Keehi Lagoon Beach Park occupies historically and culturally significant land between Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Harbor, approximately 5 miles west of Waikiki, where it preserves the site of one of the last Hawaiian fishing villages in Hawaii and provides public access to the lagoon calm waters. Mokauea, a small island within Keehi Lagoon covering about 10 acres, represents the last fishing village found on Oahu, maintaining connections to traditional Hawaiian maritime culture and subsistence fishing practices that sustained coastal communities for centuries before Western contact and urbanization transformed the island landscape. The park location at 465 Lagoon Drive provides urban residents and visitors with access to waterfront recreation in an area where commercial harbor development and airport operations dominate the surrounding landscape.
The lagoon calm, protected waters make the area popular for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding, with conditions particularly suitable for beginners and families seeking gentle water experiences without ocean waves and currents. However, swimming is not recommended due to poor water quality and pollution concerns related to urban runoff, harbor activities, and the proximity to industrial and transportation infrastructure. The park provides basic facilities including restrooms and open spaces for picnicking and relaxation, though the urban setting and environmental challenges limit its appeal compared to more pristine beach parks found elsewhere on Oahu. Fishing occurs farther toward the ocean and away from the main lagoon area, where some anglers pursue species that frequent the harbor entrance and adjacent waters.
The surrounding area offers limited immediate dining options due to the industrial and commercial character of the district, though recent development in the broader Kakaako area has brought new restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops serving urban Honolulu residents and workers. For more extensive dining, visitors can travel toward downtown Honolulu where Chinatown offers diverse Asian cuisines, or head to nearby Ala Moana where the shopping center provides numerous restaurant options ranging from food court offerings to upscale dining. The park proximity to Honolulu International Airport makes it convenient for travelers seeking quick ocean access between flights or during extended layovers, though the noise from aircraft operations and urban setting create an experience quite different from the tranquil beach parks found along less developed coastlines.
Visitors should understand that Keehi Lagoon Beach Park serves primarily as an urban waterfront recreation area rather than a destination beach, with its value lying in providing public access to water-based activities and preserving cultural heritage rather than offering pristine beach experiences. The historical significance of Mokauea fishing village and the broader lagoon area as one of the last Hawaiian fishing villages makes the park culturally important despite the environmental challenges and urban pressures affecting water quality and aesthetics. The calm lagoon waters provide safe environments for learning kayaking and paddleboarding skills without exposure to ocean waves and currents that can challenge beginners at open-ocean locations. The park represents urban Hawaii reality, where historical Hawaiian sites coexist with modern infrastructure and development pressures create ongoing challenges for maintaining cultural connections and environmental quality. Early morning visits often provide the best experiences before daytime heat intensifies and aircraft noise increases with peak airport operations, while the flat-water conditions remain consistent throughout most weather patterns due to the protected lagoon configuration that shields the area from ocean swells affecting open coastlines.
