Magic Island

Magic Island is the man-made peninsula on the eastern end of Ala Moana Beach Park — a calm, family-friendly swim spot with skyline views. Check the Community Water Testing section for the sample date, result and full Surfrider report. A sample describes the water collected at that place and time; it does not establish today's water quality. Check the live DOH status above separately.

Magic Island sits at the eastern tip of Ala Moana Beach Park, separated from the main beach by a man-made channel. The Bowls and Canoe Launch sample points are in lagoons sheltered from open-ocean swell.

Storm drains and street runoff can reach the lagoons after rain. Sheltered water and a past sample result do not establish current water quality; check both dated community samples and current DOH advisories.

The Hawaii Department of Health does NOT routinely test Magic Island. The community-tested readings on this page come from the Surfrider Foundation Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-led monitoring program run by the Surfrider Oʻahu chapter.

BWTF samples Magic Island biweekly using the IDEXX Enterolert method (MPN/100mL), and compares results against the same 130 Beach Action Value DOH uses statewide. See our overview of citizen water-quality testing in Hawaiʻi for the methodology and how BWTF data fits with DOH coverage.

The main lagoons on the west and south sides have sandy bottoms and gradual entries. The Bowls sample point is in the central swim area; Canoe Launch is at the eastern tip near the canoe-club facilities. Both stretches are calm year-round.

Friday evenings for the Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks (visible from the western lawn). Mornings are quietest for swimming. Sundays bring crowds but the lagoons are big enough to spread out.

Magic Island is at the eastern end of Ala Moana Beach Park, accessible via Ala Moana Boulevard. Free parking in the park lot (fills up Friday evenings and weekends). Bus routes 8, 19, 20, 23, 42 stop at Ala Moana.