group lessons.

• Book a surf lesson at Ala Moana Beach

  • 1-hour

  • 2-hour

• Book a SUP lesson at Ala Moana Beach