Located off Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo. It's a cool spot to get a pic of Rabbit Island and other great shots. You can fish from the sand. Overall a great spot for pictures. read more

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Neat place to visit in Oahu! Keep an eye out for the pier since google maps is a little delayed so it's easy to drive past. We decided to stop on our drive around Oahu. This pier is one of the locations used in filming Jurassic World. It is secluded and offers beautiful scenic views. We stopped here on a chilly, rainy day so we didn't stay long. The waves are rough and there weren't many people around. Overall we had a good, quick visit. I would have liked to visit on a nicer day. read more

Makai Research Pier - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

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When your friend tells you that she's moving away from Hawaii and going to live on the mainland, what do you do? Answer: put your notes together and squeeze in as much as you can into 8 hours. Amy M. and I had both never been to Makai Research Pier before. She thought that it was located on a different island... I had seen photos of the pier that were very Instagram worthy. I showed one of my nephew's girlfriend's photos to Amy and she agreed that it looked intriguing. My nephew's girlfriend wasn't able to tell me where she had taken her photo of this pier. After some research, I figured that it was in Waimanalo, near Rabbit Island. Using Google Maps, I was a bit disoriented because I think the cell phone signal is disrupted by the mountain range. I saw the pier before I reached the pin on the map. I pulled to the side of the road and backed in so I could exit forward safely. We carefully climbed down to the water's edge while stepping over tree roots and large rocks... There was a family - fishing - with three young children. We were able to take photos without them being in our pictures. The waves were kind of rough, so, I wouldn't advise swimming here. Amy and I were both elated that we found this "secret place". It reminded me of photos of Japan with the rows of red tori gates. Instead, we were under a pier and framed by the supporting posts! What a fun adventure! It was a simple activity, yet, it was memorable, beautiful, and meaningful! It was a special moment in time that two Yelp friends shared. People come and go in our lives as waves ebb and flow... "Enjoy them while you can..." That's what Emi H. told me. It's become a reality more than I've ever imagined... sadly... read more

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Cool place for a quick photoshoot and some unique photos: Pros Cool pier that is now open to the public Lots of nice palm trees Quiet and empty if you need something away from others Cool area under the bridge Beautiful scene of the water Lots of parking space Cons Rough waves No bathrooms/rinse stations Trash and graffiti under the bridge read more

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Beautiful scenic for pictures! Be sure to have good lighting to provide better color for people shots. But don't be fool too much by all the pictures, it's actually a very small pier and has very high current and strong waves. Be prepared by bring a towel or picnic basket to enjoy the view. It's also a very popular spot for fishing. read more

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Used to come here so much small kid time. We'd go fishing off the pier or snorkeling around the bay. It was always good to get here early to get a prime fishing spot off the pier, this place always got crowded quickly. During the summers, we'd come here a couple of times a week and got to know a lot of the regulars. Funny that we hardly ever caught anything worth taking home but it didn't matter since we'd just come to talk story with the rest of the fisherman. Nowadays, I rarely come here and when I do, it's only to take pictures of the sunrise, which is amazing from this spot. Ten or so years ago when I first started taking sunrise shots, if I wasn't the only one here, there'd maybe be one or two other people taking pictures. Slowly but surely over the years, this place has become more and more popular. A couple of weeks ago when I was here, there were at least a dozen photographers shooting the sunrise, some that I even recognized from before. So, whether for fishing, taking photos, sight seeing, or just getting away to clear your mind, this place is truly great for it all. read more

Makai Research Pier - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

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This pier is a great place to just enjoy a nice view of the east side. There's a small dirt parking lot but people also park along the highway. The pier itself isn't too big. Big enough to walk around and under, take great pictures and even do some fishing. The beach area can have some rough areas so be careful if you swim. A lot of kayakers and paddlers enjoy this area. If you've got a little time to spare and want to take some awesome pictures. This is a good place to stop at. read more

This is a very nice spot to come and relax for an afternoon. The views are awesome, the water is turquoise blue perfection, and it's a perfect spot for snapping some nice pics. You can walk out onto the pier to check out the scenery or fish. Or you can hang out around and under the pier. The beach area to the right of the pier (looking out towards the ocean) has a nice sandy spot. The area to the left is rocky but I seen quite a few people on that side. We brought towels and small poles and hung out on the sandy side. The pier is right after Makapuu beach and Sea Life Park if you are driving towards Waimanalo. We parked right at the pull off on the side of the road, at the pier entrance, and walked down to the beach under the pier. The water was really nice and it's perfect for snorkeling. There is a small area with sand that's great for swimming. If you don't come here to relax at least stop by for the photo op! read more

