Go to Makaha Beach Park

Makaha Beach Park Information

Makaha is a Hawaiian word for "fierce" or "savage" and if you visit Oahu's west shore Makaha Beach during the winter, the name would seem appropriate as huge surf pounds the coastline.

In reality, though, the beach was named for the valley surrounding it, where long ago an infamous group of fierce bandits lived there and terrorized the village.

This beach has hosted many surfing championships over the years and is now the location of the Buffalo's Big Board Surf Classic where they use traditional old style Hawaiian wooden boards. Wave heights can reach as high as 30 feet at this superb surfing spot but in the summer, the small waves, powdery sand, and calm waters make it a safe and fun swimming, snorkeling, and diving location.

There are plenty of colorful tropical fish in the offshore channel and reef and a lifeguard is on duty on the northern end of the mile-long crescent shore.

There are restrooms and parking facilities at Makaha, located at 84-369 Farrington Hwy. (Hwy. 93).