On Oahu's EAST SHORE . . .

Kualoa Regional Park has come into its own within the past several years having been totally refurbished. Located in a stunningly beautiful area of Oahu's Windward coast in the Ko`olaupoko ahupua`a, Kualoa in Hawaiian means "long ancestral background" as this area has a rich ancient and sacred history.

As an example, the little offshore islet, Mokoli`i, is said actually to be a fluke of the cut off tail of a dragon-like creature. Hi`iaka (or Hi`iaka i ka pali o Pele), goddess of lightning and Pele's younger sister, was traveling along the Windward coast when she came upon great Mokoli`i, the Mo`o dragon. Hi`iaka mightily fought with the giant lizard and slayed it with spears of lightning. She then dismembered and used the body to form part of the base of Hakipu`u road. And when she threw the tail away, it landed in the ocean by Kualoa. The islet, today popularly referred to today as "Chinaman's Hat", because it looks like a coolie's hat to some, is - obviously - the tip of one of Mokoli`i's tail flukes.

Erosion has nearly "wiped out" the beach's sand. Swimming and snorkeling is just great but watch out for the currents as they are occasionally strong. Please pay special attention to your keiki (children) in these currents.

With tradewinds, Northeast winds blowing 90 percent of the year, watch out for the portuguese man-of-war (stinging blue "jelly-like fish", also known as the "Bluebottle"); they can pose a problem for beach-goers.

Guarded beaches on O`ahu are posted with special signs by lifeguards when there are portuguese man-of-war swarming in the surrounding ocean. Observe these signs, stay out of the water, to avoid what can be a very painful, perhaps even deadly experience.

If you are stung at a guarded beach see the lifeguards on duty. They can render minor first-aid, or, for more serious cases, call and radio for emergency medical evacuation or ambulance assistance.

Kualoa Regional Park has the following in its beach and park areas:

HERE ARE SOME
BASIC OCEAN SAFETY TIPS:

• Swim in Lifeguarded Areas
• Never Swim Alone
• Don't Dive Into Unknown Water or Into Shallow Breaking Waves
• Ask a Lifeguard About Beach and Surf Conditions Before Swimming
• If You Are Unable to Swim Out of a Strong Current, Signal for Help
• Rely on Your Swimming Ability Rather Than a Flotation Device
• Look For, Read and Obey All Beach Safety Signs and Symbols
• If In Doubt, Just Stay Out!

Return to the Hale (Home) Aloha Page. You can also use the following links to continue your beach and ocean tour of Oahu's North Shore, South Shore, East Shore, or West Shore.

Or, you can go to the Beach Directory for a listing of all the beaches covered in these pages.

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Suggestions, comments and recommendations are welcomed. These pages are a project of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, a not for profit, professional association of Hawaii's lifeguards devoted to the advancement of lifesaving services and public education on beach and ocean safety.

Web Developer: This page is maintained by J. B. Lee. You can reach me by email by clicking here.
Last modified: 11-Mar-2005 01:53 PM

ALOHA . . . malama i ke kai!