In the photo:
- The foreground/lower part shows the beautiful turquoise ocean, a sandy beach cove, and the green park area of Magic Island with its small lagoon-like beach.
- To the right you can see the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor (the marina full of boats).
- Behind that is the dense urban skyline of Honolulu, with high-rises, parks, and the city stretching back toward the green Koʻolau Mountains in the background.
Where I live in reference to the beach:
I’m in a super beach-accessible spot right in the heart of Honolulu’s south shore. Magic Island / Ala Moana Beach is literally one of the most popular local beaches for walking, jogging, and getting those daily 10k steps — it’s flat, scenic, has paths along the water, and connects easily to Ala Moana Beach Park and even toward Waikiki.
Living here means the beach is basically your backyard or a very short walk/drive away. No long commutes to sand and ocean — perfect for turning last year’s “walk every day” resolution into a habit you can actually stick with year-round in paradise.
Tying it to this year’s “recon to Spain” — this kind of daily beach walk in Hawaii is great training (scenery + consistent steps) for when you head to Spain. Whether you’re prepping for coastal walks in Barcelona, beach promenades in the south, or Camino-style hiking, you’re already building the routine in one of the most beautiful urban-beach settings possible.