Many things make Oʻahu famous, but maybe none are as well-known as the island’s beaches. These are Oʻahu’s most popular and nicest beaches.
Table of Contents
Map of Best Oʻahu Beaches
See the map below for where to find all our favorite beaches on Oʻahu.
Descriptions follow below.
Best Beaches on Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi is famous for its beaches and the activities that go with them, such as surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. These are our favorites on Oʻahu.
Are you also going to the Big Island? Then check out some of our favorite black sand beaches there.
Lanikai Beach
Lanikai Beach is good for swimming, watching the sunrise, sailing, windsurfing, and snorkeling.
Kayakers can paddle out to the two Mokulua Islands just offshore, a state wildlife sanctuary. If you would rather hike, do the Lanikai Pillbox hike and take a dip at Lanikai Beach afterwards.
This beach is right in front of a residential area and the most difficult thing you will encounter in getting there is finding proper parking. Please make sure to follow all parking directions and count on a 5 to 10 minute walk to get from your car to the beach.
The sand at Lanikai is white, and the sea is warm. Sunrise chasers will want to put an early visit to this beach on their list.
Waikīkī Beach
Waikīkī Beach is one of the best-known beaches in the world, and it has been the hub of Hawaiʻi tourism ever since tourism started.
The beach is about two miles of soft white sand, split into several sections and lined with tall palm trees. Many parts of the beach are roped off for swimming and protected by outer reefs, so the waves are gentle and surfing conditions are often good for beginning longboarders.
Some of the most popular sections of Waikīkī Beach are Fort DeRussy Beach, Kūhiō Beach, and Queen Surf Beach. Swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, catamaran, and outrigger canoe trips are all popular beach activities.
Because it is so famous, count on a busy beach. It is a good place to people-watch and to wind down after a day of exploring the things to do in Honolulu. Because Waikīkī is part of Honolulu, we recommend you head out there at the start or end of your day so you can claim you have been to one of the world’s most famous beaches.
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore.
During wintertime the North Shore is famous for the large swell which makes the water unsuitable for swimming, so we recommend coming in summer to swim and in winter to watch the surfers.
During the summer the water is calm, which makes Sunset Beach good for swimming and snorkeling. The water is clear, and the white-sand beach runs between the ocean and the road.
Normally it is pretty easy to find parking close to the beach, but during the big surfing events parking is impossible to find.
Mālaekahana Beach
Mālaekahana Beach is a rare Oʻahu beach that doesn’t get crowded. Go here to recharge and get away from the crowds.
The mile-long white-sand beach is in Mālaekahana Bay on Oʻahu’s northeastern shore, between Kahuku and Lāʻie. When going here we like to relax on the beach to enjoy the sun and perhaps go for a small hike. The main reason to come, though, is the swimming.
Bringing water shoes can be a good idea because the nearshore waters and seabed can be rough. There is also a state campground next to the beach (camping by permit), so if you are looking for a romantic getaway this might be a good option.
Use caution when entering the water in the winter months as there are strong currents and no lifeguards are on duty.
Kahana Bay Beach Park
Kahana Bay, on windward Oʻahu, is surrounded on three sides by the Koʻolau Mountains. The sandy beach is ideal for sunbathing, and the ironwood trees offer ample shelter for a picnic.
An ancient Hawaiian fishpond, called a Huilua, is located on the south end of the bay, where Kahana Stream enters the ocean.
People don’t often swim here because the runoff from the Kahana Stream makes the water a bit murky, but the bay is ideal for sunbathing, fishing and kayaking. You can also find two hiking trails in the park, as well as camping and picnic facilities.
Kailua Beach
Kailua Beach has clear water and powder-like white sand, and Dr. Beach (Stephen Leatherman) ranked it the best beach in the US in 1998 and again in 2019.
It is only one mile away from Lanikai Beach, but in contrast to that beach Kailua beach does feature restrooms, beach showers, and picnic tables on the park grounds. There is also ample parking, and attached to the beach is a 35-acre park with many outdoor sports and recreation opportunities.
You can find many good places to eat and shop close to the beach in Kailua proper. Downtown Kailua for example is only a few minutes from the beach, which is great if you want to pick up a Hawaiian plate lunch or some snacks and beverages to eat on the beach.
