Best Beaches on Oahu
Overview
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Overview 〰️
Sunset at Waikiki Beach
The island of Oahu has plenty of beaches whether you’re looking to swim, snorkel, or surf! From the white sand and turquoise water of the Windward side to the renowned winter surf of the North Shore, each beach has something unique to offer! Here are 10 of the best beaches you must visit while you’re on the island!
Hanauma Bay
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Hanauma Bay 〰️
Hanauma Bay, Honolulu
This beach is perfect for snorkeling!
The Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve is the perfect place to snorkel, especially for families and beginners. It has an abundance of marine life, including Hawaii’s state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a! Since it is a nature reserve, reservations are required for all non-Hawaii residents and can easily be made online.
Waimanalo Beach
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Waimanalo Beach 〰️
Waimanalo Beach, Waimanalo
This beach is perfect for swimming and relaxing on the sand!
Waimanalo Beach is definitely one of my favorite beaches on the island and if I had to choose only one to visit, this would be the one! Located on the Windward side of the island (the East Coast), Waimanalo is the longest stretch of beach on the entire island with 5.5 miles of uninterrupted white, powdery sand. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds of Waikiki and want a serene and relaxing beach experience, this is the perfect place for you. The water is a beautiful shade of turquoise blue and there is plenty of shade thanks to the number of ironwood trees lined up along the beach. Please be sure to look out for warning signs regarding high surf and Portuguese Man O’ War before you get into the water!
Lanikai Beach
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Lanikai Beach 〰️
Lanikai Beach, Kailua
This beach is perfect for swimming and snorkeling!
Lanikai Beach is often regarded as one of the best beaches in the world and I can definitely see why! Located on the Windward side like Waimanalo, Lanikai has crystal-clear turquoise water with calm waves, making it perfect for swimming. There is also a lot of coral, so you’re able to snorkel as well. One thing to note is that there is no designated parking lot, so you will either park on the street or at the parking lot of the nearby Kailua Beach Boat Ramp, which is around a 15 minute walk away. The beach is also fairly small, especially compared to Waimanalo, so it can feel a bit crowded later in the day. There are also no restrooms, lifeguards, or facilities. Nonetheless, Lanikai Beach is one of the most picturesque and relaxing beaches on the island!
Kailua Beach
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Kailua Beach 〰️
Kailua Beach, Kailua
This beach is perfect for swimming and relaxing on the sand!
Located right by Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach offers stunning white sand and turquoise water with plenty of shade to relax in! Unlike Lanikai, Kailua Beach has lifeguards on duty, restrooms, and plenty of parking, so I consider it to be a lot more family-friendly and accessible. While it doesn’t have as much of a secluded vibe as Lanikai does and is not nearly as expansive as Waimanalo, Kailua Beach offers the best of both worlds, which makes it one of the best beaches on the island!
Ehukai Beach
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Ehukai Beach 〰️
Ekuhai Beach, Pupukea
In the winter, this beach is perfect for professional surfing and watching the waves! In the summer, this beach is perfect for swimming!
Located on the North Shore, Ehukai Beach is home to the Banzai Pipeline, which is a surf reef break renowned for its barreling waves. Professional surfers from all over the world come to this very beach to surf! Visitors can also admire the waves and surfers from the sand. While Ehukai Beach and the North Shore is famous for surfing in the winter, the water becomes incredibly calm in the summer, making it perfect for swimming.
Waimea Bay
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Waimea Bay 〰️
Waimea Bay, Haleiwa
In the winter, this beach is perfect for professional surfing and watching the waves! In the summer, this beach is perfect for swimming and cliff jumping!
A few miles south of Ehukai Beach is Waimea Bay, a wide, crescent-shaped beach with golden sand and turquoise water. Being on the North Shore, Waimea Bay is also home to enormous waves in the winter and calm surf in the summer. The beach is also home to a rock that is perfect for cliff jumping.
Laniakea Beach
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Laniakea Beach 〰️
Laniakea Beach, Haleiwa
This beach is perfect for watching sea turtles!
While Laniakea Beach is not very ideal for swimming, what makes it unique is its sea turtles! Although sightings are not guaranteed, this beach remains one of the best places to spot turtles on the island, whether they are swimming in the water or chilling on the sand. Something to note is that the peak season for turtle activity is summer, so you will have a better chance at spotting the turtles that time of year. Please remember to stay at least 10 feet away and never touch or feed them!
Ko Olina Lagoons
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Ko Olina Lagoons 〰️
Ko Olina Lagoons, Ko Olina
This beach is perfect for swimming!
Ko Olina is a master-planned vacation and residential community on the Leeward side of the island (the West Coast). It is home to renowned luxury resorts like the Four Seasons Oahu and Disney’s Aulani, which are shown in the photo above. There are four man-made lagoons, offering calm waters that are perfect for families and young children! For those who are not staying at one of the resorts at Ko Olina, there is a public parking lot at Lagoon 4.
Ala Moana Beach
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Ala Moana Beach 〰️
Ala Moana Beach, Honolulu
This beach is perfect for swimming!
Ala Moana Beach is popular with both tourists and locals alike, and is conveniently located right outside of Waikiki. The waves are calm for swimming and there is plenty of space on the sand to relax. If you’re in Honolulu and are looking for a relaxing beach with fewer crowds than Waikiki, this is the place to be!
Waikiki Beach
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Waikiki Beach 〰️
Waikiki Beach, Honolulu
This beach is perfect for swimming and surfing for beginners!
The last beach on this list is none other than Waikiki Beach. Although it is incredibly touristy and crowded, it is popular for a reason and a must-visit for anyone visiting the island! The views of Diamond Head are truly breathtaking and the surf is perfect for beginners. I recommend going early in the morning for fewer crowds and calm, shallow waters. Sunset is also an amazing time to visit as shown in the photo above. Relaxing in the water while admiring the sunset is something that cannot be beat!
