7 O‘ahu parks perfect for family gatherings

It’s easy to take for granted the network of public parks that dot O‘ahu. Iconic beachside and verdant spaces abound, beckoning with mountain views and seascapes. Free and open to the public, what better place to gather outdoors, with space for everyone from kupuna to keiki? Make it a potluck, bring the pop-up tents and folding tables and chairs if you’ve got them, and the rest is easy. Each of these 7 parks can make for an idyllic spot to revel in the freedom of the outdoors.

A perpetually popular spot in Honolulu, this 119-acre park thankfully bears little resemblance to its origins as a swampy marshland. It instead offers easy access to the ocean and to a deep swimming area protected by a shallow offshore reef that’s perfect for families with small children. But that’s not all—surfers come for several prime wave spots offshore, along with anglers and tennis players, lawn bowlers, and picnickers.

Arrive early to win a parking space, set up a spot to grill (use one of the designated charcoal bins afterward), and bring some portable shade. If you’d rather buy than bring food, the L&L concession can fill in with your favorite plate lunch.

If you go: Open 4 a.m.–10 p.m. Bathrooms and lifeguard are available.

If you go: Open 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily. Camping 9 a.m. Friday–4 p.m. Monday. For safety reasons, photography on the main road is not allowed.

Near the set of the original Magnum P.I. television show and next to the private Aloha Shriners Beach Club, this park is frequented by families and school groups who come to swim or snorkel in the turquoise waters near the ancient turtle pond Pāhonu. With views of Manana Island (Rabbit Island), it’s also a great place to paint en plein air.

Grassy space abounds to pitch a tent or host a party at the park picnic tables. The small parking lot can fill up quickly; there is additional parking along the highway.

If you go: Bathrooms (open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.) and parking are available, but there’s no lifeguard. As with most Windward beaches, be mindful of man-o-war.

When arriving at Kalama Beach Park (just about in the middle of the long stretch of Kailua Beach), it first appears as if you’re arriving at a mansion. Once the Boettcher Estate, this 4-acre property’s large home—designed by noted Hawai‘i architect Vladimir Ossipoff—is used regularly by the community. It opened as a city park in 1979, its lawn framed by sprawling naupaka leading to the beach that's ideal for swimming and bodyboarding.

There’s plenty of room on the sand to set up a pop-up tent or blankets and watch the kite surfers (who launch from the north end of Kailua Beach Park) or walk along the bay.

If you go: The park and small parking lot are open 7 a.m.–6 p.m. There are public bathrooms and showers, but no lifeguard.

Though its polo fields and horse track are long gone, this 130-acre tract of green grass shaded by sprawling trees has been popular since King Kalākaua first declared it a public space in 1877. Families actively use and appreciate this destination where many play tennis, soccer, or volleyball; jog the perimeter; or pass through to reach the ocean.

There’s plenty of room to host a birthday party, read a book on the lawn, or just stroll with friends to see the sunset. The Barefoot Beach Cafe on the makai side of Kalākaua Avenue has reasonably priced eats to go.

If you go: Open from 5 a.m. to midnight, with bathrooms available. Secure a permit for the area you want to use (see “Do you need a permit?”).

This picturesque, 153-acre park beckons all to swim, kayak, or fish in the calm waters stretching out past a sandy shoreline and beyond to Mokoli‘i, the hat-shaped islet offshore. The historic area adjacent to ancient fishponds was where the voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a first launched in 1975. The park has also been featured in many movies and TV shows filmed on-site at nearby Kualoa Ranch, from Lost to Jurassic Park.

With the Ko‘olau mountains etched against the sky in the background, it’s an ideal spot to stay all day, eat your cousins’ best kalbi, and let the kids get so tuckered out they might even nap on the ride home.

If you go: Parking lot is open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Lifeguards, restrooms, and showers are available.

This popular spot for east-side residents recently regained its original name, Lā‘ielohelohe, which honors a princess of Hawaiian mythology. Appreciated by bodyboarders and surfers for its strong, year-round waves, the waters might not be the best place for novices (as the nickname “Pounders” hints), nor a great swimming spot for the littles in your group.

Yet it does offer a quiet, shady refuge where you can snag a picnic table and enjoy the view as well as great company and food. It’s easy to bring your own, but you can also grab something to go from one of the eateries at the nearby Polynesian Cultural Center’s Hukilau Marketplace.

If you go: Showers are available, but there’s no lifeguard.

If you want to camp, have a picnic with more than 50 people, set up a bouncy house, use loudspeakers, or reserve a specific site at many parks, you’ll need to get a permit, which may mean a small fee. Contact the park you wish to visit for more information, rules, and availability. Contact staffed parks, and view a parks map with additional contact information. 

Though often parked at her desk, regular AAA contributor Christine Thomas loves to escape to the verdant green spaces around O‘ahu with her family in tow.