With 227 miles of shoreline, there is absolutely no shortage of beautiful beaches on the island of Oahu. From cute little lagoons, idyllic tree-lined beaches, to shores with thundering waves, Oahu has it all. Get to know some of my family's favorite beaches before you make your very own trip. I guarantee you, you'll want to see it all for yourself!
I've organized the beaches into 4 different areas of the island to make planning your trip easier.
South Shore Oahu
The South Shore is home to Oahu's tourism epicenter, making the beaches in this area heavily trafficked by visitors every year. These beaches are hardly quiet, so expect lots of energy and people watching here!
Waikiki Beach
If Oahu is the most visited Hawaiian island, then Waikiki is the busiest beach. The streets adjacent to this beach are filled with hotels, shops, restaurants and everything you'll need for a fun-filled day. Park at the Honolulu Zoo (for free) and walk the shoreline to get a feel of the frenetic beach vibe. This beach is family friendly and the area closest to the Honolulu Zoo is calm with a rock wall barrier, perfect for the littlest family member to enjoy.
[Tip: Do a walking tour of this area in just under 30 minutes. Start at the Honolulu Zoo, down the shoreline towards the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. There is a pathway from the beach that leads to the Royal Hawaiian Center. From there, take Kalakaua Avenue back towards where you parked to get a feel of the shops and restaurants along the way.]
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Hanauma Bay is another popular destination in the South Shore. The view down into the bay reveal layers of blue that blanket a rich marine and coral reef ecosystem. You'll see lots of fish even without even trying to search for them. Due to over tourism of the beach, the State of Hawaii has enforced conservation efforts by limiting the number of visitors through an advanced ticketing system [learn more here]. Therefore, to get the most from your visit, plan to get here in the morning.
Halona Beach Cove
Interestingly, this beautiful, somewhat hidden, beach, is also known by a lesser pretty name: Cockroach Cove Beach. Nobody knows why it is named so, but I'll let you this, it is strikingly beautiful. Nowadays, people also refer to it as Eternity Beach, so whatever name you choose to call it, this beach is a must see. The shoreline in this area is rocky and the waves are very strong, so only swim this beach when it is calm. You can also access the Halona Blowhole viewing area from the same parking lot. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!
Other South Shore Beaches
Sandy Beach - Not ideal for swimming and young kids due to the strong waves but a great spot to watch surfers outside of North Shore.
Makapu'u Tidepools - Requires a hike down on uneven rocky surface to a tide pool with lots of sea creatures. Be aware of the waves and slippery conditions.
Windward Oahu
The windward side, or the east side of the island, is home to some of the island's most beautiful beaches. This area is actually my family's favorite. The waters are insanely blue, the sand ever so soft, and the waves are generally very gentle, making it perfect for families with little ones. There is more breeze on these beaches, hence the name windward, so you'll see lots of windsurfers as well. I also find the beaches here more relaxing and quieter too, especially on the weekdays.
Kailua Beach
A vote taken from our household reveals we unanimously love this beach! It is our most favorite of all the beaches we have visited on Oahu. The beach access is just a short walk from the parking lot before you reach the inviting water. It is backed by a scattering of trees, which provide just the right amount of shade when you need it. The waves are usually gentle and it isn't too deep. Pack yourself a lunch and enjoy a long relaxing day or if you're adventurous, you can rent some gear and kayak to Popoia Island, or Flat Island, a bird sanctuary that's just a quarter mile away.
[Tip: To access the parking lot for Kailua Beach, make sure you get onto Kailua Road until it ends into the parking lot. Many people see the parking lot while on Lihiwai Road and then think they can enter, but that is a one way exit for the parking lot.]
Sherwood Beach
This beach goes by many names such as Waimanalo Bay Beach Park and Sherwood Forest, but regardless of what it's called, you'll agree, it's just magical. There is a pretty decent parking lot (and showers) and a short hike through the forest where you'll see a few campers. Once you make it through the trees, you are rewarded with a magnificent view of the beach, lined with beautiful trees, and anchored by a view of the island's south tip off in the distance. If you take a stroll north, you'll find a small outcropping of rocks along the shoreline where little black crabs play hide and seek with the waves. My boys spent a lot of time by these rocks just observing the crab and we watched a local fisherman reel in a fish as well as an early morning wedding!
[Beware: When we went in early July, there were quite a bit of man-o-war jellyfish floating around and their sting is painful for the kids (more tolerable for me, but maybe because I have a higher pain tolerance, my eldest cried for 10 minutes). They're easy to identify once you know what they look like, so just be careful.]
Lanikai Beach
Another beautiful gem of the windward side of Oahu, Lanikai beach does not disappoint with its blue waters and soft sand. We ended up here only accidentally as the road to get to the Kailua Beach parking lot was obstructed from construction. We were trapped in the surrounding neighborhood and almost abandoned all hope of getting to any beach on the windward side that day until a car pulled out of its parking spot right in front of us. The day was saved! The traffic into this residential area and the challenge of finding parking makes this beach less desirable for me especially since Kailua is next door and offers the same beach experience but with more accessibility.
