Heeia Pier Kaneohe | Fishing, Snorkeling and Gateway to the Sandbar

Heeia Pier is a working fishing pier on the edge of Kaneohe Bay on Oahu’s windward coast, about 30 minutes from Waikiki. It’s one of those places locals know and visitors almost never find: a pier where kids can dangle their feet over clear water and watch fish, sea turtles, and the occasional hammerhead shark below. It’s also the most convenient launch point for kayaking and paddleboarding out to the Kaneohe Sandbar. And there’s a general store and deli at the end that has been a community fixture for decades.

A Toddler Adventureland on Oahu

The trip to Heeia Pier wasn’t exactly planned. We were enjoying a Jamba Juice following a well-child checkup at the doctor’s office (meaning shots and many fat tears). As we slurped the last of our drinks, I noticed with dismay that we had an hour until nap time. The kids were begging for a visit to the playground, but I couldn’t stomach another hour watching them clamber over the metal structure. In a stroke of brilliance, I decided to take them to nearby Heeia Pier to — well, I wasn’t exactly sure what we would do there. I was just that sick of the playground.

The kids bounced in their car seats with excitement as we pulled into the parking lot. Boats clanked in the breeze and motors hummed in the distance. We didn’t need to go far as they were content watching fish and throwing rocks as they dangled their feet over the clear water.

They were so content, I had to convince them to leave their post to explore the pier. Finally, I was successful and we were treated to stunning views of the bay. Fishermen lazily cast their lines and sea turtles foraged all around, their tiny heads popping up for quick gulps of air. A bit of excited noise caught our attention and we saw a fisherman catch a small hammerhead shark. Kaneohe Bay is a nursing ground for hammerheads, so they’re fairly common in summer. The fisherman kindly invited the kids over to admire the shark and touch its rough skin before releasing it back into the water. It made an impression.

A Note on the General Store

Heeia Pier General Store has changed hands more times than anyone can count. It’s been salty fishing uncles drinking 50-cent coffee in styrofoam cups, it’s been a celebrated chef running a 100% Ko’olaupoko ingredient menu, it’s been a few forgettable iterations in between. Whatever the current version, it’s a historic community spot worth supporting. The current iteration leans upscale local with furikake ahi nuggets, dynamite fish, and smoke meat plates alongside a shop with pareau and flavored pa’akai. Check before you go since the menu and hours shift, but the location and the view over the water never change.

A Snorkel Spot and Gateway to the Kaneohe Sandbar

Over the years we’ve returned to Heeia Pier many times. As the kids have gotten older our favorite activity has morphed from gawking at fish above the water to gawking at fish under it. On low wind days, we pack our flotilla of kayaks and paddleboards and cruise around the shallows. There is a surprising diversity of coral and fish near the pier. It’s an odd experience to immerse yourself in an underwater world and still be able to see cars zip along the road.

If it’s a particularly nice day, you can paddle out to the Kaneohe Sandbar. It takes about 30 minutes to kayak to the sandbar depending on conditions and ability. We usually bring extra rope in case one of the kids gets tired and needs a tow.

 

Getting There

Heeia Pier is on the windward side of Oahu off Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe, about 30 minutes from Waikiki via the Pali Highway. Look for He’eia State Park. The pier is just past it. There’s a parking lot on site, free to use. On weekends it fills up with boaters launching early. On holiday weekends don’t even try. Weekday mornings and evenings are the sweet spot.

What to Bring

Honestly, you don’t need much for a pier visit. Park, walk out, watch the fish. The General Store has food and drinks. If you’re heading out on the water you’ll want your own snorkel gear, kayaks, or paddleboards. There’s no rental situation at the pier itself.

The best thing you could bring for kids is a fishing pole. This is a working fishing pier and kids take to it immediately.

On sunscreen: most sunscreen sold at drugstores and grocery stores contains chemicals that damage coral reef ecosystems. Hawaii banned several of them in 2021 for exactly this reason. They’re not great for humans either. Use reef-safe sunscreen, and skip the aerosol spray entirely. Applying it on a windy beach means everyone around you is inhaling it, which is not a gift.

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