The Hawaii DLNR has just approved a plan to renovate the beach sand at iconic Ala Moana Beach Park. Sand from off-shore will be brought to the beach covering the area from Magic Island (pictured here) to Kewalo Basin. That was decided following a hearing late last week.
Controversy arose as to where the imported sand would come from. The state DLNR ultimately recommended it emanate from nearby the Hilton Hotel. The dredging isn’t expected to interfere with nearby surfing locations, although that remains a concern. Whether it could also interfere with swimming fronting the park by adding silt to the water is also unclear, although the state conducted tests that indicated it would not be a problem.
An earlier version of the plan also added a new dog park, playground, and additional parking. Those elements, however, will not be added at this time.
Ala Moana Beach history
The ancient Hawaiians had fish ponds here and grew taro. A U.S. president came for opening day. Throughout the years, Ala Moana Beach has become a gathering place on Oahu for its 100-acre city park, wide sandy beach, and beautiful vistas of Diamond Head and Waikiki. It’s very popular with visitors and locals alike and sits across from Ala Moana Shopping Center.
In the early 1900s, Ala Moana Beach Park was a wetland area used as a garbage dump. That was a far cry from its days as Kalia, where Hawaiians had fish ponds and grew taro. In the 1930s, the area was first designated as “Moana Park” and saw President Franklin D. Roosevelt participate in its opening. The name was later changed to Ala Moana, which means “Path to the sea.”
The beach and swimming channel were created through dredging by a company that needed a place to dispose of voluminous amounts of earth.
A great hangout for every reason
The beach has so many activities and features. It is popular for fishing, jogging, model airplanes and boats, sunbathing, standup and regular surfing, and more. And if you get bored and want an almost unlimited number of options for food or shopping, head across the street to the mall. The park’s amenities include:
- Lifeguards
- BBQ’s and picnic tables
- Restrooms/showers
- Tennis Courts
- Food concessions
- Meeting facilities and music pavilion
Always good conditions
With rare exception, the enormously popular half-mile-long beach features a gentle, gentle slope and year-round calm conditions because of its reef protection. Popular with long-distance swimmers (like me) and kids alike, I seldom miss a chance to swim at Ala Moana when in Honolulu. In that, I’m not alone, as Ala Moana is, without doubt, the single most popular swimming beach in Hawaii.
Magic Island
At the Waikiki end of Ala Moana Park and next to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor sits this small, charming artificial island with a lagoon and beach. Magic Island was completed in the 1960s and was originally the site of a hotel that included two more artificial islands. The project was stopped, and the result is this beautiful extension of Ala Moana.
Magic Island is great for sunset walks on its circular path or swimming in its protected waters. It’s also the site of many of Honolulu’s annual cultural events. There are a sand beach and lagoon popular with kids and sunbathers. Surfers are attracted to a spot at the end of the island, and occasional scuba divers are seen.
Parking Tips and Don’t Lose Your Key
Parking is free and easier to find during the week. On Saturday or Sunday, get here early or come later in the day. I removed my car rental key from the ring and lost it somewhere in the 100-acre park. Don’t do this! I didn’t realize the key was missing until after my swim. With 100 acres to cover, I felt it was hopeless. Believe it or not, I carefully retraced my steps and found the key in the sand. Amazing!
Note: Be careful and refer to our post and calendar regarding Hawaii jellyfish stings.
Beat of Hawaii © photo.
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The large cement, round structure is currently showing on google google.com/maps/@21.2908353,-157.8559488,52m/data=!3m1!1e3
Please if you can help, what is this round circular giant cement bowl large enough to stand in, on the far west end of Ala Moana Beach called Beach Side Hot Tup?
globewanderers.com/13-instagrammable-places-in-oahu-hawaii/
Hi Susan.
We have never seen that and aren’t sure it even exists. If someone else knows, maybe they can help.
Aloha.
Thanks for a good article
Can’t tell you how many times we had family BBQ/potlucks for Birthday parties (in the summertime) at Ala Moana. It was a favorite family gathering place to spend as a kid. We’d have over 20 relatives every time. Frisbee, touch football, and shave ice, from our grandmother’s old hand crank machine, which we would all have to take turns cranking, were always part of the days events between the swimming and eating…good times, and great family memories.
