O'ahu - Hawaii - page 181

around the tables, but the best variety of coral and fish, as well as some small caves, lava
tubes and arches, are in deeper water further out. Watch for sharp rocks and coral - and,
as always, don't touch the fragile reef.
Waimea Bay Beach Park BEACH
(61-031 Kamehameha Hwy) It may be a beauty but it's certainly a moody one. Waimea Bay
changes dramatically with the seasons: it can be tranquil and flat as a lake in summer,
then savage in winter, with incredible waves and the island's meanest rip currents. It's
usually only calm enough for swimming and snorkeling between June and September.
Lifeguards are on duty daily.
Winter is prime time for surfers. On the calmer days bodyboarders are out in force, but
even then sets come in hard and people get pounded. Winter watersports at this beach are
not for novices. Year-round, jumping off the big rock formation that sticks out into the
bay is prohibited.
Parking at this popular beach is often tight, but don't park along the highway, even if
you see others doing so, because police can tow away dozens of cars at once. Beach fa-
cilities include restrooms, outdoor showers and picnic tables.
Laniakea Beach BEACH
( http://malamanahonu.org ; Kamehameha Hwy [Hwy 83]) Between the highway's 3- and 4-mile
markers, this narrow spit of sand is crowded with basking honu (green sea turtles), who
migrate here from French Frigate Shoals in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Stay back at least 20ft from these endangered sea creatures, which are very sensitive to
noise and human disturbance. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions.
Most people park alongside the highway opposite the beach, but vehicle break-ins and
theft are a risk.
THAT'S WHERE EDDIE WOULD GO
Eddie Aikau was a champion surfer and Waimea lifeguard. You only have to see
Waimea on a stormy winter day to know the courage it takes to wade into the water
here to save a swimmer in trouble. But it was another act of heroism that spawned
the slogan 'Eddie Would Go' that you'll see on bumper stickers all around the is-
lands.
In 1978 Eddie joined an expedition to re-create ancient Polynesians' journey to
Hawaii by sailing theHokuleʻa, a replica double-hulled voyaging canoe, from Oʻahu
to Tahiti and back. Several hours after the craft set sail it got into trouble and cap-