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Makai pier is a hidden gem that is a great place to just get away and chill. At times parking can be a challenge, but be patient. The beach on both sides of the pier is small, but plenty of room to find a spot for yourself. The views are nice and the area is very picterous. If you like taking photos, this is a good spot. The snorkeling is nice, just have to go out a bit. When you start off the visibility is poor but it gets better. Lots of fish and turtles make this cove home so keep your eyes open. The pier is open to the public during certain times and a cool place to hang out and enjoy the views and talk story with the guys that are fishing. Enjoy the pier and amazing Hawaii scenery. read more

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One of my favorite stops on the island is Makai Research Pier. It's a nice little beach with active waters. Go under the pier for a fun picture spot. There are probably only 12 parking spots at the road. You cannot park on the pier but you can walk all the way to the end during the week. The pier is closed to pedestrians most weekends. There were line fishermen and spear fishermen when I was there. It's pretty rocky but nice sand. This pier appears in Jurassic World and a few television shows like the new Hawaii Five-Oh. During the week it's a test site for underwater equipments. I liked how you could get away from the shore a bit to see that gorgeous ridge line. read more

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Giving this place a great review even though under the pier had pieces of trash. I was able to take my sons 8 month photos and the view was gorgeous. We parked on the gravel and made our way down a worn down path. Other photographers were there as well and were very respectful as we all took turns taking photos. read more

Makai Research Pier - Under the pier! Baby turns 8 months. - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

We were tootling around the east side of the rock and decided to stop here to take some pics. The pier is home to Makai Ocean Engineering. Portions of the pier are open to the public at certain times for fishing, but loitering near the buildings is prohibited. THE BEACH: I thought I was back in French Polynesia for a while, with the clear turquoise and blue water, and gorgeous backdrop of small islands and the blue Pacific. The water is usually calm and is great for kayaking and what not. The reefs start close to shore which makes for good for snorkeling. The small beach has soft, white sand though there are no shady areas except for under the pier, and the whole thing is peppered with lava rocks. FACILITIES: Nothing. PARKING: The small dirt lot fronting the pier is your only option, and there is no space along the highway. OVERALL: Calms waters, picturesque, not touristy at all. read more

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This place is usually a 5 star experience for me but as of June 2020 it looks as if there was a homeless camp set up where the parking is. They have taken pretty much every spot. Also all long that stretch of highway tents and camps everywhere. I wanted to bring my son there to fish along the shore but turned around as soon as I saw the setup. Hawaii is going through some hard times with a lot of people without jobs and this is probably a result of the current situation. Hopefully they get back on their feet as soon as possible and free up the space for the rest of us to use as well. read more

Don't attempt to use the porta potty yuck! Drive back down to MCD for that lol. Nice views, few people hangout and fish here. You can swim at the bottom but the water was pretty murky. Overall acceptable for a drive thru view. Head down to Makapuu beach left side tide pools for cleaner water and less people. read more

I'm not sure what the history of this place is, but I definitely had to stop by for some photo opportunities. After seeing friends post about their visits here, it was definitely an important pit stop. Though I mean it in a way that it was great to take in the scenery. There doesn't seem to a restroom or snacks to pick up here. The highlight of this spot definitely is the long pier that stretches out to the ocean. Walking underneath is really neat because you are in the middle of the countryside, but at the same time you are under a long bridge into the ocean. Getting down to under the pier is not too tough. The gradient is only slightly steep and runs from a short grassy area to a sandy and rocky area. A fun thing was that someone installed a swing and was swinging back and forth for their photos. Unfortunately, I think it was only temporary and most likely have taken their swing with them. The top of the pier is off limits and fenced off. No access is available through that path. read more

Makai Research Pier - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

The Makai Research Pier has a bit of everything - snorkeling, diving, kayaking, fishing, and is formally the home to Makai Ocean Engineering. It's on the Waimanalo side of Sea Life Park, about 40 minutes outside Honolulu. Because there's no tourist rentals the beach is normally home to locals, but is a quick drive from the insanely popular Sea Life Park and Makapu'u lookout. In the summer, it's calm enough to swim and snorkel - absolutely stay within the retaining walls and be aware of the fishing lines off the pier. The Waimanalo side is most friendly to snorkelers and has plenty of colorful fish, though the slightest offshore winds can cause murky waters. It's best suited for local snorkelers and swimmers because of the distance and questionable conditions, and should be reserved for strong swimmers outside of summer. There's lots of parking though, which makes it a good beach picnic area without the crowds of nearby Sandy's or Makapu'u. Kayak'ers will rejoice at the empty beaches but again, I'd caution against going out too far even though rabbit island looks somewhat close. The channel has strong currents and you might, depending on how you look at it either lucky or unlucky, end up on Moloka'i. read more

