Honolulu Parks and Beaches are free and offer many opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities from water sports to picnics to any kind of sport you can play on grass or sand.
Ala Moana Beach and Park is across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center and the Ward Center. Find paved walking paths, tennis courts, picnic tables, a huge park and a long sandy beach. The free parking gets crowded on the weekend during the summer but you can always find a spot on the beach or park because there is so much room!
Magic Island is really a peninsula, not an island, right next to Ala Moana. There is a protected lagoon at the end with its own small beach that's great for kids.
Fort DeRussy Beach Park is next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village and is where you will find the US Army Museum and Fort DeRussy Chapel. It also has tennis courts, handball courts, a fitness course, volleyball and picnic tables and barbeques.
Kakaaako Waterfront Park is a smaller park with no sandy beach but it does have great views of the ocean and of the city. Located next to the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, it's the perfect spot for a family picnic. Also a good fishing spot for the locals.