On Kailua’s south-east side, at Waimānalo, sits the Bellows Air Field Station, a military reservation that served as a key airfield during World War II. The last runways were closed in the 1950s, and the station is now used for training and recreation. The park is open to the public on weekends and warrants the short trip from Kailua if you’d like to relax on a long, wide and soft sandy beach with low-ish waves. There is a shallow sandbar here for body surfing and bodyboarding breaks, and partly because of the prevailing trade winds there’s a curious array of wildlife. Portuguese man o’ wars are blown ashore here (9 to 12 days after a full moon), and provide a meal for little sand bubbler crabs, which burrow on the water’s edge. If you’d like to stay overnight, camping permits are issued by the City and County of Honolulu.

We love going to Bellows. The waves are usually pretty calm and the beach isn’t packed to the point of it being uncomfortable. If you go on a weekday it’s usually pretty empty compared to other places. If possible I highly recommend going through the gate. I think there where maybe 10 other people there one evening.

Had our first camping trip here since moving to the island! Was so much fun! Couple of things I wish I did more research on was if there were built in grills or fire pits. We had wood and charcoal, but there wasn’t anywhere to use them 😂 thankfully, there are places super close by to grab food. Took our 1 year old and she loved it! Highly recommend!

Hands down one of the best beaches on the island. The water is a magical blue and the sand is white and soft. If you’re eligible to go to the military side there is a small gas station, subway and store. There is also a hotel, beach cabins, camp grounds and miniature golf.

Best beach on the island. I am retired military so I have access all week. However on the weekends it is open to the public. Not crowded and the water is light blue and clear. Outstanding.

Nice place to set up a party minus the wind, rough waves, and portuguese man o war... Nice sand for digging giant holes in the sand. Good open parking. Easy to find. Just deep on the North East, the drive is kinda far feeling when you live down west. Great for body boarding, lots of small waves close to shore. There are life guards till a certain time, so if you get stung, go see them, they have a spray for the sting. Would go here again if it wasn't so far.

This is my favorite beach in Hawaii. Powdery sand, small waves, turquoise water, blue skies and the best part, less touristy! It's 19 minutes away from Lanikai Beach. Plenty of parking spots. Need to have a military ID to enter.

Gorgeous spot to swim and fish! Just beware of the Portuguese Man-o-war (jellyfish), their long blue tentacle stings!

(Translated by Google) A military beach open to the public only on weekends. There are few people because there is no car without a car and there are no Japanese people. The water quality is good near Lanikai Beach, and the sand on the beach is fine and smooth. There is a space between the road and the beach where you can park your car, so it is safe to park where you can see from the beach. (Original) 土日だけ一般開放される軍のビーチ。車がないと行けないこともあって人は少ないし日本人はゼロ。ラニカイビーチの近くで水質もよく、ビーチの砂も細かくてサラサラだしおすすめです。道路とビーチの間に車を停められるスペースがあるので、ビーチから見えるところに停められて安心です。

First time at Bellows Beach and it was beautiful. The water was great, families and kids having a great time. If you can, definitely a beach to visit. We are adding it to the rotation!!

By far this is my favorite beach on the island. It is behind a military checkpoint so a military ID is required to park close. Has a lifeguard and a restroom. The chill atmosphere with military families. Beautiful sand and super warm water during the summer. The drop-off is very minimal and the waves crash about three feet high. Fun for little ones when supervised. Going to miss this beach greatly when I leave.

Beautiful Beach! This little known secret is amazing. This beach is so pretty and has so much to offer. We had the opportunity to visit the beach. The wind was blowing so much that it made the air cold so we did not get in the water but the color of the water was truly amazing. The sand was soft and the sky was blue. The area is clean and has a restroom and location to bring a picnic.

06 June 2020: Beaches are open on the weekend now. :D 17 May 2020 : Still not open yet. (Hopefully) I'll remember to update this when it opens. Please remember to follow the speed limit as there are people walking, biking, running, etc. Even when it is closed. But yes, one of the best beaches on island :)

This beach is amazing. I can't say enough about it. It's one of my favorite beaches in Oahu. The sand is so nice, the water is clear, and the waves are soft enough for swimming and beginning body boarding. There are also showers and bathrooms on the premise.