It’s a good departure from all the political diatribe. Thanks guys!
Hi Jim.
Thank you. We didn’t recall your sharing about that before.
Aloha.
Aloha, enjoy Ala Moana Park whenever in Honolulu since we stay at the Ala Moana hotel. We always take a walk around the park and always stop at magic island. – so beautiful. Great to know the history. Mahalo
Robert it was awful and wrong. But, it is a part of our history. Just because something is wrong doesn’t mean it should be erased, FDR attended the ceremony. At the time, I can imagine everyone was excited. We cannot judge history by today’s standards. I’m sure in the future there may be something that we are judged by…maybe owning domestic animals.
My future wife and I would walk bare foot from Young St and Piikoi to the park daily while on Oahu mid 60’s. Wonderful park, beautiful sunsets, plate lunch trucks and very sparsely attended compared to Kuhio. Many great memories which we carry with us to this day..
Thank you for the wonderfully informative article.
Hi John.
Thanks for sharing your Ala Moana Beach memories!
Aloha.
A former kamaaina returning as often as I can, noticing ocean shoreline waters receded dramatically not only at Ala Moana Beach but also directly behind Honolulu Aquarium all tbe way to Waikiki beach. When as a young teen, I and my friends used to go swimming at the Natatorium,and the beach w sand behind tne Honolulu Aquarium. Now there are huge cracks w salt water leaking out by Natatorium front gate, now permanemtly closed due to safety. The walkway once usanle to get down to the sandy beach behind the aquarium, is now filled w ocean waters. No beach sand, oceam water up to wall
So much sand lost I could see what looked like a sewer pipe close to water wall. Ala Moana beach is the same. Sandy areas are being lost. One lifeguard stand has never been closer to ocean shore
Took photos to dhow family and friends who are ” transplants” like me, in Oregon and Vegas. Clearly, new sand can’t come from our island to be added to these beaches.
Great info / I was a visitor at these areas in Nov 2020 and the beauty cannot be captured in a photo! I’ve been all over and Hawaii was my most memorable destination! I see why people love Hawaii..
I enjoyed reading the history. Thank You
Hi Bridget.
Thanks. That’s definitely a favorite of ours too, as you can tell.
Aloha.
Aloha,
I basically grew up there – surfing, boogie boarding, trying to meet tourist wahines, playing tennis, etc. Great memories.
One suggestion – even though he may have been part of the opening, when writing this piece I would not have included FDR, due to his signing of Executive Order 9066 (which put thousands of United States citizens into the internment camps, utterly destroying their lives). Many Japanese American families who reside in Hawaii still remember, it is still painful, and is one of the most shameful chapters in American history.
Great park for jogging.
Magic Island is Aina Moana].
Aka Moana is a pillar for the community.
As described, it brings life through many activities.
I am thankful that it is getting much needed attention.
Mahalo
JR
I gave been watching the progress on the sand berm they are building in Waikiki. They started pumping the sand water this week and sifting the rocks out. Pretty impressive operation as long as it doesn’t become rob Peter to pay Paul
Thank you for the historical events surrounding Ala Moana Park. Sometime between August and November of 1971, I and my police recruit partners went to the Park to learn lifesaving techniques. Prior to and after those events, I had learned to love that area (for example, my son was born at Kaiser about a half-mile from the beach). Plus the fact that the mall was just across the street made coming to Ala Moana Park even better. All five of my keikis also loved that beach.
Thank you again for the reminiscences
Eddie
Hi Eddie.
Thanks for sharing your Ala Moana story and all your comments. We’ve both had so many memories there too.
Aloha.
One of my very favorite places to swim,walk,people watch
Hi Jeanne.
Same here. Thanks.
Aloha.
Magic Island was the site for the annual biathlon(swim/run) in the late 80’s!Fond memories of always finishing 4th😎 Still the best swim run park on island.Thanks for the good news update.
Rob Q.
Hi Rob.
Thanks. Who doesn’t need a little diversion from the regular news? 🙂
Aloha.