Goat Island, also known as Mokuauia Island, is located just offshore in the extreme northeastern part of Oahu, near the town of Laie. This 18-acre island, about a quarter mile across from one extreme to the other, is a bird sanctuary. Because of its remote location and the effort required to reach it, it is something of a naturist sanctuary as well, although you are not likely to encounter crowds.

Getting to the island requires crossing a stretch of water that is three to four feet deep in most places. That stretch is about 750 feet across, and the crossing should be avoided at high tide or any time the surf is rough, and remember that tides are higher in Hawaii during winter. Some visitors paddle across on bodyboards or surfboards. It is also possible to wade across, but do NOT attempt to wade barefoot since you will be crossing a coral reef. You should bring drinking water since there is nothing at all on the island, and it is also a good idea to bring along some sort of flotation device to assist you along the crossing, but other that that you will want to take as little as possible.

There are three beaches on the small island. When you reach the island, take note of the blue welcome sign. Two of the beaches are on the south shore of the island and are reached by walking to the right from the welcome sign. The third beach, located on the north shore, is reached by walking left. The beach on the north shore is a crescent about 700 feet long, and it is generally considered the best of the three. Any nude bathers on the island are most likely to be there, toward the far end.

Goat Island is lightly visited, but weekdays are the surest bet for enjoying the beach in the nude, when you may have the beach to yourself. Locals may visit the island on weekends and holidays and are not amicable toward naked people, so don't disrobe within sight of textiles. (This is a very conservative, Mormon-influenced area. There is a Mormon Temple as well as a branch of Brigham Young University in Laie.) There do not seem to be police patrols of the island. Wandering through the interior of the island is prohibited since it is a protected nesting area, so stay toward the perimeter.

Goat Island is completely undeveloped. If you generate any garbage while you are there, be sure to pack it out when you leave. The mainland beach at Malaekahana State Recreation Area (where you park) has restrooms, showers and picnic tables. It is not a bad idea to check the tide table in local newspapers, or check the tide predictions at the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Furthermore, Goat Island may be closed at times due to hatching. To verify that it is open, call the Oahu district office of the Hawaii State Park System at (808) 587-0300.

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GPS: 21.6630N, 157.9233W

city, island, state, country  Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

classification  3 (discretion recommended)

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