I’m a little spoiled when it comes to beaches. My family photo sessions are scheduled around crowds – early morning with its warm golden light or off-the-beaten-path beaches in the evening. Either way, we normally have a good amount of space to ourselves. So when it comes to family beach days, I struggle to adjust to the crowds in my favorite spaces. Enter Sherwood Beach.
If I’m feeling particularly ambitious and want to visit a popular or small beach like Paradise Cove, I try to drag everyone out to the beach early, but I often fail. It’s not them, it’s me. Despite regularly encouraging my clients to meet me at the crack of dawn for photos, I’m not a morning person. So on those, sunny afternoons, when the entire island seems to be at the beach already, we head to Sherwood Beach in Waimanalo.
Is Sherwood Beach the longest stretch of beach on Oahu? If not, it sure feels like it. There’s enough beach to go around. And because people tend to congregate near parking spaces, you can walk 5 minutes or so and find your own bit of peace and quiet.
We love the spot at the junction of Waimanalo and Bellows beaches. There, you can find a little stream and a jumble of boulders that are fun to play on. More importantly, there is ample shade and perfect hammock trees with a sweeping view of the beach.
I’m not sure if the pandemic is wearing on them or if it’s just a phase, but the kids rarely want to go to the beach these days. When we go, they often avoid the water and look for opportunities to steal our hammocks instead.
However, if we bring a fishing pole (and some cheese?! did you know fish like cheese?) they’ll happily spend the day catching hungry tilapia in the stream. And we can enjoy our hammocks with a view.
Sherwood Beach is located in the town of Waimanalo about a 30-minute drive from Waikiki. This beach is known for its natural beauty, soft golden sands, and clear turquoise waters. The shore break is steeper here than in Kailua Bay making conditions more challenging for little kids. However, these same conditions are great for body boarding or body surfing!
Access to Sherwood Beach is easy with three parking areas and two bathrooms with showers. It can get crowded on weekends and holidays, but you can simply walk 5 minutes up the beach towards Kailua for your own space.
On windy days, look out for Portuguese man o’ war – a marine creature that is commonly mistaken for a jellyfish. Their long, bluish-purple tentacles sting if they touch you, leaving a red welt. If you’re stung, rinse with sea water (not fresh water!) and carefully remove any tentacles. A credit card is useful to gently scrape the skin. That’s about all you can do until the pain subsides in about 15 minutes. A hot soak, pain medicine can be helpful if its still bothering you. Some people have an allergic reaction so seek immediate help if you have trouble breathing.
A few suggestions to help you make the most of your beach day –
There is more to explore when you tire of this picturesque and serene stretch of shoreline.
The surf and shore break at Sherwoods can be rough. If you have babies or toddlers and prefer something mellow you can try one of these mellow options. it’s like a protected, sandy-bottomed swimming pool!
If you have energy to burn, head mauka for the trails above and surrounding Waimanalo –
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Little Bird Photo & Films is an Oahu based photographer & videographer serving families & couples throughout Hawaii including Oahu, Maui, and Kauai.
Email: heather@hilittlebird.com
Call: 808.783.3602
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