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The Kaneohe Sandbar is a treasure on the island of Oahu! Your own beach in the middle of the bay, with the ocean all around you. This is the paradise experience that you want in Hawaii. The sandbar is extremely wide and large. You will see the majestic mountains on one side, and the endless ocean on the other side. Locals and tourists alike come here to relax with their boats or kayaks. Experiencing the Kaneohe Sandbar is incredibly unique and magical.
Article contents
- What is the Kaneohe Sandbar?
- History of the Kaneohe Sandbar
- Where can I find it?
- When is the best time to go?
- Should you kayak or take a boat?
- Things to do at the Kaneohe Sandbar
- Things to do near the Kaneohe Sandbar
- What to bring
- FAQ
“This is the paradise experience you want in Hawaii”
What is the Kaneohe Sandbar?
It’s a ridge of sand in the Kaneohe Bay, that becomes exposed when it’s low tide. So basically, it becomes a beach surrounded by water on all sides.
History of the Kaneohe Sandbar
The Hawaiian name for the Kaneohe Sandbar is Ahu O Laka, named after the voyaging chief Laka. History is told orally in Hawaiian culture and Ahu O Laka is mentioned in centuries old chants as a sacred location.
Where can I find it?
You’ll find the sandbar on the East-side of Oahu (also called the Windward side). It’s in the town of Kaneohe, in the Kaneohe Bay.
The Kaneohe Bay is the largest bay of the main eight Hawaiian Islands. A reef protects the bay from the waves of the open ocean.
The sandbar is 1 mile (1.6 km) from the shoreline and you can only get to it by boat or kayak. You will also only see the sandbar when it’s low tide.
Where do I park and launch my boat or kayak?
Both boat tours and kayak launching will happen from He’eia State Pier, in the charming town of Kaneohe. We recommend renting a car to get here. Public transportation will not be that easy. Ubers are limited on the island and the bus system can be time consuming!
Your estimated driving time to He’eia State Pier from:
- Waikiki to He’eia State Pier: 17 mi / 27 km (30 min by car)
- Ko Olina to He’eia State Pier: 32 mi / 51 km (45 min by car)
- Turtle Bay Resort to He’eia State Pier: 28 mi / 45 km (50 min by car)
When is the best time to go?
It’s really important to check the tides before heading off to the sandbar. You will want to go during low tide, because that’s when the sandbar is exposed. You can easily find this information on Google.
But visiting the sandbar during high tide can be fun too. It’s a great snorkeling spot to sea Hawaii’s sea life. You will most likely need to take a boat tour for this activity though.
Check the tide reports here to figure out when the tide is low or high. If you are still unsure, call a local kayaking company and ask for information. They are always happy to help and talk to you about the sandbar.
Should you kayak or take a boat?
Boating to the Kaneohe Sandbar
There are a lot of benefits to taking a boat tour out to the sandbar. You just show up and relax as you enjoy the ride to the Kaneohe Sandbar.
The boat will take you directly to the sandbar and allow you to swim and snorkel for half the day. Other options include barbecue tours and private family excursions.
We know people who have really enjoyed paying for a boat tour. However, we have not experienced a boat tour and so we will not recommend any boating companies. Simply, because we don’t have any experience with them.
Military Members, DOD Civilians, and Retirees can rent boats from Marine Base located nearby the Kaneohe Sandbar.
Our experience kayaking to the Kaneohe Sandbar
We like to explore places on our own and save some money as well. So we decided to kayak out to the sandbar. It was an amazing experience that was the highlight of our year on Oahu. Our only regret is not doing it ten more times!
We checked the tide reports and rented our kayak from Kailua Beach Adventures and strapped it to the top of our Nissan Versa! The guys at the shop were awesome, as we could pick up the kayak one hour before they even open. This company has the Aloha spirit and we definitely recommend them.
If you are interested in watching our full kayaking experience along with some amazing drone shots of Kaneohe Bay, check out our YouTube video of our day.
We drove to He’eia State Park and launched our kayak easily. It took us 45 minutes from the boat ramp to the sandbar by kayak. We weren’t alone though, as many local people were heading out for a day of fishing! There were standup paddle boards on the waters, boats and other kayaks.
We kayaked on the open ocean in Hawaii before, so we were bracing ourselves (the ocean can be rough!). And Nikki is usually a bit scared to go out in the rough ocean, but that was not our experience in the Kaneohe Bay.
Because the bay is protected, the waters are really calm. Nikki’s fear of tipping over was soon over. The kayaking trip was actually enjoyable! The waters have a deep teal blue color and it’s fun to watch other people enjoy the bay as well.
