Lanikai Beach Reviews

One of the best beaches in the East Coast and around the entire island of O'ahu. Closing my yes and imaging that I'm still there!

The tropical vegetation, the color of the sand and the sea, with its reflections make this beach one of the most beautiful in the world. It is well worth a visit because it is lucky enough to be in Ohau.

Another great one in the North side of Oahu. Good place to rest and recover during the drive around the island. We had a nice picnic with the birds! Trip was in April 2019.

I am not a huge beach person and the traffic in this area was starting to be a real turn off...however, after we finally found some parking and walked about .75mi to the beach, it was definitely worth it! The water was much warmer than in Waikiki. And, the turtles!!! This is a great spot to check out and even swim next to a sea turtle. They are so gosh darn cute. The sand was the softest I have ever experienced. There is not much shade so please wear sunscreen. Although the beach was busy, there was plenty of room for people to have their own space which I appreciate.

We went to Lanikai in the early evening and were able to find on-street parking quite easily (there is no parking lot for the beach). Water was warm and the waves very gentle. Perfect for small kids. Stunning views and sunset. One of my favorite beaches we visited on our trip to Oahu. Great food options nearby (only a short drive away), such as Buzz's Original Steak House. Highly recommended - both the beach and the restaurant.

This beach is amazing I visited in 2022 and going back again 2024. If you are a beach lover this is a must see. Water is so beautiful I loved swimming and use goggles to see small fish. Has a park and benches. Also not far from store and restaurants!

Absolutely worth the $80-90 Uber from Waikiki. Would do it a million times again.

This beach is stunning. Like absolutely breathtaking. So clean and picturesque that it’s hard to believe it’s a real place.

If you’re in Honolulu, this is a MUST do.

I saw photos of this beach and the photos did not do this paradise justice. The water was so beautiful, it was breath taking. It was difficult to find a place to park since it was so busy, but when we found a place to park, it was so worth it. Make sure to bring sunscreen because you will get a sunburn. My husband is not a swimmer because he almost drowned when he was younger and he even got in the water all the way to his neck.

By far the best beach on the island. Relaxing secluded beach, calm waters, beautiful views. I think the lack of parking helps to keep this beach very secluded and private. I think we strolled almost a mile to get to our little hideaway. We went on a Sunday and felt like there weren’t a lot of people nearby. Restrooms and food weren’t so readily available. So wished I had the amenities of an all inclusive beach with a nice pina colada or a mai tai…but at the same time, enjoyed just being a beach bum, working on my tan and taking quick dips in the ocean when I needed to cool off.

We went for sunrise, sunset and any time we could in between. It is the most beautiful beach ever. Crystal blue water and white sand

There must be something wrong with me. I simply was not blown away by this beach like I thought I would be after reading all the hype online and in books. First of all...I must be color blind...the sand didn't look white to me. I've been to many white sand beaches in the Caribbean and South Pacific, and this sand was not white. It was golden, but it was very soft and fine. The water too was pretty but not the clearest or bluest I've ever seen. Don't get me wrong...it's a very nice beach, just not worthy of all the accolades it's been given.
We did not snorkel cuz it became very overcast so we decided to skip it. The worst part was that a local family of 10-12 people plopped themselves along with all their tents, chairs and all their other gear right in front of us...so rude. We made sure not to do that to anyone else and it seemed like everyone was aware that you do not cut off the view from others.
It's a nice beach, just not deserving of the high praise bestowed upon it.

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.

Probably, together with Kailua, the most beautiful beach in Ohau. White sand and turquoise sea... a paradise. Nn offers no service and behind you will find only dream homes with private access to the beach. The only big problem is the parking that has to be found along the street. But don't be discouraged that it's absolutely worth it.

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.

The sand is so soft on the toes! We went back to this beach 3 times during our 8 day trip! It got kinda busy in middle of the day but morning and evening beach was pretty dead

I got a place in a house the road over from the beach. I've been to the Lanikai Beach a dozen or so times so far I've been here. I get it now why I'm paying way too much rent. It's so awesome being a part of it all. Always hearing people from everywhere speaking different words and languages here and there. Sounds to me like poetry. I watch their huge effort to get here on their once in a lifetime trip. 3 young people this evening were dancing and singing playing Latino music while laughing and videoing; so much fun to watch these happy young people ad hear their music. I purposely sat near them cause wanted to hear music and the sound of the ocean together. I felt a little bit part of it. There are others soon to include me that are always here too. Beginning to see some of the same people over as well. I xox a few final ones I hope tonight - wanna try the pillbox hike bad soon - need to work up to it I guess. I watch em like ants rolling up and down the ridge. The beach though! Perfect sand; perfect water; perfect views; perfect sounds. Lanikai! Wanna make this work nicely til December and then split.

Lanikai beach is wonderful! Public access near Lanikai park. Not easy to find it though. Parking is very limited so get there early. White sand beach with a nice view of the Mokolua islands.

Kayaking, snorkeling and a trip to the pillbox are recomended!

