I think it's a pretty cool beach to hang around if you are in the area. You get a good view of…read moreWaikiki and Diamond Head. I personally stop by here when I run for a break to chill and watch the waves. Definitely a cool beach to chill. There's a lot of tourists at this location - just a forewarning which is why I don't like to stay too long. Wherever there's tourists I absolutely cannot - but definitely if you happen to be in the area and you see it along the way it's worth a moment to stop and enjoy the views.

Nice to see the monk seals. At least they moved around a bit before the sunset. No rain so just…read morecool trade wind. Glad I found parking. Seals will be here a few weeks.

Had to come back today. Most gorgeous blue ocean water with powder white sand beach…read more Saw a huge sea turtle swimming today. Don't let the clouds and rain scare you. The sun comes out. Rain comes back. It's still worth coming.

Lanikai Beach: A Little Slice of Paradise Worth Protecting!…read more BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Lanikai Beach is, without question, one of the most beautiful beaches on Oʻahu. Bar none! With powdery white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, swaying palms, and breathtaking views of the iconic Mokulua Islands, it's everything you imagine a Hawaiian paradise should be. However, parking is extremely limited, access can be challenging, and this peaceful residential neighborhood deserves visitors who arrive with plenty of aloha and respect. The Details: I'm almost hesitant to write this review because Lanikai is one of those special places you wish could remain a well-kept secret! Having lived just down the street in Kailua for years, returning here today was especially nostalgic. Some places change dramatically over time, but the natural beauty of Lanikai Beach remains extraordinary. The Beach & Those Incredible Views...! The scenery is simply spectacular! Soft, golden-white sand meets impossibly beautiful shades of turquoise and light blue water. Palm trees sway overhead, tropical flowers brighten the surrounding neighborhood, and the Pacific Ocean stretches toward the horizon. And then there are the two little islands offshore! Known affectionately as "The Mokes," Moku Nui and Moku Iki are among the most recognizable landmarks on Oʻahu's Windward Coast. Their distinctive silhouettes rising from the ocean make this beach especially photogenic. Honestly, it's difficult to take a bad picture here! A Little Kailua Nostalgia: Seeing the Mokulua Islands again reminded me of a wonderful piece of local artwork from years ago. There was once a legendary Kailua deli called Doug's Gee a Deli that featured a particularly clever painting of these islands. The artist had imagined a beautiful mermaid reclining beneath the ocean's surface, her long hair and arms flowing with the tides and currents. Her upper body rose above the water to form Moku Nui, while the bend in her body created Moku Iki. I always thought that was such a wonderfully imaginative interpretation of these familiar landmarks! It reminded me of another clever Hawaiian island illustration depicting Chinaman's Hat (Mokoliʻi) as the hat of a man sleeping beneath the ocean, with a rice bowl resting in his lap. Those little pieces of local creativity have stayed with me all these years. Funny how returning to a familiar place can bring back such vivid memories! Parking & Access: Please Respect the Neighborhood...! Now for the less glamorous reality. Lanikai is a relatively small beach with limited public access paths, and finding legal parking can be an exercise in patience! Unlike larger tourist beaches, Lanikai sits within a quiet residential neighborhood. There are no sprawling beachfront parking lots waiting to accommodate visitors. The sandy access paths wind between private homes, opening onto the beach almost like little secret passageways. If you decide to visit, please be mindful that people actually live here! Park legally, don't block driveways or accessways, keep noise down, take your trash with you, and respect private property. A little consideration goes a long way toward preserving the peaceful atmosphere that makes Lanikai so special. Final Thoughts: For me, Lanikai Beach is more than another beautiful Hawaiian destination. It's a place filled with memories of the years I spent living in Kailua, and returning reminded me just how fortunate I was to have this extraordinary coastline practically in my backyard. If you're visiting Oʻahu, I absolutely recommend experiencing Lanikai at least once. Just remember that paradise is also somebody's neighborhood...! Bring your camera, your patience, and most importantly, your aloha spirit. Leave nothing behind but footprints! Aloha!

