Halona Beach Cove is a hidden gem along Oahu’s Kalanianaole Highway. It’s gorgeous, easy to find, and a great place to explore first as you head to some of the other attractions on the island.
Halona Beach Cove
On the East side of Oahu and nestled between Hanauma Bay and Sandy Beach, Halona Beach Cove offers a wonderful chance to explore natural formations right on the shore. Primary attractions include a lava tube providing a short, safe caving experience, and the Halona Blowhole which shoots water 20 feet into the air and a wavy day.
What to do at the Halona Beach Cove?
There are 4 primary attractions at this cove. While swimming is one of them, we actually recommend doing the on shore activities and then having a full beach day at one of the nearby locations. Read on for more explanation.
Halona Beach Blowhole
The blowhole is what makes stopping Halona worth it. Blowholes shoot water high into the air. This happens when underwater caves have water forced in quickly and violently.
The Halona Blowhole launches seawater 20+ feet into the air under the right conditions. Many days the ocean is calm but it is still interesting to see how far the water will shoot with minimal wave activity.
Lava Tube & Cave
In the middle of the beach against the cliff under the highway is a short lava tube ripe for exploration. During the day you can navigate this tube without a flashlight.
This tube provides the chance to see geology at work. Lava Tubes are formed by flowing lava after the lava about has already cooled and hardened.
Turtles
Turtles can be seen at Halona Beach from time to time. Take a while to watch them if you get the chance.
Can you swim in Halona Beach Cove?
The answer is Yes. However… For Halona Beach Cove, we recommend only wading in the water and only when it is calm. The small channel makes it easy to get pushed into rocks by waves and any day the blowhole is getting large waves, the water will be too dangerous to enter.
There are no lifeguards on duty.
Because it is so small, this isn’t the place to spend an entire day anyway. Instead of getting in the water here, we recommend exploring on shore and then heading to nearby Hanauma Bay or Sandy Beach for the bulk of your day in the water.
Winter – Whales?
In the winter, the lookout is actually a great time to see humpback whales singing & playing.
Don’t rush out of the Parking Lot!
The lookout just off the parking lot toward the ocean has spectacular views of the surrounding area. The gorgeous views are almost overwhelming as you look up & down the coast and out to sea.
If you only experienced only the scenic lookout and then then continue on your way, you would have taken in one of the best activities Halona Beach Cove has to offer.
Getting to Halona Cove’s Attractions
The parking lot just off Kalanianaole Highway is easy to to find. It does fill up quickly, but there should be a fair amount of turnover in the parking lot as well.
The Drive
Halona Cove is on the East side of Oahu. It is easy to find as you pass other prominent locations along Kalanianaole Highway. When you see the sign saying “Halona Blowhole Lookout,” you know you’re in the right place.
- If you’re coming form the Honolulu & Diamond Head area, about 1.5 miles past Hanauma Bay, the beach will be on your right.
- If you make it to Sandy Beach, you’ve gone too far. • If you pass Sandy Beach first, Halona Cove will be on your right on your left after half-a-mile. If you pass Hanauma Bay, you’ve gone to far.
Where do you park at Halona beach?
There is a sign to the parking clearly showing you’re at the right spot. It may fill up quickly, but there is enough turnover in cars that you should be able to find a spot soon.
Getting on to the Beach
After you’ve had the chance to view the scenic overlook, head down to the beach on a trail across from the parking lot sign.
You may notice right away a sign warning not to proceed beyond the point. Or you may not, it is often covered in stickers.
There are many others exploring the cove below. It is okay to go down the trail.
Getting to the water & lava tube.
Caution: this not a paved or maintained trail so be careful as you make your way down. Go slowly.
Once you’re down, feel free to start exploring the cove, or wading in the water.
If you stand in the middle of the beach, you can see the lava tube in the cliff beneath Kalanianaole Highway.
Halona Blowhole
After exploring the cove for a while, you can get out to the Halona Blowhole by going left around the small bay. Follow the rocks and you should see the blowhole soon.
Again, caution needs to be taken depending on the ocean conditions. If the surf is rough or there is a high swell, it is likely best to view the blowhole from the parking lot lookout.
Best Time of Year to see
- Winter (well December through March) make sure to have binoculars to see if you can spot some whales.
- Winter often has the roughest oceans so expect to stay on the shore and at the lookout during this season
- Spring & Fall the conditions are usually moderate. Make sure to use caution when you visit.
- Summer should have the calmest ocean. Again, confirm the conditions when you arrive.
Popular Culture
Movies
There have been a large number of movies scenes filmed here- probably due to there being easy access via the parking lot and the cliffs on both sides make it easy to control backgrounds.
- 50 First Dates
- From Here to Eternity
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Music
Large portions of the music video for Nicki Minaj’s ‘Starships’ were filmed here.
Amenities
- Parking is free, but it can fill up quick.
- Restrooms and showers ARE NOT available. Checkout Sandy Beach if these are needed.
Cautions
There are no lifeguards. As pointed out already, wading at Halona Beach will be enjoyable. For swimming we recommend checking out a different beach after spending about an hour here.
The best time to see the Blowhole is when the the waves are highest but be careful as you’re viewing the blow hole and stay away from the large waves. Imagine the pain if a large wave were to slam you on the punishing on the lava rock. On large wave days, the parking lot lookout is best.
This is a small channel that can easily develop an undertow. Wading only is recommended. As a destination, the on shore activities are more enjoyable.
Conclusion
Halona Beach Cove packs a few amazing attractions and is worth spending about an hour as you drive to various destinations around Oahu. If you’re heading from Honolulu to Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach, or Sea Life Park, you’ll enjoy a quick visit to the cove to add some variety to your day.
Same if you’re seeing the various sites when going for a drive around Oahu.
Halona Beach is more about the sites than the swimming experience. Get out, walk around, and see a couple interesting geological formations and possibly some wild life. From there, continue on to your destination.
The small amount of time spent at Halona Beach Cove will be remembered for years and the backdrops will produce gorgeous pictures to be treasured for decades.