Yokohama Bay (Keawaula Beach)

Head to the northern tip of Oahu and you’ll reach Yokohama Bay, also known as Keawa’ula Beach at Ka’ena Point. The remote route to the beach takes about 90 minutes to reach by car from Waikiki.

Incidentally, “Keawa’ula” means “Red Bay” and it earned the name due to the squid that regularly spawned in the bay, apparently in such numbers that the bay waters turned red for a time.

It’s one of the most secluded beaches on the island with golden sands sloping gently down into clear shallow waters but there is a steep drop off to be aware of.

There are bathrooms, showers and a lifeguard station but you need to bring your own refreshments and umbrella for shade. If you’re lucky you might have this stretch of sand all to yourself. It’s pristine and undeveloped, set against a stunning backdrop of the Waianae Mountain Range.

The best time to see it is at sunset on a clear evening. It’s peaceful and surreal. XXXXXHowever, it could have been a very different story if hotel development had gone ahead here. As it was, the developers opted for Waikiki instead. XXXXX