Pililaau Army Beach

This place is amazing. It's beautiful n nice n quiet. Beach is very clean.Left side is mostly sand bottom, perfect for swimming and the right side is great for surfing n bodyboarding over a beautiful reef.All with a lifeguard on duty. They have a bar with live music at times too along with a restaurant with great food n appetizers.

This place is amazing like a hidden gem from our recreational defense department facilities do the check IDs and have access controls at the century check out points so if you are a civilian, I don't think you were able to get onto the space but I was able to enjoy the beach as I was sponsored by a card member and this place is like a hidden gem that many foot traffic not many people the beaches are nice and blue, and the sand are clean and clear of debris. Overall, this Bay Area Is protected by rock walls and inland so there is no significant large waves, which is perfect for the kids that can play in the water that are knee-high. This is the best place for recreational for the kids and also a place for rentals for overnight stay at the cabins. They also have restaurants and bars and an exchange store to purchase food alcohol essentials.

I love this place. You must be military affiliated to rent a cabin (studio, 1bedroom, 2bedroom). They have a couple pans, dish settings for 4, a fridge, stove/oven, microwave, furniture, and tv. The best part is that they have AC in all the rooms. Housekeeping comes in the morning to see if towels are needed. They do not make beds during your stay, as this is not a hotel. When you check out you are expected to clean the kitchen, sweep, and take out your trash. At their discretion you maybe charged $50 cleaning fee. This had never happened to me and I've stayed multiple times, but I do wipe down everything. This is a very relaxing place, not busy with people and quite quiet.

I've never heard of a camping site in Waianae other than the homeless at "Tent City" so I was a little weary when my 6yo received an invitation for a birthday party at Pililaau Army Rec Center. But it is a really cute place! The host left parking passes for us with the security guard since we aren't military; I simply told them I was there for a party at Cabin 32, showed my ID, and on we were. Each cabin and their designated parking stalls-which are right in front of the cabins-are clearly marked and easy to find. The party was supposed to be at one of the picnic sites, but the host said "it was ghetto." Instead, the party was held at the BBQ grills and picnic tables right in front of the cabin. The cabins I saw had 2 bedrooms, but from my understanding there are also studio cabins. They don't look like much from the outside but inside they're super cozy and cute with a small living room, kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms. They had uncovered lanais that faced the beach and crystal blue waters which was a mere 100 feet away.If you're military, I highly recommend this place for a fun and easy camping trip! If you're not military....quickly find somebody who is and can sponsor you! I can't wait until my kids get invited back!

After roughly 13 years living in Hawaii AND being a military family member, I never knew this cozy little place existed!! Thanks to my stepdad's coworker turning us on to it, we were able to try it out for ourselves this weekend for a little staycation.I can't tell you how many times I've driven past the turn-off at Army Road in Waianae on my way to Kaena,etc. and never saw it. But seriously, you blink and you miss it. There is a small sign that has an arrow pointing to the left (coming from the east) that says Pililaau Army Recreation Center in blue. You turn left onto Army Road (immediately after Old Government Road), pass a couple of houses and you can already see the little guard shack ahead of you. It is indeed 100% ID check. If you hadn't already guessed, this establishment is for active duty, retired, dependents and DoD employees and their families.Although it's in Waianae, I felt safe because there were plenty of MPs patrolling. If you've ever been to Bellows Air Station, it's just like that only smaller! It has its own little shoppette that has darn near everything you might need from boogie boards to smaller grocery items to beer and alcohol. There's a Tamura's nearby for everything you can't get at the shoppette. I'm not quite sure of this, but I believe all cabins have at least 2 rooms, one bath, a lanai, and are all beachfront. There are about 5 connected to each other, but in a way that's not invasive. Each set is named after each island of Hawai'i. We stayed in Moloka'i.Every cabin has an electric stove and oven, microwave, refrigerator, toaster, and sink. They also supply you with the essentials like plates, utensils, glasses, bowls. They offer a flat screen TV with cable and a telephone. I mean, it was nice and quaint. The sunsets are always beautiful on the west side so after grilling outside on one of the grills provided (as well as picnic table and rinsing shower), we were easily able to walk the 50ft to the beach and watch the sunset.Oh! They also offer SUP and surf board rentals and lessons! We liked it so much, we booked a weekend in August for my mom's birthday. But just like Bellows, be sure to book months in advance as they do fill up quickly!Will I come again? You betcha!Yelp Challenge #14/100

