Oahu Beaches

May 20th, 2004

Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is very crowded, especially on the weekends, but it really is a nice beach. It is long and protected, with clear waters and nice scenery, and is within walking distance of dozens of hotels. The weather is almost perfectly hot with light breezes. The water is calm with occasional small shorebreak. There are areas of decent waves for surfing and surfing lessons. Each far end is much less crowded. The best part is, anything you want to do you can. You can rent boogie boards and water toys right on the beach, you can sign up for an outrigger canoe ride right on the beach, and you can sail on a catamaran from right on the beach. Oh, and the sunsets are amazing.

Ala Moana Beach Park
Ala Moana Beach Park is right next door to Waikiki Beach, and just as nice, if not as protected. It is bordered by a large park with plenty of shade trees and areas for picnicing. There are plenty of surfers and people fishing; the whole beach has a much more local ambiance. There are no rentals or lessons, but there are less crowds.

Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach, just minutes past Honolulu heading East is for experienced surfers only - less experienced water people get their necks broken here. If you don't have the experience necessary, hang out and watch the incredible body surfing and boogie boarding. Beachcombing is excellent at Sandy Beach.

Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is one of the few beaches in the islands you will have to pay to enter (because it is a county-protected nature preserve), but it is worth it. The bay is a collapsed volcanic crater, protected from surf with amazing underwater scenes teeming with fish life. This is a great place to learn to snorkel or scuba. The park is closed on Tuesdays, and the parking area fills up fast, so leave early.

Kailua Beach
Kailua Beach is in Kailua on the East Shore. It is in a residential area that also offers good deals on bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals. The beach is long and white, with normally good swimming conditions. This is one of those places you could hang out all day at, with ample shade and recreation. Close by is Lanikai Beach, which is also a residential beach with fine white sand and clear blueish-green water. Both of these beaches are ideal for kayaking on calm days.

Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is on the North Shore, and home to huge waves where extreme surfing competitions are held in the winter. Swimming and snorkeling are possible in the summer months, and there are small tidepools at some beaches.

West Side Beaches
There are a number of long, dry, beautiful beach parks on the West Shore of Oahu. Very few of them will rent equipment or offer lessons of some sort for visitors. If you are making a trip to the west side, the beach parks will surely draw your eye and invite a stop, but otherwise I wouldn't recommend a special trip unless you've already seen everything else there is to see on Oahu.

One exception to this is the lagoons at the Ko Olina Resort. These have public access so you can visit even if you aren't staying there. Just tell the security guard you are going to the beach. The parking spots fill up quickly, so go early.



The lagoons are perfectly-shaped crescents of hot, white sand with protected water access (they were created when the hotel was built). This is a great place for young children to learn how to play in the ocean, as there are normally no waves or shorebreak to scare them. There are no lifeguards.