Ala Moana Beach Park & Magic Island Lagoon
Ala Moana Beach Park is a remarkable success story – a 119-acre popular beach park in Honolulu, the bustling capital city of Hawaii on the island of Oahu.
Resurrected from swamps and marshland, and dramatically transformed in a feat of engineering and terraforming, Ala Moana Regional Park is an oasis of serenity and greenery, set against a backdrop of the typical high-rise skyline of an American metropolis but fronted by stunningly blue Pacific Ocean waters.
The mile-long sandy portion comprising Ala Moana Beach was also manmade, as were the later spectacular additions of the Magic Island Lagoon, a triumph of public land use over commercial resort development.
Is snorkeling with sea turtles on your bucket list for Oahu? On this Turtle Canyon tour, you’ll likely share the warm waters with honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), as well as schools of tropical fish. This is a super popular tour, so reserve your spots early! 🐢 🐢 🐢
Frequently voted one of the best city parks in the country, most recently in 2024, Ala Moana Regional Park features excellent (and recently renovated) facilities and amenities including outdoor showers, picnic pavilions, lifeguards, tennis courts, food stalls, barbecue grills, paved walkways, and more.
BEST Oahu Tours for Your Splurge Dollars!
Family Fun Snorkel with Turtles 🐢 / Jurassic Tour 🦖 Thrilling Adventures Zipline / Parasailing 🪂 / Submarine Unique Cage-Diving with Sharks 🦈 Everyone! Circle Island Tour 🚐 / Luau 🌺
Being man-made and with protective coral reefs, water activities along the shore like swimming and snorkeling are popular, but stay within the white buoys, a rough guideline for swimmers.
Shore break is beyond the reefs and requires a bit of a paddle to cross, and Ala Moana Beach is a popular surfing spot for the advanced surfers willing to make the extra effort.
All-in-all, Ala Moana Beach is a great place for a family beach day, with excellent facilities, convenient and ample parking, fun things to do, and world class shopping and dining across the street at Ala Moana Center and nearby.
This Ala Moana Beach website offers detailed information to plan your perfect family beach day!
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Oahu, check out the some of the top things to do in Oahu, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
Tried and tested: the top, 5-star rated, immensely popular Oahu experiences!
Complete 2025 Guide to Ala Moana Beach Park, Oahu
This comprehensive Ala Moana Beach website is your one-stop for all the details you need to plan your beach visit: location, directions, parking, map and beach access points.
We will help you decide whether Ala Moana Beach is suitable for your group. You can find information about Ala Moana Beach hours of operation, reservations and permits needed, cost, dining options, facilities and amenities like restrooms and lifeguards.
First visit to Hawaii? A luau is a great way to get a peek into local history and culture. It’s fun for adults and kids! Check out this newest Oahu luau with a Polynesian show that includes hula and fire dancing! 🌺 🌺 🌺
You can find all the best things to do at Ala Moana Beach in this complete guide: snorkel, swim, sunbathe, view sunsets, admire turtles and monk seals, surf, scuba dive, kayak or canoe or paddleboard, and other activities.
Want to explore? Here’s what is nearby Ala Moana Beach: Ala Moana Center, a huge shopping complex, fine dining, Waikiki Beach, and more!
Best Things to Do at Ala Moana Beach Park
Swim at Ala Moana Beach Park
Protected by sturdy outer reefs, Ala Moana Beach Park is one of the best swimming beaches on Oahu!
Waters are typically warm and clear, and the environment is swimming-friendly with designated swimming zones, lifeguards on duty and roped off areas (marked by buoys) to keep motorized watercraft away.
For beginning swimmers and families with younger kids, the Magic Island Lagoon offers a wide expanse of 4-6 feet depth of shallow ocean waters with minimal currents due to the enveloping reef barrier.
Those seeking moderate exercise can swim laps along the main beach area for an excellent workout.
For many visitors, a first trip to Oahu is not complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor. This highly-rated half-day tour comes with guaranteed seats for the boat tour to the USS Arizona Memorial, which requires advance reservations. 🚤 🚤 🚤
Standup Paddle Board at Ala Moana Beach
For those seeking something less adventurous than surfing, standup paddle boarding is an excellent option.
The Magic Island lagoon’s waters are almost lake-like calm, and tailor-made for beginners. The shallow depths are forgiving, and you can master your balance in the gentle waves of the lagoon.
You can take private or small group lessons to learn standup paddle boarding with Surf Honolulu: Ala Moana Stand-up Paddleboard Lesson.
More experienced paddle boarders can venture past the protective reef, and take in the stunning scenery along the Ala Moana Beach coastline.
This enormously popular Oahu circle island tour allows you to sit back and relax as a knowledgeable local takes you around the island! Visit the charming town of Haleiwa and stop at top sightseeing spots along the way. 🚐 🏖️ 🚐
Learn to Surf at Ala Moana Beach
While surfing at Waikiki Beach is all the rage, if you’re looking to learn how to surf or practice surfing, the less crowded waves at Ala Moana Beach may be much more suitable!
Surf HNL: Ala Moana Surf Lessons!!! offers 1 or 2 hour surfing lessons in either a very small group setting or private lessons and includes surf gear, wetsuits and life jackets.
Intermediate surfers seeking to beat the Waikiki Beach crowds can try the classic surf breaks (Courts & Concessions) beyond the outer reef – fun, thrilling waves to ride!
Want to hit the waves at the place where surfing was reportedly born? Book this small-group surfing lesson with a qualified instructor and enjoy the ultimate Hawaii vacation experience! Lessons are offered right on Waikiki Beach. 🏄 🏄🏻♀️ 🏄🏽
View Colorful Sunsets at Ala Moana Beach
While Hawaii is known for its colorful tropical sunsets, one of the best spots to view them on Oahu is Ala Moana Beach, and definitely much less crowded than the popular Waikiki Beach!
Walk up to the tip of the Magic Island Lagoon for the perfect vantage point, with unobstructed views of the sun dipping into the Pacific to the tune of bright hues of orange, pink and lavender skies.
A magical moment with the city’s skyline silhouetted against a glowing horizon!
Want more? Take this highly rated sunset cruise and enjoy the golden orb dipping into the warm Pacific waters while sipping a cocktail, and marvel at the spectacular Honolulu skyline lighting up on your return!
Cruise aboard a 50-foot catamaran and look for dolphins and turtles year round, plus whales in the winter. Look through magnifying portals in the glass bottom for fish and colorful coral! Leaves from Kewalo Basin Harbor in Waikiki, easy to access. ⛴️ 🌊 ⛴️