Once we made it to the sandbar, we noticed that we could walk on it and drag our kayak with us. We had so much fun and it wasn’t difficult to navigate to the sandbar at all. We could see it while we were kayaking.
Things to do at the Kaneohe Sandbar
- Swimming: The waters are blue and clear. Incredibly refreshing and oh my… the paradise vibes are everywhere.
- Snorkeling: The reefs are protecting the bay and many of Hawaii’s marine life are swimming around. We saw multiple green sea turtles on our trip.
- Beach Sports: On most days, you will see a volleyball net set up on the sandbar. It’s just like going to the beach, so most sands sports are fair game in the bay.
- Relax, Relax, Relax: Don’t forget your donuts and floats! You can relax for hours under the Hawaii sun. Beach chairs are also a great idea to bring along for this adventure.
- Photography: The surrounding islands (such as Chinaman’s hat and coconut island) and mountains makes this sandbar one of the most photogenic in the entire world. I also enjoyed to fly my drone here as well!
What marine life you can see
You will most likely see some type of animal on your sandbar trip. While most people want to go to the sandbar during low tide, the best snorkeling is during high tide. That’s when the marine life can swim on the sandbar. Either way, snorkeling should be on your list.
Fish you might see on your trip:
- Turtles (Honu): They are all over Oahu. The Kaneohe Sandbar has it’s fair share of the Hawaiian green sea turtles! They’re beloved all over the island and a joy to see as you visit the bay.
- Tropical fish: Some of the fish you may encounter is the surgeonfish, humuhumunukunukuapuaa (state fish), and our favorite butterfly fish!
- Hammerhead sharks: The bay is a breeding ground for these beautiful sharks and their breeding season lasts from May to July. It’s quite common to see them swimming in the shallow waters of the bay. Don’t worry, they are (usually) harmless.
- Stingrays: These creatures can be seen in Kaneohe Bay. Early in the morning seems to be the best time to spot them.
- Whales: From November to March, whales migrate to the warmer waters in the Hawaiian Islands. It’s possible to spot them from afar!
Some extra’s that you will see on your trip
You will see the Ko’olau mountain range. The volcanic mountain landscape is what you see from the Sandbar while looking back at Kaneohe! The steep slopes of the range is extremely beautiful to see from the Sandbar.
The small island of Mokoli’i (aka Chinaman’s hat) is just off the coast of Kualoa Beach Park. It’s a popular island for kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding and easily visible from the Sandbar.
Another small island, Moku O Le’e (Coconut Island). Famous for its inclusion in the opening scene of Gilligan’s island, which is home to a UH marine research center. During non-covid times, it’s possible to tour the facility.
Two small islands, Kapapa & Kekepa, which can be seen on the edge of the sandbar at the barrier reef. Both of these offshore islets are home to bird sanctuaries.
Things to do near the Kaneohe Sandbar
Places to visit
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens: This free botanical garden is home to thousands of plants, a large pong filled with koi, and numerous hiking trails. It’s a great addition to your day at the sandbar or a reason to re-visit Kaneohe!
Byodo-in Temple: The temple is a replica of an older temple in Uji, Japan. It’s a short visit, but very peaceful and beautiful. The entrance cost is $5 and all proceeds go to keeping up the temple.
Kailua Town: A boutique town that is close to Kaneohe. Home to boutique stores, tasty restaurants and famous island beaches.
Kualoa Ranch: Further up the road from Kaneohe is the Kualoa Ranch. The ranch is most famous for their role in many movies such as Jurassic Park, Jumanji and more. You can do movie tours, atv rides and trips to secret beach.
Do you want another kayaking adventure? Read our guide to kayaking to the Mokulua Islands in Kailua.
Nearby beaches
Kailua Beach: The turquoise water of this beach is breathtaking. It’s a great place to finish the day after the sandbar. Their is lots of parking and full facilities at this beach, with a large town nearby.
Lanikai Beach: Always rated as a top beach on the island, Lanikai beach is a photographers paradise! The Mokulua Islands act as background to this expansive beach in the upscale Lanikai neighborhood. It’s a beach you have to visit at some point while on Oahu.
Kualoa Beach Park: Drive north up Kamehameha Highway to reach this beach park across from Kualoa Ranch. You will still be facing Kaneohe Bay and great views of Chinaman’s Hat. The beach has full facilities and lots parking!
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park: This beach is a local gem that has all the beauty with less crowds. It’s located further south on Oahu in the local town of Waimanalo. The ironwood trees that cover the beach makes for a perfect place to relax the day away.
Curious about the best beaches on Oahu? Check out our top 14 beaches here!