This was one of my favorite spots in Hawaii. 3 different couples were taking wedding photos when i…read morewas there so it definitely has great scenery from the lookout as well down on the beach. It's more of a quick stop rather then a ling beach stay due to the rough currents. There is a small parking lot, but everyone is in and out

With the famous blowhole behind, this is the famous cove used in many movies and TV shows. This is…read morea gorgeous spot to enjoy the scenery and think about the celebrities who have visited! Hey, you can join their ranks! I opted to not join the crowd, so my face is not in the photo.

Such a beautiful place. I love it because it's calm and quiet. It's connected to the Ala Moana…read morebeach park so there is tons of green grass and shaded trees. They also have tables for BBQ stuff. The view is beautiful. I loved swimming in the lagoon because the water feels nice and the water is blue. It's perfect for families. It's easy to get to because there is a parking lot. Bathrooms and rinse off station is easy to access too. I will definitely be coming back.

Had a one year old BD Party to attend today at picnic area 38. First time at the park in several…read moreyears. I was impressed. First, there are signs (tiny but they are there - larger would be nice) of each picnic area! That's in both the regular park side and Magic Island. Grass was nicely mowed. Park was clean. However only one bathroom was working so docked a star for that. Shower area was clean, bathroom that was working was clean enough and had toilet paper. As I exited, maintenance staff came to clean it. Got to view the lagoon, the Magic Island area, and as we drove away, the other main park, which was just as nice and neat and clean.

If you haven't made a visit yet to Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, do it asap because this is a once in a…read morelifetime experience. I had the hesitation to book it due to the fact my son is on the spectrum and wasn't sure how he was going to react during the experience. Took the chance and made a reservation through Hawaii Ocean Sports. They took us on a boat to access the beautiful Sandbar. It's nestled in the middle of the ocean 3 miles stretch of sand. Unfortunately, we ended up doing the afternoon tour where high tides took place water level up to our necks. During our ride there, we were served lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich, fruits, and a cookie. Very filling as we were on to our destination while we listened to live music entertaining us along the way. Snacks, towels, drinks, and a bar are available for additional cost. As we approached the Sandbar, we were required to do a brief safety class before heading into the beautiful water. My kids and I were surprised how magnificent the Sandbar was. Definitely a true paradise where our dreams came true. I didn't think I would ever experience this kind of beauty. My son and I were terrified at first as we entered the water, but our life jackets saved us as we were floating. Lots of activities offered which are part of the package including SUP, kayaking, volleyball, snorkeling, or relaxing at the dock while sipping on drinks. We mainly enjoyed ourselves floating in the ocean. The current did get a little rough as it started to pour rain right before heading back to the marina. One advice is to head out early onto the boat before everyone does because the changing and bathrooms can get wet with dirty grounds. Music was blasting with great hits as we ended the day. Made my son and I stand up desiring to dance. Truly this is an unforgettable magical experience. You bet I will make a reservation again when we return to Oahu next year!

Beautiful place make sure you have enough information about the tides and how high the water is at…read morethe Sandbar Island. Kaneohe Bay Ocean Spots took us there. People who work there have great souls and with them this adventure was great even though the water was high.

I love this spot!…read more Pretty secluded, not crowded at all. It's pretty shallow and an OK spot for snorkeling. Went here for an underwater photography workshop and a couple of times for class. There's a ton of cool critters in this area, ya just gotta look closely. (; Also, it's beautiful, what more can you ask for?

Absolutely beautiful! Pros: away from tourists.. very clean…read morewater and quiet.. Cons: parking and rocky..

The waves are kind of violent and scary when they take up the whole shoreline, but I appreciate how…read morethis is not crowded by tourists if you go on a weekday. I don't like being surrounded by tons of people out here when I want to enjoy nature while I'm resting on a run. Was running for my life since I thought those waves were going to wash me away. Do keep that in mind when you go here LOL. The sand was kinda rocky with coral so if you go barefoot just be careful. I appreciate how this beach feels sorta-kinda private. Definitely out of the way.

