Seclusion.
That’s the best word to describe one of my favorite places in Hawaii, where a long stretch of sandy beach goes untouched for miles and miles. The clear, blue waters are just as pristine, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see honu (sea turtles) playing in the shoreline.
Mokuleia Beach on Oahu’s North Shore takes a step back in time, to the days when all was quiet, and only the rippling ocean shore break could be heard throughout the expanse of beach. Today, this serenity somehow remains; a rarity for an island where almost every other beach is packed with sunbathers and snorkelers, swimmers and bodyboarders.
That doesn’t mean beach-goers can’t do that at Mokuleia. Its shallow reefs provide perfectly calm conditions for snorkeling and swimming. During the winter months, surfers charge outer breaks, while on windier days, windsurfers and kite boarders zoom back and forth. Mokuleia is so remote, that just around the corner from the beach park is an unofficial nude beach.
What makes this beach so secluded? First, it’s not necessarily located near the popular part of the North Shore, which includes historic Haleiwa town and world-famous surf breaks, like Pipeline. Mokuleia is as far north of the North Shore as you’ll get. Second, because it’s so far off the map, an even longer drive from town is required; a drive that not many people want to take.
Surf check at Mokuleia.
But if you’re looking for a peaceful escape away from the packed Waikiki beaches or beaches along the North Shore’s main strip, then the journey north will be worth it. In fact, you’ll find the magic of Mokuleia even before you get to the beach, through the rolling hills and deep valleys of this last frontier. The magic that makes this part of Oahu so very special to Hawaii.
MOKULEIA BEACH PARK • 68-919 Kaena Point Rd., Mokuleia, HI • Amenities: showers, picnic tables, portable toilets • Activities: snorkeling, swimming, ping, fishing, surfing, windsurfing, kite boarding • Free parking in lot
