Go to Pounders Beach

Pounders Beach Information

Pounders Beach was once called Pahumoa Beach for a local fisherman who made sure to spread the bounty of daily catches among the elderly, but students at a nearby College renamed it in the 50's for its thunderous waves and the name has stuck ever since.

It's a popular weekend white sand beach on the shore of Laie Maloo Bay, almost 2,000 feet long and 100 feet wide.

The waves are great for bodysurfing and provide fabulous breaks. The shore is fronted by a shallow sandbar with an abrupt drop to deeper waters and strong currents near the surf line.

The break near the limestone cliffs is ideal for expert surfers (but not for swimming), and there is an old landing on the west side of the sand where swimming is usually safer - wide fringing reefs border the sides of the bay without blocking high surf.

Low sandy dunes, large ironwood trees, and the general park foliage line the outer edge of the beach, and private homes sit along the northern side.

There is a parking lot near where the Koloa Stream ends, and portable toilets available, but no lifeguards on duty. Park on Kamehameha Hwy. in Kailua.