Local food in the area
Waiahole Poi Factory: Our favorite place on the island! Located just before Kualoa Ranch, the Waiahole Poi Factory is worth the drive. Try out some laulau, kalua pork and our favorite, the sweet lady! This haupia ice cream with warm kulolo is the best dessert on the island. Yes, I said it! It’s better than shave ice and malasadas.
Haleiwa Joe’s in Kaneohe: For the best view, there isn’t a place better than Haleiwa Joe’s in the haiku village. The sun sets behind the Ko’olau Mountain range, which colors the mountain orange and yellow. I really liked their prime rib, but Nikki loved the grilled white fish with pesto.
Fresh Catch Kaneohe: Poke is a refreshing dish after being out at the Kaneohe Sandbar all day! You can’t go wrong with the Spicy Ahi! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Kono’s (Kailua): Kalua Pork is a speciality here on the islands. Kono’s is one of the spots to enjoy this dish. Nikki always ordered the Hawaiian bowl, a rice bowl with pulled pork and a guava salad. Just try everything!
Moke’s Bed and Breakfast (Kailua): If you are heading out to Kaneohe Sandbar later in the day, you can have breakfast at Moke’s. Try the lilikoi pancakes, it’s worth it.
Island Snow (Shave Ice): Nothing feels better then some shave ice after a day at the Sandbar. Island Snow does it right, even Barack Obama likes it. If it’s good enough for a president, then it’s good enough for us!
What to bring to the Kaneohe Sandbar
- Sunscreen (reef safe preferably)
- Rash guard or long sleeved shirt (to protect against the sun)
- Hat
- Towels (we always bring dry towels, they are thinner and dry quickly)
- Snorkeling gear (a must!)
- Dry bag (to put your phone, wallet and camera in)
- Go Pro (to capture that turtle!)
- Water and snacks
- Optional: beach chairs, hammock, your book
FAQ
Should I be worried about hammerhead sharks?
There is more shark activity during the pupping season from May to July. Adult sharks may come around the bay for food and the baby hammerheads are learning to survive. Humans aren’t a food source for adult or baby sharks, so you should be fine. If you see a shark, stay calm and relaxed. They aren’t there for you.
How long does it take to kayak to the sandbar?
It took us about 45 minutes to kayak to the sandbar. Faster paddlers may reach the Sandbar sooner!
Which companies do you recommend for kayaking to the Sandbar?
The only company that we have ever rented kayaks from is Kailua Beach Adventures. The staff was very helpful and their gear was in great condition. There are other kayaking companies around Kaneohe and Kailua with great reviews. So definitely check them out too.
How do you get the kayak to He’eia small boat pier?
We strapped our kayak to the top of our Nissan Versa sedan. Most of the kayaking companies can help you strap it to your car and show you how to do it. They also give you the tools you need for your car.
Should I do the boat tour or kayaking tour?
Kayaking is mostly for people in relatively good shape and who like an adventure. Boating may be better for small kids, families and larger groups.
Can I also visit Coconut Island?
Coconut Island is a research facility. You can kayak near Coconut Island, but you can’t land on the beach or island.
How long will I spend at the sandbar?
Plan to spend at least half a day at the sandbar. Boating has shorter travel times, but kayaking will take at least an hour or more. You will want at least two hours to fully enjoy the sandbar! Afterwards, make sure to check out the surrounding areas of Kailua and Kaneohe!
We want to hear from you!
Are you ready to get to the Kaneohe Sandbar? Let us know if you’re up for the adventure, or better yet, let us know how it was!
Been researching what to do in Hawaii on our 10 year anniversary. Your videos have been very helpful in guiding/organizing our itinerary, and choosing where to spend most of our time. We’re here in Oahu until March 8th and have been having a blast so far. Mahalo 🤙🏽
Thanks for all the useful info! Love how clean your blog is.
Why does everything have to be a tourist attraction??? Auwe…
Non-tourists and locals are welcomed too … but then, why would we need to read and view videos of areas which we are already familiar?
Greetings,
I will be celebrating my 71st birthday (next Tuesday, May 14th) on an excursion to the sandbar. This will be the 3rd year in a row, however this time I will not be going into the water. I will be bringing my drone to do some aerial videos.
I have applied for, and received permission (with some pretty strict provisions) from the FAA to do this, due to it’s proximity to the Marine Base nearby. I have also received permission from the excursion provider. My problem is: I have quite a small area that I will be allowed to fly in, just about a radius of 1000 feet. I have read that the sandbar is actually about 8 miles wide. Can you tell me approximately how much is exposed during low tide? My previous trips to the sandbar have never been at complete low tide, so I have never really walked on a dry sandbar.
Any information/advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help,
Bob Kubik
Hello
If high tide is at 9am and low tide is at 5:31p.m., when is the sandbank worth it?
Can we go there at noon?