"ALA MOANA" BEACH PARK

One of the finer, all around family parks on O`ahu, Ala Moana - which is Hawaiian for the Path to the Sea - consists of a beach and general recreation area of more than one hundred acres -- when combined with the adjacent "Magic Island" - Aina Moana's - thirty lovely acres.

This a generally a safe beach at which to swim. Parents or guardians should keep careful watch over their youngsters; lifeguards are not substitute babysitters. When this beach gets very busy, as it often will, their attention is for the safety of the entire beach population.

Tidal changes and the winds can create strong currents which have caused several near-drownings and deaths by drowning among children who apparently have panicked when caught in them. Flotation devices and swimming boards sometimes give a false sense of security to children; avoid using them if at all possible.

The same caution should be exercised by weak swimmers - the waters in the beach's channel area may look calm but there can be strong undercurrents, swift tidal changes - near the reef area - and deceptive distances to what may look like safe reef areas or rocks. The reef area beyond the channel area is only for the more experienced - the area has sharp coral and jagged rocks, swift currents and wave action.

On the "outside," there are areas frequented by surfers and body boarders and the drop point occurs rapidly. Check out the conditions with the lifeguards on duty before you go "outside." Absolutely avoid swimming in the boat channels on either side of the beach park. They are very busy and, thus, can become very dangerous.

Ala Moana Beach Park has the following services and amenities in its beach and park areas: