Lanikai Beach
Lanikai Beach
4.5
About
Also known as Kaʻōhao Beach, Lanikai Beach is widely regarded as one of the best beaches in the world, and is famous for its stunning views of the Mokulua Islands. Book a kayak tour for a chance to see the green sea turtles that inhabit the 'The Mokes'. The beach is also a popular spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing, thanks to consistent and steady winds. Enjoy the beautiful colors of the sky as the sun rises and sets over the Pacific Ocean and admire the beautiful houses and gardens of the surrounding residential area of Kailu. Come prepared as there are no amenities at this beach.
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  • Ajay H
    New York City, New York87 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning!
    Lanikai Beach is one of Hawaii’s best. This stunning beach boasts clear, blue waters, pristine, white sand, and beautiful views. Best of all, the beach isn’t very crowded. It also has a calm tide. The only challenge is finding a spot to park. Overall, we greatly enjoyed our time here.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 November 2023
  • Yeraldin S
    28 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful, calm, but no shore for the littles and no bathrooms
    Beautiful beach to go. Clear water, barely any waves, and calm waters. It’s definitely a very pretty beach to go to but there no bathroom to go to, stores and restaurants are far, it’s a neighborhood beach so you have to find parking in the streets, and although the water is ver calm with barely any waves, it rapidly become steep. There’s very little shore for the little ones to play in because it’s about 5 feet max before there’s a step from calf height, to knee and then chest very rapidly. Beautiful but I’m sure there’s plenty others a little more kid friendly because my oldest is 5
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 24 November 2023
  • TravelingSoccerLoon
    Saint Paul, Minnesota6,332 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Views at this Popular Beach in a Residential Neighborhood
    Beautiful spot for sunrise. There was about 20 others there experiencing the scene. Came back another day in the afternoon to spend more time on the beach. Fine golden sand, blue ocean and beautiful views looking at the Mokulua Islands. There is a reef just offshore and the snorkeling was above average to good. However, I wasn't impressed by the location of the beach as it is surrounded by a residential neighborhood that backs up right onto the beach taking away some of the tropical feel. The beach access is a path between 2 houses. While nothing like Waikiki, it is still a very popular beach on the island. No facilities or services on the beach. Parking in the neighborhood can be challenging but after a couple laps, we found a spot a few blocks from the path for beach access in the mid afternoon when the earlier beach crowd was starting to leave. With that said, still a terrific beach to visit and would be absolutely wonderful if you lived or are staying in the neighborhood but it needs to be in a more remote and less developed area to go down in my book as one of the "best beaches in the world".
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 December 2023
  • christina
    New York City, New York10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful and good for swimming
    Beautiful beach with calmer water that is better for swimming. No vendors around the area I was in. Parking was hard- id recommend going either early or late (when people may be leaving) to get a spot. We came in April and the water was chilly but swimmable if you’re hot!
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 April 2024
  • Climber42549146381
    5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful beach! Very hard to find parking
    The beach its self is 5 stars!! So beautiful. It is lots of cars driving around trying to find a parking spot thats hard. Its packed and parking is limited to side streets in front of houses. There is no parking lot.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 28 April 2024
  • Denise J
    47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Paradise Found
    Lanikai Beach is pure paradise! With its pristine sands, clear waters, and stunning views, it's a dream destination. Perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or simply soaking up the beauty. A must-visit spot in Hawaii!
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 29 May 2024
  • Tucson60950
    Tucson, Arizona46 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Sunrise
    Beautiful spot to watch and/or photograph sunrise. Calm waters and white sand! Street parking near public access points or parking at nearby Kailua Beach Park boat launch area.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 June 2024
  • BrakiWorldTraveler
    Belgrade, Serbia19,702 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful beach, but go 3 min further to Kailua
    One of best beaches on Oahu without a doubt. However, parking is almost impossible to find, specially on weekends. All around are private homes with side alleys. Local told us there're high fines if parked not properly. 3 min drive further is Kailua beach, exactly the same with a huge parking lot.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 June 2024
  • Shirley O
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Family Vacation
    This beach was beautiful! The only reason I am rating a 4 is because there is no parking or restrooms. But, it was worth the drive. We spent a couple of hours there. The sand was soft and the water was so many shades of blues. There were also people who rented kayaks nearby. If you are planning to visit go prepared with beach stuff, towels, chairs (if can), snacks, and water. Take a bag for your trash.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 22 June 2024
  • Sue2000
    Sacramento, California575 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spectacular calm beach
    Looking for a less crowded non-city beach than Waikiki, we came to Lanikai beach. It has calm waters, soft sand, and incredible views. We even had a sea turtle come over to look at us twice. Get there early and bring your own items. The beach itself has no services and it is behind a lovely residential area. Parking is on the street so be prepared to search for a while and walk with all your beach gear. The water is clear with gentle waves. You can sit at the water’s edge looking at the beautiful water, or go in further turn around and see the beautiful beach line and green hills. It didn’t feel crowded, but it wasn’t empty either. For those who enjoy jumping waves, this beach will feel boring. If you like calm beautiful waters, this beach is heavenly.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles3,107 reviews
Excellent
2,313
Very good
585
Average
110
Poor
35
Terrible
64

Westley G
Campbellsville, KY6 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
It is a beautiful beach to visit and the water is so beautiful. We really enjoyed our time at Lanikai beach. Do bring food, sunscreen, and beach towels. After having a beautiful day we were walking back to our car and it is a decent walk from where we had to park when someone in a VW bus yelled “get out of here” and gave a group of people taking pictures at Lanikai sign the middle finger. That is what we will remember about Lanikai beach. We had planned on making a day and visiting the stores in the town but after that we left. That was our experience at Lanikai.
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DomCanada
Toronto, Canada350 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
We stopped here while following the Shake guide app (highly recommend it for driving navigation and as your own private tour guide) and loved it. Such a beautiful beach off a quiet street. Finding parking might be tricky (like anywhere in Hawaii) but just drive around a couple of times and you'll find something. We only stayed for a bit to enjoy the view and loved it.
Written 10 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

christina
New York City, NY10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
Beautiful beach with calmer water that is better for swimming. No vendors around the area I was in. Parking was hard- id recommend going either early or late (when people may be leaving) to get a spot.

