Dream beach for experienced bodyboarders and surfers

The surfer's paradise par excellence. Sandy Beach is especially known for two things. Incredibly powerful waves, which are perfect for surfing, and probably the finest sand on the whole island.

Sandy Beach, or Break Neck Beach as it is colloquially known among locals, is located in the southwest of the island of Oahu. It is not far from Honolulu and only a stone's throw away from the famous Hanauma Bay. The beach is especially popular among risk-taking locals, who plunge into the gigantic powerful waves every day with surfboards or bodyboards. Visitors usually come here only if they have very good surfing skills and want to throw themselves into the gigantic waves, or to watch the surfers in action from a safe distance. If you watch them, you might think it's child's play to conquer the waves on a board. In reality, however, it is insanely dangerous as a beginner with little to no experience to dive into the powerful waves. No other beach in Oahu has as many accidents as Sandy Beach. This causes even some of the locals to avoid the beach and its powerful waves.

If you are a sun worshipper, want to tan lazily in the fine sand all day or come to Sandy Beach for a picnic, you can do so without hesitation. However, it should be considered that at Sandy Beach even the short cooling in the water is not possible. Only a few meters after the safe beach, the seabed consists of rocks as well as sand and abruptly drops three to four meters into the depth. The abrupt change in depth causes the breaking of powerful waves, and the different conditions in combination with the waves create the incredibly strong current near the beach. Since there are always visitors who underestimate the danger, beach guards and lifeguards walk along the beach every day and personally warn visitors of the danger. Also, almost all year round the red flags are hoisted, which should convey the danger at first glance.

Good to know

Sandy Beach Facilities:

The beach is not the perfect destination for family outings, nevertheless, visitors are offered a few picnic tables. A cottage with toilets and showers is also available. For the safety of surfers and equally for the safety of visitors who underestimate the danger and plunge into the waves, lifeguards are on site daily.

Directions and parking:

Sandy Beach Park is located in the south of the island, just a few minutes from Waikiki. If you want to marvel at the fine sand or see surfers in action, you can easily reach the beach by public bus. From Waikiki, bus number 22 or 23 departs every few minutes with a final stop at Kealahou St + Kalanianaole Hwy. From the bus stop, it's about a 10-minute walk to get to the beach.

If you plan to travel by car, you will reach the beach after about 20 minutes. From Waikiki, take Highway 72 south. There are plenty of parking spaces for visitors and surfers just before the beach.