Bellows Field Beach Park is a beautifully maintained beach. It is very clean and well kept. The sand is soft. The ocean is amazing in this side. There was a good balance of waves for boogie boarding. The bathrooms were nice to change in. This is a hidden gem!! We stayed here the first time we came Oahu 33 years ago. It was even better than I remembered. This is my favorite beach on Oahu.

A pleasantly uncrowded beachfront with decent waves. There's a nice and near-constant breeze coming in off the ocean, so it never gets too hot, even under direct sunlight. Tidal pull can be pretty strong at times, so definitely keep an eye on your kids. We'll definitely be back for more days under the sun out here. Loved it.

Gentle waves, beautiful sandy beaches, and not too crowded. People were camping, having picnics and playing beach games. Our only complaint is that it's only open on the weekends. It's a great place for kids and people who don't love huge waves. Good for boogie boarding.

Beautiful!! Great place to relax with friends and family. Water is great. Sometimes a little rough but fun. Lots of space for having a gathering and also parking.

This beach feels like one of the longest on Oahu. There is a good amount of space to have group beach days or solo relaxation. The sand is fairly soft except for when you are crossing through some forest-y bits between the beach and parking. There are decent small waves that make for good boogie boarding. It's a bit of a drive once you turn off the main road, but well worth it at the end!

Absolutely beautiful peaceful morning in Hawaii and! Great morning exercise for the soul. Bellows was very serene and calm; but the wind was kinda; blowing that day. Besides that great day to be alive.

Semi-secluded beach with forest cover and white sand beaches. Great beach to get away from the crowds. Shower and bathroom amenities abound. Relax and enjoy the peaceful windward side of Oahu.

Nice shallow water with white sand. There is bathroom and shower at the central park.

Bellows Beach park is awesome! Once you get thru the base gate, it’s far less crowded than Kailua and as beautiful if not more. It has less shade from trees but does have clean bathrooms, easy parking and a short drive to the Shopette for snackage.

Awesome beach! Limited access see their website. Lots of plastic fragments all around the beaches in Hawaii

Beautiful beach, Crystal clear turquoise water, soft sand, sea turtles, helicopters and an Osprey. This is an awesome beach

Beautiful, beautiful beautiful!!! Bathrooms, showers, a grill to use. Awesome scenery and great waves!

Really great beach with plenty of space to spread out! Very clean, and a great place to take the family!

Beautiful, peaceful,scenic. Great beach for relaxing and taking photos!

Almost always good waves. Love this beach, especially for camping

One of my favorite beaches. Ample parking and no crowds but then today is a Tuesday. Not sure what it is like on a weekend. The tide was rougher than other beaches but it was absolutely gorgeous.

Fantastic beach park with gorgeous vistas. The surf can be quite strong so pls be careful if going into the water

My favorite beach on Oahu. There are cabins that can be rented and pavilions that can be reserved for events. The water here is very clear and doesn't get deep until quite far from the shore. Certain times of the year there are jellyfish though, so pay attention to signs.

Bellows AFB camping is so much fun. Cabins are very reasonably priced and super close to the water. East shore can have jelly fish tides, so carry vinegar when you visit. Most days there is a neat little food truck fair about a mile away.

Pretty beach with facilities experiencing degradation (women’s toilet full of menstrual detruis, etc)

Really good ocean views. You can camp here but have to request a spot ahead of time. On Dundays there are different groups that play volleyball and ultimate freebie

One of our favorite beaches on Oahu during summer! Calm or reliable waves for surfing or boogie boarding in the summer. A bit rough in the winter. There's always parking. Only open on the weekends due to training. There's food trucks down the road at the entrance starting at 11 on weekends. Sometimes Portuguese man-of-war.

Beautiful Beach! Only reason I give it 4 stars is because there are lots of Portuguese Man O War here. Get the sting stuff from the gift shop it's worth it! :)

A very enlightening experience. Beautiful and mind blowing. The park itself has enough amenities to keep you comfortable, with running water, bathrooms and outdoor showers. The attendants that we felt with were very personable and helped in anyway they could.