Such an amazing little sneaky spot that my friend took me too, to enjoy a Poké bowl and a quick tip…read morein the ocean. This place, definitely feels like a local hangouts, but during our visit, it was relatively busy. Depending on the time of day, the water could be all the way up to the seawall or out enough for ample beach lounging and tide pool exploring. There's a great little spot near the cove for swimming, but it is a little treacherous getting there. Watch your step on the slippery algae covered rocks. Beyond that, have fun, respect the ocean, and whatever you bring with you make sure it comes back with you. Mahalo!

This beach has been on our Oahu "to try" list, but we somehow always ended up in Lanikai and Kailua…read morewhen on the eastern side. Waimanolo is a bit further south from Lanikai and is every bit as gorgeous and even more secluded!! Same dreamy waters, blue skies, low hanging clouds, and soft sands.... Without the chaotic parking and with less crowds. It was pretty easy for us to find street parking here and it really felt like the entire beach was ours.

Waimanalo Beach is a stunning beach on the eastern shoreline of the island of Oahu…read more It is not too far from Waikiki and the drive here is absolutely beautiful. It is also far enough that there aren't many tourists, and there's plenty of parking and even a small playground for kids. However the bathrooms at this beach seem to be under renovation and are not the best, so just beware. I highly recommend coming prepared with chairs and snacks, since there's not much around this area. Also, the waves here can get very rough which is not ideal for small children so beware of that. However, we had an amazing time building sand castles and just playing with the sand. I recommend coming here just for a few hours and then moving to another beach.

This is a nice stretch of beach for walking with companions (human and/or canine) or relaxing with…read morea book. I think this area of the ocean may be for stronger swimmers; it looks like the bottom is of wading height until further out toward the ocean. There are no lifeguard posts and the waves can get pretty choppy on windy days. We see more kiteboarders/kitesurfers than swimmers. This is perfect for folks who wish to get fresh air but away from crowds, esp during covid time. We also always see people fishing, maybe next time I'll ask what for! If you walk far enough (which isn't very far) you will reach Waialae Beach Park where you can take care of business! There are security cameras on the bathroom buildings. There are shower areas inside and outside and the water pressure is quite strong. I was told there is toilet paper too! Beach access is via several points along Kahala Avenue, where you can also find plentiful parking. Alternatively, I suppose you could park at Waialae Beach Park. #40

Peaceful and secluded. Definitely not the prettiest beach in the world, but in a place where the…read morecrowds seem to take over pretty much everything, it's nice to find some solace in the sand. And the reason why it's so peaceful?! It's tucked behind a residential neighborhood. Parking is on the street only and there's not much of it. So, it'll be a short journey to get there, but this is what also deters the big crowds. The sand isn't the softest and the views aren't amazing, but the sunsets are pretty and the water feels good. There are no facilities here either (except for one large garbage can near one of the entrances). You gotta pack it in, pack it out, and use the restroom before you go unless you're a local who lives in the area. Had a little picnic here and it was really enjoyable. The few people that I come in contact with were really friendly. Most of them were walking their dogs on the beach, so I feel like this is the local dog beach in town. There's a nice breeze on this side, so it's a great beach to come to when that hawt Hawaii heat attacks. It's also really clean. If you're looking to escape the crowds and don't mind a longer trek, Hunakai Beach will do you right.

Nice low key spot when it's not overcrowded and before the tide comes . I use to go here years ago…read moreand loved chillin here with a cooler and friends.. it's still fun but gets very busy. You'll see turtles here a lot too if you go often :)

Beautiful beach! This beach park is small and peaceful. There's a nice shaded grass area with trees…read moreright before you take the stairs down to the beach. It was all 20s-30s adults when I went which was perfect (for me lol, not a fan of kids running around and screaming). The waves were nice and easy to swim in. Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is that it's super shallow and the initial shoreline is very rocky, so it's easy to kick the rocks and scrape your feet accidentally if you're treading water. I'll definitely consider coming by again if I'm in Oahu.