Kaneohe Bay Sandbar

I went with friends and had a good time but this isn’t the place to snorkel at all. I literally gagged at the sight of poop floating nearby. Someone took a dump somewhere. Much rather a reef where I can snorkel and there aren’t too many people and/​or boats around.

My family and I bought a kayak and took it here for the first time to break into our new family hobby and exploring the sandbar. We got rained hard before we loaded the kayak. We had the sandbar all to ourselves and it was cloudy so it was actually nice for the kids. We loved it and will come back to kayak again.

Great place to relax and spend the day on the water. Green sea turtles are a common sight as well as hammerhead and large tiger sharks. Fishing can be good with many species of fish that are easily caught.

All I can say is WOW! This place is a real hidden gem in Oahu. The water was knee deep and the view was amazing. We played volleyball and took many pictures. After the sandbar we went turtle watching and went snorkeling. We even swam with turtles. That made my vacation complete. Seeing a Honu up close and personal was unforgettable experience. Mahalo!

Had a blast at my first time at the sandbar! It has been on my bucket list for so long! Unfortunately, the day we went there were passing storms! But the group of friends I was with were so gung-​ho that we really didn’t let it ruin our day. (I mean yes, it could have been way more amazing with actual sun… but hey, we like to see the silver lining)
Husband got his pontoon license couple days before and we were off on a 10 person pontoon. Short trip and we were anchored at the sand bar! Brought food, drinks, and good conversation! Can’t go wrong!
Tips:
Watch out for other boats, especially on breezy days, as boats drift
Bring floaties! The best part was floating in the shallow water, drink in my hand, sun peeking out from the clouds ;P
Next time I’d like to try 2 things: 1) there was a water jet pack guy doing some crazy stuff that looks like you might die, but at least it’d be a thrill to try and 2) bring some type of water friendly game.
Will definitely be a repeat spot this summer!

«Eden is that old-​fashioned house we dwell in every day Without suspecting our abode, until we drive away.» Ahh I will certainly miss the splendor of Hawaii the day I move away, but for now let me relish in it and take full advantage of all it has to offer. You should too if you are blessed with the opportunity to visit or live here. Don’t take less spoken sites for granted. Kaneohe sand bar is another Eden and a must do! Unfortunately, not everyone has access to it, so maybe that’s why I don’t hear it talked about as much.
The only way to access this heaven is via private boat or a with a person who has a boating license as well as military base access? Wahhh! Well I guess since I’ve at least experienced this paradise within Paradise, I can’t sob too much. Any of my military buds wanna take me on a pontoon ride? Ha ha! I was able to tag along with some friends that rented a ten passenger pontoon for four hours for $ 120. They require children to wear life vests that they provide and although you can pack coolers with snacks and drinks, alcohol is not allowed. Oh well, we had a fabulous time anyhow minus the spirits.
From the docks, it’s about a 15 minute ride to the sandbar itself unless of course you stop to admire some of the sites along the way such as Gilligan’s Island. (Which by the way is now a research area that you are not allowed to pull up to.) Once you get to the sandbar it’s clear, azure, shallow waters for miles out. You have a 360 view of magnificence including the Kuuola mountain Ridge and China man’s hat in the distance.
The pontoon itself was spacious and clean and provided areas of shade if you opt out on getting your vitamin D. The employees at the dock were very friendly and helpful. I fail to recall the name of the gentleman that assisted us pulling away from the dock, but he was very good with the kids; kind and patient. There is ample parking there with bathrooms at the docks. In close proximity is a Subway and mini Mart to pick up food prior to taking your ride out. Just keep in mind that you are on a military base so be mindful of military rules. I did get scolded for not wearing a cover up! Other than that, have a fun! If you listen to country, you’ll have Little Big Towns «Pontoon» song stuck in your head all day!

Such a fun time! Gorgeous views, beautiful, clean water, and super easy to get to from He’eia Harbor. A must do if you’re visiting and even for locals too.

Seriously whats not to love about the sanbar? We come here as much as possible and we LOVE it! We rent our boat from MCBH, invite a couple friends and it is the perfect afternoon. The sandbar is large enough where you are not cramped on top of people so you can anchor off at any place on the sandbar. If you plan on bringing rafts bring a weight and rope to anchor yourself down on the shallow parts of the sandbar. The current can be strong (We filled up an old juice bottle of sand for our weight.) If you looking to relax with a gorgeous view the sandbar is the way to go!

