Fort DeRussy

There are five Fort DeRussy locations in the United States, but let’s look at Fort DeRussy Hawaii, located at the west end of Waikiki Beach near the Hale Koa Hotel. This Fort DeRussy, named after General René Edward De Russy (1789–1865), is home to one of Honolulu’s most beautiful public beachside sanctuaries, Fort DeRussy Beach Park. For the benefit of Honolulu residents, military and civilian visitors, Fort DeRussy officially became a designated Armed Forces Recreation Area in 1950.

Today, the public is free to enjoy this Waikiki oasis, where coconut palms and monkeypod trees provide shade to low, grassy hills, picnic benches, volleyball courts, exercise areas and public grills. In addition to the well-maintained greenscape, Fort DeRussy is also home to the US Army Museum of Hawaii, located in Shore Battery Randolph.

History

Built in the early 1900s to protect Honolulu and Pearl Harbor from attack, Fort DeRussy featured large cannons in two battery locations within the fort. Years later, the cannons were replaced with antiaircraft guns. In 1950, most of the fort’s guns were retired, and the Coastal Artillery was officially disbanded by the US Army on June 28 of that same year.

• Location: 2161 Kalia Road, Waikiki, Oahu
• Amenities: Public grills, exercise areas, lifeguards, ocean activities rentals available, paid parking nearby, free museum admission (Tuesday – Saturday).
• Insider Tip: Big family party but not outdoor grill to host a BBQ outing? Head to Fort DeRussy Park in the morning and snag a public grill. You’ll have it for the rest of the day, and your family will enjoy lounging in the shade of palm trees in between dips in the ocean.
• Fun Fact: Sometime after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Army fired the 14-inch guns at Shore Battery Randolph during a practice test. Hotel windows in the nearby Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider shattered. The guns were never fired again.
• What To Expect: Active outdoors activities like volleyball, jogging, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding. Tourists and locals enjoy the grassy areas as well as the beach. Military servicemen and women at the nearby Hale Koa Hotel, a military-only hotel.