Nestled amidst the captivating landscapes of O'ahu lies the serene Bellows Field Beach Park. This spot has become a cherished haven for my family and me. With its pristine, white sandy shores caressed by crystal-clear turquoise waters, it offers an idyllic setting for relaxation and bonding. The rhythmic sound of waves, complemented by the gentle rustle of palm trees, instantly transports you to a realm of tranquility. The park's amenities and facilities are well-maintained, ensuring comfort and convenience for visitors of all ages. Whether you're in the mood for a sun-soaked day of lounging, or you're eager to indulge in some delightful water activities, Bellows Field Beach Park has something for everyone. A visit here is a reminder of the simple joys that nature provides, making every moment with loved ones even more special.

Beautiful waves and the water stays about waste deep for a good while. Beautiful sand and places with natural shade not far from the water. Bathrooms were okay, a little run down, but they were standard for island beach bathrooms.

Simply put this place is amazing. Low traffic and soft white sand. Must come back and if you haven't visited this beach please put it on your bucket list.

I found this beach from word of mouth through a co-worker. There are two sides to this beach. There is the public side that is only open Friday-Sunday, and there is the military side which you can only access if you are able to get on military bases. The sand is white and the water is blue. There is also a lifeguard. On the public side there is plenty of space to park and camp, as well as BBQ. On the military side they have a large parking lot with an outdoor shower, restrooms, and a covered picnic area. There were plenty of people here enjoying all that this beach had to offer, but it is so much less crowded than the other beaches of its likeness. If you are on this side of the island I highly recommend Bellows beach as an alternative to the many other public beaches.

Meh

We love this beach!

This place is beautiful. There is a lot to do. I don't know how many times I can say this place is beautiful.

Turtle nesting areas - be careful and be safe!

My children love the waves and sand here. We usually stay near the showers and restrooms. It's a beautiful family friendly place to spend the day.

Amazing

It's a little off the beaten path, and only open on weekends and holidays, but iblive that there are trees so that I don't have to get sun burned if I don't want to.

One of our most favorite beaches in all the Honolulu Area! Was quite busy when we were here quite a few times a couple summers ago when were we visiting our daughter and son-in-law who was stationed here.

I might kick myself for this review, but here it goes... Hands down the best beach on Oahu. The only gripe I have is the public side is closed during the week. Water is a gorgeous turquoise, and sand is super fine. The jem of this island, hands down

Best beach by far on the island! The water is that turquoise clear blue,the waves aren’t too bad and it’s all around a great place for families to enjoy a day at.

Clean, relaxing.

Great place for kids

Gorgeous ❣️ Beach 🏖️

One of my favorite beaches on the island must have military ID or base access ID of some kind to enter the gate. There's a variety of rental equipment available. There are rental cabins, condo's, and camp grounds. There is also miniature golf, paint ball, and walking trails.

Soft white sand, beautiful water and views, some occasional trash to deal with.

Beautiful beach. Quiet. Sand is so soft. Public bathroom. Nice spot to camp.

Relaxing, enjoyable beach! Fun place to lay back and enjoy beach, sun, and water

One of my favorite beaches in Oahu

Very windy and a little rough.

Super

Great beach. Gorgeous landscape. Beautiful water. Almost got stuck in sand at camping area parking lot near rest rooms.

The beach was great, beautiful, parking lot available, not a touristy beach so that's great if you enjoy privacy. I'm only giving 4 stars is because we found two Portugese man of war jellyfish washed up on the beach. They can cause severe pain.

(Translated by Google) It is a relaxing beach with few tourists. (Original) 観光客が少なく 落ち着けるビーチです。

The best beach on Oahu

Closed Monday through Friday at 1200p. Don't go here until after Friday at noon. Beautiful beach.

Very private beach, located inside the AFB. Water is very blue; there is a subway here that is open at 10 am. So if you didn't pack food u can enjoy a sandwich here. My husband and I enjoy ourself. The wave are rough so if u r a good swimmer don't even try.

Beautiful campground and camping here made our trip affordable.

Nice place

This is our Family's FAVORITE Beach. Shallow water going way out. Great for kids. Very safe.

Spacious beach. Usually gentle waves or flat. Don't park in the first area with all the cars. Keep going if you want more space to yourself. Large parking area near Bellows base entrance at end of road.

Wonderful beach experience!

Love it. Sandy, not crowded, and great waves. My go to beach although I lost my car fob here once.

(Translated by Google) Beach with big cool waves very clean are only open on weekends (Original) Playa con olas grandes chéveres muy limpias solo están abiertas fines de semana