[Tip: Start your day with the Lanikai Pillbox hike, which offers amazing views of the shore from above, and then reward yourself with a swim at Lanikai Beach.]
North Shore
Can a place be wild and chill at the same time? If so, that's Oahu's North Shore. Famous for its huge crashing waves, and subsequent surf culture, North Shore also has a more laid back vibe. There is no shortage of activities to do on the North Shore and each beach has a personality of its own.
Shark's Cove
You'll get some of the best snorkeling at Shark's Cove and it is full of surprises in every nook. On the left is a more shallow area great for little kids with the assistance of parents. There was just so much to discover if you take your time to look in the crevices. Past the showers on the right, you'll take a walkway down to the deeper snorkeling area (pictured below). It is rocky, so be careful, but once you enter the water, it was teeming with schools of colorful fish. On my husband's first few minutes in the water, he immediately saw a sea turtle just hanging out down below. If you swim further towards the open water, you'll see even more bright-colored fish. Our little family easily spent the entire day here, walking across the street to grab food, snacks, and ice cream at the Foodland, or there's also an entire outdoor eating area with food trucks next door. This is a popular spot, so try to arrive by 10am for access to the street parking or small lot in front of the showers.
Waimea Bay Beach
If you're looking for the largest waves in Oahu, you're sure to find it at Waimea Bay Beach. During November through February, waves can reach up to 30 feet high here, making it a prime spot for surfing competitions. During the summer months, the waves are not as wild, but I can tell you, they are still quite strong compared to south shore or the windward side. Keep a close eye on your kids, but they'll still have fun chasing these crashing waves. There is a parking lot that can fill up fast and there is a small trek to reach the shore.
[Tip: Make a visit to Waimea Valley for some hiking and waterfall adventure, then finish your day with a dip at Waimea Bay Beach.]
Laniakea Beach
If you're looking to spot the sacred honu (sea turtles), chances are you'll see them at Laniakea Beach. My littlest is obsessed with sea turtles, so when planning our trip, I thoroughly researched the likeliest beach to spot them. It paid off and we were thrilled to have met the sea turtle named Ocean Flower (yes, they do know each and every sea turtle that frequents this beach and have information placards on them too). Ocean Flower was sun bathing on the shore and by the time we got back in our car and drove past, we saw her slowly making her way back in the water. Volunteers will usually have a roped-off area to give the turtle space, but also, it is illegal to touch the sacred honu, so please be respectful.
Other North Shore Beaches
Banzai Pipeline - You're probably not going to swim in it, but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy watching the wild waves, or watch the surfers take them on.
Sunset Beach Park - The waves are strong here and it is another surf competition spot. As the name preludes, this is a perfect spot to catch the sunset. Ted's Bakery is close, so grab a pie and enjoy the views.
Kawela Bay Beach Park - The beauty of this quiet beach is the journey through the banyan trees to reach the beach. I wish I had time to check this one out because the pictures I've seen of the banyan trees look so beautiful! Bonus: people report lots of sea turtle sightings here!
Leeward Coast
The Leeward Coast is by far the least visited area of the island, save for the Ko'Olina area, primarily because the tourism isn't as developed on this side and the road sort of dead ends there, leaving it a bit isolated. However, that doesn't mean there aren't any beautiful beaches!
Makua Beach
This secluded little beach off the main Farrington Highway was such a beautiful gem. It is flanked by forested mountains and a rocky shore and an easy walk to get to. Hardly anyone was there when we visited, making it that more serene. There were pockets of water trapped in the rocky areas, making it fun for my boys to explore, however, the waves can be strong, so just keep an eye on your kids.
Ko'Olina Lagoons
The four Ko'Olina Lagoons are beautiful man-made little coves that are perfect for families. Though they are private properties and sit in front of different resorts, it is accessible to the public via a beautiful paved walkway that connects them. We stayed at Disney Aulani on one of our trips and Lagoon 1 (which faces the resort) is by far the largest and most visited, but I thought Lagoon 2 was so much nicer, quieter, and more interesting because you can snorkel near the rock wall and see tons of fish. There's a small park in between Lagoon 1 and 2 that you can walk to in order to view the sunset. You can easily visit all four lagoons in one trip!
Paradise Cove
North of the Ko'Olina Lagoons, this public beach is frequented by sea turtle so you'll have a good chance to spotting them while snorkeling! My husband ventured over here one day and saw turtles as soon as he got in, but when we came back on our last day, I was not as lucky. This beach is perfect to pair with Ko'Olina Lagoons or Paradise Cove Luau.
Other Leeward Coast Beaches
Electric Beach - This popular snorkeling spot is a local favorite but also perfect if you want to avoid the busy Hanauma Bay.
Nanakuli Beach Park - This is one of the best beaches on the leeward coast with beautiful soft sand and mesmerizing sunsets. It can be deep with big waves, so watch out for your littles. If you're adventurous, make a visit to Mermaid Caves, known to the locals as 'The Tunnels'.
So there you have it, the best beaches in Oahu to satisfy every vibe and adventure you want to achieve on your vacation! I hope you get to visit a lot of these beaches to see for yourself how amazing Oahu is. Happy planning!
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