The Sandbar… it’s one of those places that I’ve always known about but never personally gone to when I was at home, because at the time, it seemed that everyone I knew that would go here would just party and drink. Which, wasn’t that appealing to me. I mean, you’re basically in the middle of Kaneohe bay surrounded by the gorgeous green mountains, crystal clear water, and pretty much enjoying amazing weather, why would I want to drink?! But, that’s just me. So I never had a reason to go here, at the time.
This time around, I’m with my boyfriend, both of us don’t need to drink {to have fun} or rather even drink, but he suggested kayaking here. This I didn’t mind, because it’s something active, and though I did not ever visit the sandbar beforehand I knew the water wouldn’t be too bad because it’s in the bay. I asked my native Kaneohe bestie about getting there and any other questions that I could think of, checked the tide calendar, then we headed out to Go Bananas to pick up the boat and equipment. We left on an early Sunday morning do take advantage of the low tide, I think we took off the pier at 845am or so and got to the sandbar around 920. Not too bad. It might have been earlier but I don’t remember. The water was about calf length so the tide was a bit higher than we wanted but it was still incredibly relaxing! There were several boats out {not drinking from what I could see} and little toddlers with their swimming tubes, stand up paddle boarders, and families just cruising and enjoying the shallow waters. We kayaked out in October, but I’m wondering if the tide would be lower in the late spring and summer months. We’d definitely go back and we’ve already told our families about visiting this place too! Either by boat or kayak. It’s fun and just a neat place to visit on a beautiful sunny day.

Go on low tide and the water is amazing you hang out and enjoy Oahu. This place is a must do why u are on the island. Just beware of hammer head sharks they like to hang out around there during the winter.

Timo took us out to the Sandbar in his boat. It was a calm morning, and we felt like we had the sandbar to ourselves. What an amazing time!
Had the fried rice breakfast at He’eia Pier Deli before launching. Did a bit of wakeboarding before setting anchor. Had a relaxful time just hanging out, talking story, and munching on spam musubis & Funyuns. An absolutely gorgeous day at K-​Bay.
#LuckyWeLiveHawaii

What a great experience! Since moving to Oahu, I’ve been dying to get out to the sandbar. I finally had the opportunity when some friends invited us. We chartered two boats that took off from the marine base in Kaneohe. You need someone from the military to sponsor you, and someone with a license to operate a boat. It was an exhilarating 10 – 15 minute ride over to the shallow waters. The water was a little higher than I expected (4 feet at the lowest) but it was still spectacular. It felt like a saltwater pool within an ocean. Bring coolers with snacks and drinks, a water float, and some snorkeling gear. This is a «must do» activity while on Oahu! Make plans in advance and get out there early for a good spot, especially if during a holiday weekend.

First, some misperceptions: the sandbar is not military, it’s DLNR, and it’s not off-​limits. You do need proper licensing for your boat — but that’s true everywhere.
We just took borrowed kayaks out there — no need to spend money, and it’s super fun to paddle along with giant sea turtles in the ocean while you kayak, instead of plowing over them in a boat and missing them.
Coral reefs dotted with brightly colored fish make the journey fun.
It’s beautiful, we brought the kids and it’s like a giant (really giant) super-​shallow beach in the middle of the bay.

An absolute must-​see if you visit Oahu! You need to be in the military or know someone in the military to get access to the sandbar.
My friends & I rented a boat for 2 ½ hours & it was truly an amazing experience. The water was so clear & it looked like we were in the Caribbean. It was raining the morning we went so the tides were high.

I finally got this crossed off my bucket list!!!
If you happen to be in the military or you know someone who has access, you have to take advantage of renting a patoon at the the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. They offer a licensing class twice a week (I believe) and you will need someone licensed in order to reserve a boat. My bf did the class a week before the 4^th of July and we were lucky that we reserved a boat for the 4^th of July morning. Prices are extremely reasonable for patoon rentals.
Anyways, so the sandbar. My friends and I had a blast riding to the sandbar and soaking up the beauty of it all. We had such a great time hanging out, munching on snacks, and mingling with other folks around the sandbar.
Now, if I could do this all over again, I would have brought a grill so we can enjoy some bbq. Also remember, there is NO shade anywhere. Make sure you bring something to shield your skin from the sun (rash guards, umbrellas, extra sunscreen, hats, etc.).
Also, don’t forget to look up the tide schedule! Low tide is the best way to enjoy this little slice of paradise.

This is an experience worth having.
We went to a wedding in Hawaii, and the day after, 25 of us rented a couple boats and headed to the Sandbar. I don’t know what the process is like for most people, but we ended us parking at the base, having a couple licensed drivers take the boats out, and docked at the sand bar, which is a submerged island you can hang out in, like a swimming pool in the middle of the ocean. They allowed us to take the boats out for 4 hours, and were strict about how many people were in each boat. Most of the stores near the dock require a military ID to make a purchase, so if you are taking the military route, make sure you plan.
Take food, drinks, and entertainment!

So worth doing! We kayaked out here from our rental home in Kaneohe Bay. Took us about 40 minutes to do it, but I’m so glad we did!
You must research when it is low tide! For us, we went out early when the tide was about –0.5. Because we were staying in the area, the closest part of the sandbar was super far away from everyone else (where the sandbar was thickest and closest to the marina). We pretty much had the sandbar to ourselves for about an hour. Towards the end of our stay, two giant tourist boats came by and docked.
I really recommend kayaking it to this sandbar. We went by a few reefs and saw a turtle which was beautiful. Don’t do the giant tourist boat. Part of the allure of this sandbar is to have it by yourself. It really isn’t that awesome when you have to share it with 200 other people.