Waimea Bay
Like almost all North Shore beaches Waimea Bay has a use for the summer months, and a different one for the winter months.
During summer Waimea Bay is a great beach to go to for swimming, snorkeling, and paddle boarding, because the waves are gentle and the ocean quiet.
During winter months this all changes. Winter storms bring big swell to the North Shore which makes the waves dangerously high and the water murky. Waves can reach 20 to 30 feet, and the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is held at Waimea Bay only when the waves are high enough.
Good to know: across the road from the beach you can find Waimea Valley Botanical Garden, where you can find among other things a swimmable waterfall.
Diamond Head Beach Park (for surfers, not swimmers)
Located within walking distance of Kapiʻolani Park, Diamond Head Beach Park is a little-visited beach park with a jagged, rocky shoreline and a good surf break.
People come here for a walk along the beach or to go surfing. While it is close to Honolulu and Waikīkī Beach, crowds stay away here.
Visitors often add a short stop at this beach to their visit to Diamond Head State Monument. There you can hike to the 760-foot summit of the extinct volcanic crater for a 360-degree view over Honolulu and Waikīkī. Out-of-state visitors need an advance reservation.
Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach is a 1,200-foot long beach made of golden sand and great for surfing or boogie boarding because of the large waves that crash right near the shoreline. While not as quiet as the previous two beaches on our list, this is also not a very busy beach when compared to other Oʻahu beaches.
Located about 10 minutes past Hanauma Bay and 40 minutes from Waikīkī, there luckily are showers and restrooms available at the beach.
Because of the large crashing waves we mention above this is not a good beach to go swimming, but a good one for people-watching. Especially people that are playing in the water bodysurfing or on their bodyboard.
Nānākuli (Kalanianaʻole) Beach Park
For diving and snorkeling, go to Kalanianaʻole Beach Park.
Formerly known as Nānākuli, Kalanianaʻole Beach Park stretches between two limestone cliffs. Coral and rocks protect the beach from the higher surf, making this beach park a good place for snorkeling and swimming throughout the year. When the surf is up, you can also have a careful go at body boarding here.
Good to know: even though the waters here may seem tranquil, the current can be very strong. Stick to the southern end of the beach where conditions are milder if you are not a strong swimmer.
Mākaha Beach Park
Because of its location on the less-popular leeward (western) coast of Oʻahu, this beach is more a local hangout spot than a tourist attraction.
This is a beach where we like to sit back and relax with a small picnic to look at the ocean and take in the ocean sounds. If you feel more active you can get in the water to snorkel and explore the reef.
The middle part of Mākaha Beach is the best place to go swimming while the northern area of the beach has stronger waves and currents (that end is for surfers). There is a lifeguard tower, and there are restrooms, showers, and a few picnic tables at the beach.
Ala Moana Beach Park
Located in Honolulu just across the street from Ala Moana Center, Ala Moana Beach Park has acres of shade trees, picnic tables, and a large stretch of grass to play on. There are also tennis courts, concession stands, a yacht club, and a half-mile stretch of white sand.
If you are staying in Honolulu this is a good place to go to see the sunset and to watch the paddle groups go out from the Ala Wai Harbor.
Pōkaʻī Bay Beach Park
Pōkaʻī Bay is a family-friendly local beach at driving distance from Honolulu with calm waters and lots of turtles. The bay is shallow and has a sandy bottom, making it a great beach for young kids.
Besides swimming and snorkeling, the sand is sticky enough to make good sand castles with (or without) your kids, and you can visit the historic Kūʻīlioloa Heiau (temple) on the peninsula in the bay.
Pōkaʻī Bay Beach Park spans 15 acres and is the most protected bay on the leeward (west) coast of Oʻahu thanks to an offshore breakwater that keeps it safe from strong currents and big waves. The breakwater also makes this a good spot for beginning surfers.
Bellows Field Beach Park
Bellows Field Beach Park is an extension of Waimānalo Beach and is fronted by a long and wide white sand beach. A shallow offshore sandbar in front of the beach provides good waves for bodysurfing and bodyboarding. The waves here are usually fairly small, unlike those at Sandy Beach.
The beach park is part of a military base but open to the general public on weekends and national holidays. The beach is good for long walks. Amenities at the beach include restrooms, showers, and picnic areas.
There are also campsites available for reservation at the park, see this website for more information.