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I almost don't want to write about this spot because I would hate for it to get crowded. The reef adjacent to the dock has an incredible array of fish species to check out while snorkeling. The reef starts quite shallow, so not recommended for swimming as you don't want to harm the fragile reef with your feet. The breakwater keeps this area fairly calm, though it can get murky at times. I snorkeled here 3 out of my 6 days on Oahu, that's how much I loved it. One day there was even a lunch truck with plate lunch available at the parking lot. Bonus! There are lots of locals that come here to fish, so be sure to watch for fishing lines, as the other reviewer mentioned. If you are lucky, watch for turtles. There was one that came by each day I was there. There's a lot for parking and a porta-potty, but no shower or change room facilities. Head west toward Waimanalo and a few minutes down the road there is a park that will have what you need there. read more

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It's a very nice calm place to be and to fish when no one is jumping off the pier. It will be a sad day when this place gets shut down to the public for people jumping off the pier. Its only a matter of time when someone jumps off the pier and gets hurt then say good bye to a nice place to relax, fish, and even have a nice lunch on the pier. It's a 3 star cause it seems like workers here don't really care about enforcing the rules but they are friendly and nice. read more

Makai Research Pier - Read the 5th line in rules and regulations. "No swimming or diving from the pier" - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

Little snorkeling, swimming, diving spot by the fishing area. You are very close to the road, and fishers are above you on the pier. You don't want to go too close to them. Parking space might be a challenge. We saw 3 turtles and a lot of fish last week, but clarity was not super. YELP 365 - 258/365 read more

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Ahh, sharing this lesser known gem is a great honor and also a little scary. Scary because I know that once this place gets more well known, people would flood here. This is my go to place for very peaceful fishing. I love this spot. You're not guaranteed any big catches though - these are pretty small fishes. You can even see sea turtles swimming around sometimes :) The view is so beautiful, and the memories I made just chilling here for hours for many days, makes it a special place for me to write about! Come here if you want to chill out and do some peaceful fishing. Probably not for the most avid fishers, I think you may be able to get better catches elsewhere. But for those who want to get smaller fry, or just a nice peaceful day to tan and chill - this is a nice spot. But please keep in mind that there is a length limit that you need to adhere to, in order to keep the fish you catch. If it's too small, by Hawaiian law, you're supposed to release the catch. There's also the occasional snorkelers, and a more likely small crowd of beach combers on both sides of the pier. There's a small but quiet beach right under the pier that you can chill out at too. The noise level here is always low though, and I'd recommend keeping it so! That adds to the beauty of the place. read more

Makai Research Pier - Aloha sea turtle! :) - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

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Very nice and a little romantic place to go. A really good place to take pictures too. Not much for swimming though. A few times we went and there are so much drift woods, and other stuff floating on the water, I cannot tell if they are garbage or what. Water tend get a little rough. Close to a view similar in mainland. read more

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Was driving the scenic eastern coast of Oahu when I spotted this research pier from a highway scenic overlook. It aligns closely with a couple of islands off shore so pulled over to take some pictures. Water is crystal clear and there appeared to be a lot of rocks / coral so decided to grab my snorkeling gear and jump in. Glad that I did. Lots of fish, couple of turtle and lots of rocks and coral to explore. Real fun shore dive. I think the colder waters pushed in by the trade winds of the eastern shore perhaps makes this a more interesting place to shore dive than other places of Oahu we waded in. Only downside - no services. As in no restrooms, no restaurants and barely any parking. read more

Beautiful secluded spot. The only people that came were to take a picture and leave. It's a very small beach but the water was beautiful and calm. Small dirt area for parking. Portable toilet on premises. This would be great for snorkeling and diving. read more

Makai Research Pier - View of coral by the pier. - Beaches Near Me - Waimanalo, Hawaii

I've always wanted to come to this place to take photos, and I finally made it! It was just like how I imagined, and had lots of fun taking pictures. I was a bit sad about all the graffiti there though. It was nice to see the local boys jumping off the pier and enjoying the water. Sometimes it's nice to get away from all the hustle and bustle to come to places like this to relax. read more

I've made it a point to check out under the pier for quite some time now and finally was able to take some photos. We were driving along the road after stopping by to take a look at Hanauma Bay and finding the Ono Seafood food truck and I was looking for something else we could check out. I had the pier bookmarked, so we stopped by. We walked down a small path and ended up under the pier. It was pretty cool and I took a few pictures. We didn't go upstairs onto the pier, but maybe next time. read more

Awesome place to take the kiddos fishing! They close the gate at midnight on Fridays which gives you tons of time to catch menpachi for dinner! There's only a freaky port o potty in the darkest, scariest corner if the parking area. Bring a weapon! Lol read more

This is definitely the best place on the island to snorkel and swim, but you don't want to tell anybody about it, so that they can remain quiet and private. There's only enough room on the beach for about 4 families read more