Haven’t had a bad experience since i’ve been out there!
I’ve been out to the sandbar on numerous occasions. Mainly to take out my gfs friends visiting from Japan, or if we have friends visiting from the mainland. One of these days i intend on creating a UYE for those who might be interested.
To get out to the sandbar you need 2 things: A boat and a captain.
The captain has to be certified to take out the watercraft. The boats range in size from ski boat, to pontoon boat. The pricing to rent the boats varies by season. Their newest addition of watercraft includes a 12 person luxury pontoon boat!
The sandbar is an excellent place to bring guest and family visiting the island relax in low tide water, go snorkeling, and spend a day with family away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The Japanese tour boats have named the sandbar «tengoku no umi» which translates to «ocean in the heaven.»
They have all the safety equipment you could need included on the crafts, including life vest, extra gas, and a radio. You can bring all the food and snacks that you’d like on the boat and electronic video/​music devices as well.
There are some great snorkeling spots in the proximate area around the sandbar and i always end up seeing turtles and other vibrant marine life on every occasion.
NOTE: It is best to look at the tide schedule to find out when there which times and dates will have low tide around the bay area to get the best experience.

If I could give this place more than the allotted five stars I would. This place is HEAVEN ON EARTH! I’ve been here a couple of times already (before the alcohol /​booze cruise ban and recently) and I must say… no matter how often I go… this place never fails to take my breath away.
You can get here via private or chartered boat. Each time we’ve been here we have packed up kayaks, boards, chairs, umbrellas and fishing gear to enjoy once anchored in. We’ve even had the pleasure to go «banana boating» with some friends here. I’ve brought snorkeling gear as well but have yet to snorkel. All in all, it’s just refreshing to be able to be away from Oahu proper and experience a side of Oahu that isn’t well populated (unless it’s a major holiday). If you want a private getaway… plan your trip on non-​busy days like the weekdays or non-​holiday weekends.
Word to the wise, there is no shade here aside from what your boat provides so it does get hot. Just lather up the sunscreen or better yet, wear a rash guard and hat if you’re prone to burning. Bring lots of water and tons of food to sustain your visit at the sandbar and remember to collect all your belongings before boarding your boat — that includes all your trash.
If you get a chance, take a cruise along the shore and head towards Chinaman’s Hat or around «Gilligan’s Island»…but I’m sure that once you’ve experience the sandbar with glorious backdrop of mountains galore — you’ll want to anchor in and settle in for a relaxing day and never want to leave.
It never fails… there are not enough words to express the surrounding beauty of the K-​bay sandbar… it must be felt. I almost regret posting this review because like most of my favorite places on earth, I’m quite selfish and do not want «my place» to be ruined with tourist boats and fees.

I’m not much of an outdoorsy type person BUT who can complain about riding a brand new pontoon boat to an amazing sandbar in the middle of the gorgeous Kaneohe Bay?
We had our favorite friends. We had food. We had music. The sun was shining. The sky was blue. The clouds were white. The sea was that amazing shade of blue green that I can never quite capture regardless of how many thousands of pictures I take (with my phone 0_​o).
As the kids splashed and lounged in their floaties… we adults sat in the shallow water enjoying the cool water and warm sun. We sort of formed a circle so we could talk and laugh and have a great time.
So there we were… my circle of friends (literally) lazing in the water, relaxing and basically just shootin’ the sh*t until… until a piece of sh*t (literally) came floating into the circle of friends– straight into the middle of our circle! An approx 5inch long perfectly formed (what appeared to be human) sh*t came floating right into the middle of the circle of friends. How that clever little sh*t floated over and got into the middle of our circle without touching anyone is a mystery. We all noticed it at the exact same moment. Horrified and full of disbelief we all (except for one brave– or sick– soul) ran, swam, jumped and screamed back on to the boat and proceeded to pour hand sanitizer over our entire bodies.
Someone pooped in the water at the sand bar??? We all looked around and tried to figure out who could have done it. I’m convinced it was the boat with the slightly shady looking drunk people. My husband insists it was a sea turtle but I didn’t sea any sea turtles… only a lot of questionable drunk people.
I have so many questions. How? Why? Where? WHY??? WHHHHYYYY?
I am so traumatized.
After taking a long scalding hot shower and a looong soak in a tub full of bleach, I feel that I can finally write my review and objectively say that, even though there was a disgusting floating turd in the water, the Kaneohe Sandbar is still amazingly beautiful and relaxing and a great place to spend the day with friends and family. I still give them 5 stars because it’s not the sandbar’s fault that some one pooped in the water.
Now if I could rate the patrons of the sandbar, they would obviously get NO STARS!!!
Btw– if you go, I def recommend you pay extra to get one of the new pontoon boats!