We came in April and the water was chilly but swimmable if you’re hot!
Written 23 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard S
Kenner, LA1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
We did Pearl Harbor in van tour which was good but only did Arzona Memorial plus the museum displays & movie. Didn’t do Missouri and special additional museum by submarine. Disappointed there was inadequate sitting plus no cafeteria/restaurant. Still a Great experience.
Also we did Luau by old lighthouse-show was very entertaining but food mediocre.
Rented a car in Waikiki Sunday which may have been a bad choice with traffic vs a Saturday ?? Lanaki Beach was beautiful & relaxing. We stayed two hrs & kinda wish there would have been waves but Great experience! Drove the coastline to see north coast but light rain spoiled it. Mountains looked beautiful with clouds at the top. Stopped at a few beaches to check scenery. Traffic got real hectic heading south. Hawai’i is beautiful but extremely expensive compared to Caribbean resorts which are more practical, closer to us & extremely attractive.
Written 18 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EllCeeMoney
Boston, MA8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
With the mountains behind you and the mokes in front of you out in the ocean, this beach is really a stunning place to be. It's pretty small (about 1/2 mile long), but has soft sand and calm waters. I was there during off-season, but we had no trouble parking on the nearby residential streets, and even though the beach is small, it was never too crowded to enjoy. Beautiful sunrise views, too.
Written 19 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BannedDE
San Francisco, California5,961 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
Yesterday was perfect. The three days before not so much because cloud and wind.

Go in morning to avoid strong winds and tougher parking. Rather than risk a ticket and frustration trying to find a spot in Lanikai, park at the boat ramp lot where there is lots of space then walk along the road .3 of a mile enjoying the fabulous views of Kailua beach park.

If you want restrooms, lifeguards, and places to buy things, stick to Kailua beach park or Waikiki. This is an exclusive RESIDENTIAL neighborhood.
Written 29 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Y K
Toronto, Canada464 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023 • Friends
No words to really describe the beauty of this beach. We were extremely lucky and went on a weekday and there were barely any people there compared to the ones in Waikiki.

Calm, crystal clear waters with beautiful views out into the ocean. The different green blues of the water just take your breath away. The sand is soft and fine, it is perfect. I cannot emphasize how much we loved our time at this beach. We wished we could stay forever. The pictures can't do it justice. Some were paddleboarding and snorkeling and saw turtles.

Onto practical bits- we took the bus from Waikiki. About 90 mins but super smooth and easy. Don't let not having a car deter you. If you are driving- Kailua beach park is where you should park. Lanikai is residential and limited (!) Parking. It is only a short walk from Kailua to Lanikai. There are NO bathrooms at Lanikai or food around. Pack snacks and hit the bathroom at Kailua beach (not very clean unfortunately). No lifeguards at this beach, and very minimal shade.

Many reviews online prefer Kailua beach which is also very beautiful and maybe more family friendly. But this one was absolutely number 1 for us. We lucked out with weather and crowds. 15/10
Written 4 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN6,332 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Beautiful spot for sunrise. There was about 20 others there experiencing the scene. Came back another day in the afternoon to spend more time on the beach. Fine golden sand, blue ocean and beautiful views looking at the Mokulua Islands. There is a reef just offshore and the snorkeling was above average to good. However, I wasn't impressed by the location of the beach as it is surrounded by a residential neighborhood that backs up right onto the beach taking away some of the tropical feel. The beach access is a path between 2 houses. While nothing like Waikiki, it is still a very popular beach on the island. No facilities or services on the beach. Parking in the neighborhood can be challenging but after a couple laps, we found a spot a few blocks from the path for beach access in the mid afternoon when the earlier beach crowd was starting to leave. With that said, still a terrific beach to visit and would be absolutely wonderful if you lived or are staying in the neighborhood but it needs to be in a more remote and less developed area to go down in my book as one of the "best beaches in the world".
Written 18 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

surf
Oahu, HI1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
The beach was crowded, no bathrooms, no parking and traffic was so bad we spent two hours sitting in the car when we could have been on another beach. Kailua beach is just as good and much larger with no traffic. Went to Kalamas down the road and had a much better time. Don’t waste your vacation time.
Written 17 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joseph Robba
Charlotte, NC2,273 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
Lanikai easily is my favorite beach on Oahu. It has a natural protection just from the shape of the island, the water is very calm and shallow, generally speaking. The beach is fantastic, and the water glows blue. The only issue here can be parking, as there is nothing dedicated, you need to be careful to park in designated areas, and make sure not to block driveways or gates to the residents in the area. In general, when we came the beach was fairly crowded, and we had to drive a few circles around the area, but it didn't take overly long to find a parking spot.
Written 27 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Lanikai Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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