Keehi Boat Harbor serves as one of Honolulu major commercial and recreational boat facilities located between Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Harbor, approximately 5 miles west of Waikiki in the urban Kakaako district. This working harbor accommodates commercial fishing vessels, charter boats, and recreational craft, functioning as an important maritime infrastructure supporting both commercial fishing operations and the tourism industry that provides ocean excursions, fishing charters, and boat tours departing from these docks. The harbor includes practical amenities like boat ramps, fish hoists, harbor offices, restrooms, showers, and dinghy docks that serve the boating community and commercial operators who depend on reliable facilities for vessel maintenance and daily operations.
The harbor area connects to Keehi Lagoon Beach Park, which holds significant historical importance as the site of one of the last Hawaiian fishing villages in Hawaii, with Mokauea, a small island within the lagoon covering about 10 acres, representing the last fishing village found on Oahu. This historical connection to traditional Hawaiian fishing practices provides cultural context for an area that has evolved from subsistence fishing grounds to modern commercial harbor facilities while maintaining some connections to maritime heritage. The lagoon calm waters make the area popular for kayaking, canoeing, and other paddle sports, though swimming is not recommended due to poor water quality and pollution concerns related to harbor activities and urban runoff from surrounding developments.
The surrounding area provides access to Honolulu dining and services, though the harbor location in an industrial and commercial district means nearby restaurant options are more limited than tourist-focused areas. The nearby Sand Island area and broader Kakaako district have seen recent development bringing new dining venues, coffee shops, and breweries that serve the urban Honolulu community. For more extensive dining options, travelers can head toward downtown Honolulu, Chinatown, or Ala Moana, where diverse restaurants serve everything from traditional Hawaiian plate lunches to international cuisines. The proximity to Honolulu International Airport makes the harbor convenient for travelers arriving by air who want immediate access to boat tours or fishing charters without traveling to more distant marina facilities.
Visitors should understand that Keehi Boat Harbor functions primarily as working marine infrastructure rather than a recreational beach destination, with the focus on boat operations, fishing charters, and commercial activities rather than swimming or sunbathing. The harbor provides departure points for various ocean activities including deep sea fishing charters targeting pelagic species in offshore waters, whale watching tours during winter months when humpback whales visit Hawaiian waters, and other boat-based excursions exploring Oahu coastline. Fishing opportunities from shore exist in areas away from active boat traffic, though harbor regulations and safety considerations limit where shoreline fishing can occur. The historical significance of Mokauea fishing village and the broader Keehi Lagoon area provides cultural interest for those exploring Hawaiian maritime traditions and the evolution of coastal communities from traditional subsistence patterns to modern commercial operations. The location between the airport and downtown Honolulu makes the harbor easily accessible for cruise ship passengers, airport arrivals, and Waikiki visitors seeking boat-based activities without extensive travel time to other marina facilities around the island.
