Living in Hawaii has been amazing for us as a family. We’ve been really enjoying having fun beach adventures here. I previously shared about our awesome swimming hole days when we lived in the Austin, TX area. And now I’m sharing about having a fabulous active beach day out at Kailua beach.
There’s so much you can do at Kailua Beach. The beach itself is great. On windy days, my husband loves to go kiteboarding. On light wind days, you can go for a swim, and we love to go kayaking.
Thanks to CaliCase for sponsoring this adventure.
Fabulous Kailua Adventure Kayaking to Flat Island
Off the Kailua beach coastline, there is a tiny island called Popoia, typically referred to as Flat Island. The island is nearly 4 acres in size and is a bird sanctuary. Most of the island is roped off, but you can walk around the coast. The kayak ride from Kailua beach typically takes 30 minutes (it’s between 1/4 and 1/2 mile to Flat Island depending on where you start).
When you get to the island, you can pull your kayak up on the small beach, and have a little adventure right on Flat Island. The view from Flat Island to the Kailua beach and Lanikai beach shores is lovely, and it is magical to see the mountains in the distance.
You can bring a snack if you like – sometimes we bring brunch and eat on the rocks. That appeases our child for sure. Just remember to take your trash with you!
You can go for a walk around the island, it’s about a 1/4 mile. Definitely bring ocean shoes as the ground is pokey at times, and watch your step! It’s fun to explore and see the little coves and crabs!
It is always magical when we paddle past a sea turtle poking its head out to give us a wink. Honu are magnificent creatures.
Here’s what we used to have a fabulous day kayaking around Flat Island.
An Inflatable Kayak
You can use a rigid kayak if you have one, or get one from a rental nearby. We decided to get an inflatable kayak because it is easier to bring it with us. Since my car doesn’t have a roof rack, it would be difficult for us to bring a rigid kayak on beach trips. So we got this sturdy inflatable kayak.
Don’t forget to get your life vests for the kiddos!
Dry Bag and Cell Phone Waterproof Case
Super, super important to keep your items safe from water. We like to bring water, snacks, our phones, car keys, extra sunscreen, etc, so we bring a dry bag filled with the things we need, and attach it to the kayak. Then we can grab what we need when we’re out on Flat Island.
CaliCase sent us some of their great waterproof pouches that you can use for cellphones, camera, keys, money, etc.
CaliCase is a floating waterproof pouch and is IPX8 certified for up to 100 feet underwater. You can even use your phone to take photos and video underwater while inside the CaliCase The dual padded layering provides additional protection from drops. It comes with a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck.
Whether you’re enjoying a family beach day or taking a video while scuba diving the great barrier reef, CaliCase is for anyone who wants to enjoy some fun outside near the water while keeping their phone protected.
Having your camera device readily available while out kayaking is great to capture the lovely scenery or get that “pics or it didn’t happen” flex if you happen to see a lovely sea turtle and get a chance to capture it!
Snacks and Drinks
An active day requires fuel for the body. We love getting some food and drinks from Kalapawai Market, right before the entrance to the Kailua Beach parking lot! You can’t miss it, a large green building on the corner of Kailua Rd. They have a great little deli, a full shop, and even a coffee shop.
Don’t forget to bring lots of water, and a sustainable reusable water bottle is always preferred.
Oh, here’s a pic where you can see Flat Island in the background. It definitely lives up to the nickname.
Of course, you can’t forget to have some beach lounging time, too. Getting to swim around and chase my 6-year-old around the beach is always a family favorite. By the way, my son took this photo of me. Raising him to be my little helper.
Next time we Kayak in Kailua and around Flat Island, we’re going to paddle to Lanikai Beach too!
What’s your favorite thing to do at Kailua beach?
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