Want to visit a small, really out-of-the-way beach? Check out this beach park that we accidentally came across.
We were in the mode of exploring Oahu’s North Shore with no destination in mind. It was one of those journey moments. We were just driving with the kids and decided to go west from Haleiwa with the ocean on the right. We quickly came across this low-key residential area on our right and were just curious about what the ocean would look like from those houses; we couldn’t really find an access point but as we were driving around, we saw a small playground. It was just a regular Oahu playground but the kids were restless so we decided to get out and let the kids run around a bit. Lo and behold, there was a beach right behind the playground area and that’s how we discovered Aweoweo Beach.
Aweoweo each is about 10 minutes to the west of Haleiwa Town. It’s quite far removed from the beaches of busy Waikiki or touristy Ko Olina and it’s generally not too crowded. One time we were the only people there for about 20 minutes if that says anything, but usually, you will find small groups gathering there (like many beaches on Oahu). As we mentioned in the beginning, we weren’t even trying to go to this beach, we happen to stumble across it, so are probably locals that don’t even know about this beach. (Especially those who live in town — Honolulu — and don’t venture out west or north. Hehe.) There’s really no parking lot – there is one spot for handicap parking – so you will have to find street parking. We always went on a weekday so weekends might be a different story. The beach has a bathroom, showers, a playground, a basketball court, and some picnic tables – which often means that locals will often use this beach park for hangouts or weekend potlucks. Because the street parking is also for the residents of the area, it may be difficult to find parking. Also, you might want to bring your own table.
You will find that many people who seek out North Shore beaches tend to have a pretty relaxed attitude. You’ll often see dogs at the beach. Just FYI, dogs are allowed on many Oahu beaches as long as they are leashed. Here is post about Dog-Friendly Beaches on Oahu, where you can see the list as well as the map locations.
There’s no lifeguard station.
One notable thing about Aweoweo Beach is that there is a turtle cleaning station. A cleaning station is a natural habitat where aquatic animals like fish or turtles gather to be cleaned by smaller creatures. Aweoweo Beach has a known spot identified as a turtle cleaning station.
As you can imagine, if there is a cleaning station where turtles gather, then naturally, there is a very good chance you will spot a sea turtle here too. Please remember to respect the area and to keep your distance from the endangered sea turtles if you do spot them.