Rest camp? what's rest camp? I'm not homeless! Oh, sorry the podagee came out...Unfortunately, that was my response when someone asked me a looong time ago, if I had ever been to rest camp *blushing*.Pililaau Beach or Rest camp is located on the westside of the Island. I had not been to rest camp while growing up as it was easier going to Pokai Bay..no military I.D. needed. It's weird how a simple rock wall separates Pililaau Beach and Pokai Bay. You can walk straight through to either beach as there aren't any barriers, which is actually a pleasant surprise. We were taught that Pokai Bay was the "ghetto" side and Pililaau the "Hawaii Kai" side, lol!You do need a valid military I.D. to gain access to the parking area and cabins. Well, the driver needs to have the valid military I.D.This beach is one of my favorites here on the westside. All sand, no rocks, parking area is a minute walk to the beach. My family enjoys comes here to launch their kayak canoe (that's what I call it since that's how it looks) and for most to go SUP'ing. Water is clear and clean and so is the sand. Very well maintained. Bring your easy up tent, beach chair and fill your coolers, you'll definitely be staying awhile.For those of you with "white thigh" syndrome or "sun-resistant legs" like me...maybe you should forego the tent. Bring your mat and lay out or get your swim on the water is wonderful!I would have loved to give it 5 stars but parking is a problem. Do not park in the numbered stalls as they are reserved for the cabins. But we are in Hawaii, get creative with your parking while being considerate.Go ahead...sun those legs Hawaii!

Excellent beach with picnic tables and grills. Sandy bottom out past where you have to start swimming. Paddle boards and kayaks available.Military beach cottages available but can be difficult to get into.

The beach is beautiful, it's clear so you can see the bottom. If you go down by the rocks you can see the huma huma fish. You need a military IDto go to this beach. Next to this beach is Pokai bay which is a local beach . It's great for little ones since is very calm. A lot of paddle boarding and kayaking going on around here.

The beach is really nice and the waves are calm for those that dont need the big waves to have fun at the beach. I went around 8 just to check it out and brought my dogs with me. The beach is catered to the the cabins so I parked in a visitor parking spot. I had my dogs on a waist leash and was about to walk down the steps to the beach and was stopped by military police... My dogs weren't barking or being a menace... they were on leash and the manager of the cabins called the cops on me. I wasnt even on the beach yet! I was really perturbed by this. The cop was nice though so it wasnt too bad. Im still not sure why the manager called the cops on me!! The cop did tell me tht the management is very strict there so much so that you even have to reserve a picnic table to use it... I will go back to this beach knowing my every move is being watchd.

BE AWARE DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING ON UR PORCH OVERNIGHT!!!I jus got ripped off at RestCamp Cabins on Tues night...I know I shouldn't leave anything on the porch after I go in but I forgot.... He got my cooler with beer my beachbag was hanging on a chair with my Bluetooth speaker a hat a pk of cigs n my car keys.... Alerted the ofc the next morn wen discovered n OMG the maintenance crew (Creighton n Gabriel TY!!!) found my bag on a picnic table with my car keys in it...tyj as I didn't have a spare!... Stayed up the next night n planted trap bags on the porch n caught the culprit at 239am but by the time the MP's came he got away...u wud think that since they are aware of this happening n tell their guest to not leave anything outside wen they go to sleep they wud up their security! SMH!!!.... Jus Sad cause this is a Beautiful Place with the most Awesome Sunsets!