Electric Beach

Other Names for This Beach

Drive along the Farrington Highway on Oʻahu's west coast and you cannot miss it: the massive Kahe Power Plant, one of the island's main electricity generating stations, sits right next to a stretch of sandy beach. The plant takes in ocean water to cool its generators, then discharges it back into the sea through a large outfall pipe.

That warm water discharge changed everything about this beach. The heated water, typically several degrees warmer than the surrounding ocean, attracts an extraordinary concentration of marine life. Spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, manta rays, and clouds of tropical fish congregate in the warm plume. Snorkelers discovered this decades ago, and the nickname "Electric Beach" stuck because of the power plant connection.

The name "Tracks" comes from old railroad tracks that once served a sugar plantation in the area. Some remnants are still visible near the shoreline.

When you search the DOH database for water quality advisories, you need to look for "Kahe" or "Kahe Point," not "Electric Beach." The state uses the official name, and if you search by the nickname, you might not find the advisory you need.

Electric Beach has generally good water quality. The open ocean location on the dry Leeward Coast provides strong flushing, and rainfall is minimal on this side of Oʻahu. The warm water discharge is non-toxic cooling water, not sewage or industrial waste.

However, warmer water can potentially encourage bacterial growth under certain conditions, and storm runoff can still affect water quality after heavy rain. Always check the latest DOH advisories and follow the 72-hour rain rule.