Hawaiʻi Beach Guide

Know before you go in Hawaiʻi

• Surf flips with the seasons

  Winter (Nov–Apr) brings huge, dangerous swells to north and west shores while south shores go flat. Summer (May–Oct) reverses it: south shores get the big swells. East shores get rough trade-wind waves any time.

  Source: Hawaii Ocean Safety (State of Hawaii)

• Swim near a lifeguard

  Lifeguard towers keep set hours: Oʻahu 8:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m., Kauaʻi 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Hawaiʻi Island 9:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m. Outside those hours no one is watching.

  Source: Hawaii Ocean Safety (State of Hawaii)

• Reef-safe sunscreen is the law

  Statewide, sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate can't be sold without a prescription. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) you may only USE mineral sunscreen.

  Source: County of Maui

• Give wildlife space

  10 ft from sea turtles, 50 ft from monk seals (150 ft from a mother and pup), 50 yd from dolphins, 100 yd from humpback whales.

  Source: NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands

• Box jellyfish follow the moon

  Box jellyfish tend to wash onto leeward and south shores about 8–10 days after each full moon. Check the Waikīkī Aquarium calendar before you swim.

  Source: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

  Check the calendar →

• Book ahead as a visitor

  Non-residents need advance reservations for Hanauma Bay (2 days ahead, closed Mon–Tue), Hāʻena State Park/Kēʻē (gohaena.com) and Waiʻānapanapa. State beach parks such as Mākena, Hāpuna and Kekaha Kai charge non-residents $5 per person plus $10 per car.

  Source: Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks