Best Beaches in Oahu Hawaii – Our Run Down of Oahu’s Best Beaches

We think the first thing that springs to mind whenever Hawaii is mentioned is beaches. Lounging around on glorious golden sands lapped by azure blue waters sipping on Tropical Cocktails. We happen to think there is SO much more to Hawaii than just beaches but they are still on the top of most people’s lists. And with hundreds of beaches around the Island, you are literally spoilt for choice on Oahu. But you don’t want to waste your time on poor beaches when there are some absolutely spectacular places you could be lying. So our guide to the Best Beaches in Oahu Hawaii shows you some of the Best from around the Island.

People always want different things from beaches and Oahu’s varied beaches offer an incredibly diverse array of qualities so we have shied away from rating the beaches but just objectively explained the Nature of our favorite locations. There are beaches for relaxing, beaches for luxury, beaches for escaping, and beaches for hi-octane surfing. Whatever you are looking for in a beach, we are sure our guide to Oahu’s best Beaches will have a beach for you.

We are going to Start at the Islands Most Famous beach, Waikiki, then head around the island in a counterclockwise direction. All Beaches are marked on the Below map. The List is not in order of merit but a geographical list. We point out the pros, cons, and facilities on each beach.

So let’s kick off with a beach that needs no introduction…

 

Waikiki Beach

• Good for – Showing off, Messing about, and learning to surf!
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Restaurants
• Life Guards

One of the most famous beaches in the world. Waikiki is the Stunning Golden stretch of sand lining the seafront of the Waikiki district of Honolulu. The Beach is packed with amenities and activities and almost always with people. In fact, the standout feature of the beach is the numbers crowded onto it! If you have come to Hawaii looking for the perfect secluded Paradise beach Waikiki is not that beach.

The Beach does have its charms though and for such a busy location it is incredibly clean, and there is still wildlife right off the shore of this packed city beach. We have seen turtles and Dolphins right from our Waikiki hotel Balcony!

The water is also beautifully warm and the shallow drop of the beach means you can wade for hundreds of meters out to sea. Reasonably large waves roll up the shallow waters and churn the water making it silky and incredibly soft feeling like bathing in Milk…Blue Milk.

These features make the beach PERFECT for playing in the surf. It is a great beach to learn to surf and the shore is lined with Surf Schools. Or just wade out in the bay and mess about body surfing in the waves. Obviously, Snorkelling in these conditions is less favorable. The vis is terrible at times and it’s not worth bothering to snorkel. However, there are more sheltered areas at the sides of the beach and near the pier. There are even Coral reefs just off the shore. Not the finest reefs, heavily damaged and not healthy at all but they are there clinging on which is surprising. You can see a good number of reef fish and even turtles while snorkeling, there are much better locations on the island though.

There is an Artificial Wall on the southern end of the beach (Kuhio Beach) that creates a sheltered Shallow lagoon that is perfect for young kids to splash and play.

Overall Waikiki is a love-it-or-hate-it type of beach. For fun and play it’s fantastic and full of beautiful people and a great place to be seen and take the perfect Instagram shot. But it can be insanely crowded and simply finding some spare sand to sit on can be a challenge.

We love it but need to limit our time there and hunt out more placid beaches most of the time. It is just a bit too much for us, most of the time, but still, love playing in the waves and people-watching.

Other Honolulu Beaches

Before beginning our Island loop we want to quickly mention some other Beaches in Honolulu

Kahanamoku Beach

• Good for – Families and Sunsets.
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Restaurants
• Life Guards

Adjoining Waikiki beach at the northern end it is barely discernable from Waikiki beach and is very similar. A bit quieter as people don’t make it this far over. The water tends to be calmer and more suitable for snorkeling. At the northern end is the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon a shallow saltwater lagoon that is clean and clear and great for kids to play.

The Reef / Pier that separates the two beaches is a favorite spot to gather to watch the sunset.

Magic Island Lagoon

• Good for – Families and Picnics.
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables
• LifeGuards

This manmade chunk of land is open to the public and has an enclosed Lagoon and beach at the end of the peninsula. The beach is a lot more peaceful than Waikiki and can feel a lot more like Paradise than the bustle of Waikiki. The Shallow waters are protected from the waves and create a very safe swimming space perfect for families and relaxed beach picnics.

Being Manmade the Sand isn’t the best and can feel pretty course and not the natural coral sand most are looking for.

Ala Moana Beach

• Good for – Swimming and chilled Beach days
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables
• LifeGuards

The Beach Park at Ala Moana is a strange place. It has a steep drop-off into water that is calm and sheltered by a large reef. This makes the ocean here essentially a large swimming pool. This is fantastic for real open-water swimming, but the number of people looking for this is fairly small. However, the great amenities and remote location make the beach park very appealing. It’s not overly great for families with young kids as the steep drop-off is risky for young children.

However, the Beach is long, wide, and incredibly beautiful. The Crowding that plagues Waikiki does not extend out here and you can have a quiet relaxed beach day.

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Around The Island

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

• Good for – Snorkelling
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Snack Bar, Visitors Centre
• Life Guards
• Cost: $7.50 + $1:00 Parking

The first line on the Honolulu city’s website is “this is not a “beach park” for beach sport, but a Nature Preserve dedicated to safeguarding the fragile marine life in the Bay” And that’s the way to look at it. The beach is ok, if a little rocky, but it’s not the star of the show and not the reason to visit the Bay.

The water in the bay is almost crystal clear and flat and calm year-round. The cove is very protected from the surf and as such is a haven for snorkeling. The Reef is alive and healthy and the City does its best to protect and preserve the environment of the bay.

This means that underwater life is teeming and Hanauma Bay is easily the best snorkeling location on the Island. Anyone who enjoys snorkeling should visit the bay on a trip to Oahu. The visitor’s center is also a fun and engaging experience giving info on the life you may encounter on your snorkeling adventures.

We adore Hanauma Bay and think you should put it on the TOP of your must-visit list, well maybe just below pearl harbor.

Expect the usual array of Hawaiian Reef fish along with some more exotic creatures such as turtles, octopus, moray eels, and even some pelagics such as Jacks and Trevally.

Reservations are now required for anyone wanting to visit this remarkable Ocean Reserve.

If Snorkeling is more of a priority than Beach Life then Check Out Our Top Oahu Snorkeling Sites!

Sandy Beach Park

• Good for – Boogie/Body Boarding
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables
• LifeGuards

The Surf break at Sandy beach is very close in and perfect for beginner boogie boards or for just messing about in the waves. It produces pretty high breaks but is not overly great for actual surfing so ends up more of a tourist location for people playing in the breaks.

It’s a beautiful location and not too far out from the big city and a great place to relax and spend an afternoon. It is a little exposed so there will be cooling breezes on hot days (or cooler on cool days) And the large beach rarely gets very crowded. The Sea is rough and should be treated with caution as there can be currents.

The Beach is made up of beautifully fine sand which is lovely to walk on and sit on but you will be fishing it out of orifices for days!

Makapu’u Beach

• Good for – Photographs and Vistas
• Amenities – None

Another good Boogieboard beach but this time it’s for more experienced riders and people looking for a more extreme break. The currents run strong and the surf is high so best left to the experts. We mention the beach mainly because of the Makapu’u overlook.

This clifftop vantage points offer staggering views down the coast of the sea and mountains. It’s perfect for that amazing selfie, or paradise Instagram pose. There is also a short trailhead leading to the Makapu’u Lighthouse with further coastal vistas. the lighthouse marks the easternmost part of the island. Nothing but sea between here and Molokai.

Waimanalo Beach

• Good for – Not Believing your Eyes
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Pavillion.
• LifeGuards

A long wide beach made of silky smooth soft coral sand lapped by fairly calm seas with a gentle slope. These near-deserted shores are not too far from the Paradise most people dream of when heading to Hawaii. This picture-perfect beach is often frequented by newlyweds and their photographers looking for the ultimate paradise shot.

While the beach is rarely crowded that’s not to say it’s secluded at weekends and holidays locals flock to the beach to escape the City and you will find a fairly rowdy vibe of drinking and BBQs. The beach is plenty big enough to escape the crowds though and find your own piece of paradise.

 

Kailua / Kalama Beach

• Good for – Everything
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, BBQs
• Life Guards

The Town of Kailua is lined with miles of golden soft sand backed by Ironwood and Palm trees. This stunning setting is one of Oahu’s worst-kept secrets. Ever since a certain President Vacationed here the word is out about how fantastic the area is.

It’s not hard to see why the Locals love their stretch of paradise and want to protect it from a Waikiki-style invasion of tourists. But Respectful day visitors are more than welcome to come and live it up on one of the best beaches in Oahu. The Beach is the Local’s focal point and at weekends and holidays, it’s going to be very busy. Expect a fun lively vibe.

The beach has a fairly sedate break good for beginners and those generally messing about in. The sand is soft and super clean and seems to stretch on forever. Anyone Staying in Kailua will make this beach their second home and anyone staying in Waikiki will vow to stay in Kailua next time!

Secret Island Beach

• Good for – Swimming and chilled Beach days
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables

This Secret beach is claimed to be private and belongs to the Kualoa Ranch. Well, first of all, it isn’t private. There are no private beaches in Hawaii. However, access to the beach is difficult without accessing the private land of the Ranch. The Ranch offers a tour of the beach as one of its tours, so if you really want to see the beach then this is the easiest way.

To access it without a tour the only way we know is to access the coast at Kualoa Point and then head down the beach. However, it is only a beach and it will be filled with paying customers and staff who may not appreciate your intrusion. Technically there is nothing they can do but it may impact your enjoyment.

Read more about the Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Point Beach

• Good for – Views of the Chinaman’s Hat
• Amenities – Showers, portapotties, Picnic Tables.

If you want to experience Secret Beach without interloping on paid customers then you can get much of the experience here. It’s just up the shore from the “secret” beach and offers a similar experience including the best views of the Chinaman’s Hat. A small Islet just off the coast. It’s actually called Mokoli’i and resembles a Chinese Peasants hat hence the nickname. It’s further away than you might think and currents make it unsuitable to swim to.

Kualoa is a very quiet and peaceful beach where you can really get away from things, especially people. It has a large grassy picnic area so fantastic for kids and people who don’t like getting sand everywhere.

Kahana Bay Beach Park

• Good for – Getting Away from it all.
• Amenities – Showers, portapotties, Picnic Tables.

Sitting in a valley between two incredible mountain ranges Kahana Beach park is a real gem of a beach. Remote and not very well known it can be almost completely deserted at times. The Mountains on either side are ancient and dramatic. You will spend most of your time half-expecting a T-Rex to appear through the trees. When it is at its best this is one of the prettiest beaches in the world.

However, we say when it’s at its best for a reason. During heavy rain, the river is the main exit from the vast mountains rain basin. A lot of muck and detritus is washed downstream and muddies the waters of the bay. It is exposed to large ocean swells from certain directions too so when high seas blow from the East the water can be stirred up and rough, and a large amount of manmade plastic and drift waste can soil the pristineness of the shore.

We advise if you plan on visiting to have a plan B as if the Beach is on an off day you may not want to hang around. But it is worth checking out as when it is a good day it’s very good.

Avoid on public holidays as a lot of locals know the place and like to camp and the area loses its remote feeling.

Turtle Bay / Bayview Beach

• Good for – Turtle Bay Guests
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Luxury Hotel
• Life Guards

These two beaches both straddle the Higi-End hotel Turtle Bay Resort. These two beaches are frequented by the hotel’s guests. They are completely open to the public but we don’t see a lot of reason to head all the way to some OK beaches that are packed with hotel guests who will certainly disapprove of your presence. If the Beaches were THAT good then maybe but they aren’t.

The only reason to head this way is the Hotel itself. Being the setting for a good number of Hollywood films it’s fun to come to check out the location. Or if you are lucky enough to be able to afford to stay here then you will spend your beach days here. Turtle bay beach is quieter as it’s rocky and not as pleasant as Bayview

The North Shore does have some great beaches and some are incredibly scenic so really we don’t waste much time near the resort beaches.

Kawela Bay

• Good for – Escaping Reality
• Amenities – None

This secluded cove feels about as close to remote a lost island as you are likely to find without…well, getting lost on an island. There is very limited development around the Bay making the area feel very wild and windswept. However, there is a constant threat of developing the cove and as such, it should be enjoyed before it’s too late.

The cove is very sheltered from the north shore’s violent swells and the water is warm and calm. However, the bottom can be rocky so water shoes are recommended. The bay looks fantastic for snorkeling but actually is often quite murky and you are likely to be disappointed.

There is a fantastic photo opportunity with the Bayen tree in the woodland behind the beach. These Ancient mystical trees are fantastic to see and look like they are straight from Never Neverland. This one is one of the best examples on the island and definitely worth checking out.

Sunset Beach

• Good for – Swimming, Snorkelling, and BIG break Riding
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables.
• Lifeguards

In summer a truly heavenly stretch of glorious soft golden sand lapped by calm clear waters filled with fish and sea life. The perfect place to spend a day enjoying a summer’s day relaxing, swimming, and enjoying paradise.

In Winter the place turns wild as the swells arrive. Large swells are a surfer’s paradise and at the far end of the beach is the Banzai Pipeline. One of the world’s most famous breaks. Under certain conditions this monster raises giant waves just offshore the is the stuff of dreams for surfers but also a mind-blowing spectacle for anyone standing on the beach. Waves that truly defy belief.

In case you are imagining jumping on a board be aware this wave is considered the world’s most deadly. The reefs that cause the breaks are very shallow and getting it wrong will result in a close inspection of these reefs at high speed and if you are lucky a long hospital stay if you are unlucky…we think you can guess. Definitely a Pro-only wave. If you are on the island when Bazai goes off definitely make this a must-see attraction.

The large swells at sunset beach also cause some very strong currents so care should be taken even when it appears calm. The beach is heavily Lifeguarded so heed all advice you get from the experts.

Waimea Valley Beach

• Good for – Big Waves, and swimming/snorkeling.
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables
• LifeGuards

Like Sunset beach and the rest of the North Shore, summer and winter create very different conditions on the beaches. In winter Waimea Beach is a very popular surf spot where expert surfers do battle with some of the best waves in the world. It is a location for many of North Shore’s surf contests. Lifeguards will restrict any access to the sea when the surf is up so it’s definitely a spectator sport for most.

In summer the sea completely flattens and the Incredible blue waters are incredibly inviting. Swimming and snorkeling are great activities here and perfect after visiting the incredible Waimea Valley. A beautiful Cultural site showcasing Native and introduced Hawaiian plant and flower species. Well worth a visit and perfect to visit before hitting the fabulous beach.

Due to the Valleys’ popularity, this isn’t a quiet beach. in winter it will be rammed, parking could easily prove impossible. and in summer it can be equally busy. If you seek solitude, seek it elsewhere, Like…

Makua Beach

• Good for – getting lost
• Amenities – none

This is a remote stretch of golden sand with a wild and dramatic mountain backdrop that is right out of Jurassic Park. The Large Beach is often almost completely deserted and you can really feel like the only person on the Island. Even when very busy, it still feels quiet and remote.

The ocean is only really accessible in the summer when calm, and care should be taken when entering as there are rocky areas. These add to the feeling of wildness and also improve the snorkeling which can be very good with large schools of fish and critters living in and around the rocks. This beach is right near the end of our list but ranks as one of our favorites. The setting is just so magical and we feel this is the paradise lost feeling people are searching for when they visit Hawaii.

Ko Olina Beach coves

• Good for – Perfect Sheltered beaches with manicured lawns and Gardens.
• Amenities – Showers, Restrooms, Picnic Tables
• LifeGuards

From the Remote wilds of Makua, we come to Ko Olina which is worlds apart. The 4 man-made lagoons are near-perfect swimming areas year-round. Sheltered from the ocean the calm bays are a haven for relaxed watersports. There is little opportunity for surfing as the waves crash again the rock walls that line the bays. The near-perfect lawns and manicured gardens are so well kept you expect this is what Disney would imagine Hawaii was like, and it is. As the Lagoons are home to Disney’s own Hawaiian resort Aulani.

Really we don’t advise coming here unless you are in the area. While the bays and Gardens are very pretty it’s just a bit too artificial for us. We think lying by these all day is very similar to a day by the pool. This is no bad thing but we prefer to be within staggering distance of our accommodation if we are on a pool day. When out exploring Oahu’s beaches we like things a little less perfect than Disney’s renditioning of paradise.

And with that, we are back in Waikiki. A magical circular trip around the island’s best beaches. We hope you get to experience some of them really soon.

Have Your Say

Let us know in the comments below if you have any comments on our beach article. Maybe you have been to one of the beaches? Do you agree with our comments? Maybe we have missed out on your favorite? Let us know which beach you love? Or if you have any questions at all just drop us a comment. We always love talking and dreaming about beaches!

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