I came here after hiking the pillbox ridge hike. I first saw the beach from the ridge and it is so beautiful! Parking a little difficult to find and it's important to be respectful as it's in a residential neighborhood. The beach itself was stunning. Brilliant greens and blues depending on the sunlight. The 2 sisters rocks make for a great background for photos. There were many people including fishermen, kayaks and families but not nearly as crowded as in Waikiki.

one of our favorite beaches. long white sand beach great for a long walk/run. beautiful warm water. can be very windy at times with rough surf. but on calm days its wonderful. full facilities, toilets, showers. plenty of trees for shade and picnic tables.

We went all over looking for the best calm beach. Unbelievably beautiful. Finally found a great beach to swim snorkel and sit in a beach chair. white sand on your feet

There is a little coral / rock to easily avoid walking in or out.
It also has great coral off beach to snorkel full of marine life.
This beach has it all !!

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.

Loved this beach, it has been my favourite after being in Oahu and Maui for 2 weeks. It’s a little crowded in spots but the water is so vibrant and it’s not full of rocks, all sand. Lovely view of the Mōkūlua Islands too.

Want to get away from the overcrowded Waikiki beaches?! Come no further than here. Be sure to arrive early to find a parking space. Bring all beach equipment with you. Make sure you wear beach attire and do your business prior to arriving since there are no restrooms or changing stations at the beach. But it’s all well worth it at this crystal clear blue water.

One of our favorite beaches on the island. It is not crowded and is very laid back. The water is calm and clear--perfect for swimming! If you're wanting to get away from the crowds, you should stop here! You will love it.

Great beach with plenty of sea turtles sun bathing or taking a swim. There are wild life volunteers looking after the turtles, and they are helpful explaining about the turtles. Highly recommended.

Lanikai Beach is similar to Kailua Beach but it is quieter and has awesome pockets of coral to snorkel! We spend 1 day here and we wish we had more! Lanikai was our favorite beach! We highly recommend a visit!

White sands, aqua clear blue water, beautiful breathtaking mountains surrounding the scenery and the Mokulua Islands that appear like pyramids rising above the horizon. This place stays forever in my heart.

My sister lives in Kailua. I do feel bad for the locals that have to deal with the traffic/tourists/parking. Parking very limited so please be respectful to the locals who live in the area.

Keep in mind there are no bathrooms/facilities. Many park at Kailua beach and walk over.

Lots of instagram people that were fun to watch posing like wannabe models.

Beautiful beach, turtles, kayakers.

No close parking, but the oceanfront path & walk to this beach is really nice. Bring snorkel gear, because it’s awesome. Beach isn’t crowded at all & it is just gorgeous!

This beach is beautiful and more peaceful than Waikiki. Parking is along residential neighborhoods, so the driver should be able to parallel park between cars.

Had a great afternoon at this beach. Cannot imagine how crowded it must be in the summer. Hard to get parking in the side roads. Take an umbrella for shade. Nice for the day

Lanikai is definitely one of those “Wow” beaches, soft sand, miles of blue water, clear sky’s and an absolutely stunning treat for anyone that wants to spend a day on a perfect beach. There isn’t any restrooms nearby, nor is there any place to shower BUT! It’s so worth it! We came during a day we got lucky, the waters were calm, the sun was shining, and there was no wind. The next day we came back and it was super windy, cloudy and the current was a bit rougher. So, just make sure you check the surf reports if you plan to snorkel as with the wind picking up and the clouds made for a less clear water experience. Still fantastic though! Highly recommend for kiddos, or family just because there is plenty of beach to spread out in. Bring some snacks, bring an umbrella and plenty of sunscreen! I ran pretty easily and I actually got pretty burned from the suns rays from 6a.m. To 8 a.m.! But couldn’t recommend this beach more!!

Also! Leave early to get parking spaces nearby! There is a lot of spaces closer to Lanikai that is closed down. So park by the other beach and walk over to Lanikai.

Parking fills up fast!

I usually stop by and take a swim in the Pacific off of lanikai Beach after hiking the pill box. Excellent way to cool off. Beautiful beach. Stunning surroundings. The water is refreshing.

Lanikai beach is a beautiful beach. No special photography skills are needed to capture photos that look like a postcard, it's just that beautiful. There are no facilities at this beach and parking is on the street in a residential area so be prepared to park and haul your beach chairs from a ways away.

This tiny beach is a pain to get to (parking can be rough), but if you are in the area, perhaps if you are doing the pillbox hike, it is worth checking out. We went later in the day around 5pm and walked the beach from end to end and back. It was beautiful!

The views were amazing!! It seemed so unreal it was so perfect! Took a lot of pictures!! Sand was soft and water was so clear at turquoise!

On a recommendation, we went to Lanikai Beach - it was the most amazing place! All sand and beautiful blue water - loved it! That is my definition of paradise!

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!

It's about a 15-minute walk from Kailua and it's my first time here. If you go down a residential side street from the road, you'll find a beautiful beach. I heard that number 6 is the best side street, but I took number 3 without knowing. The beach is a little narrower than Kailua.

Sand as nice as Kailua, more crowded, boats piled up on the beach taking up valuable real estate. No Parking, Have to bike over a big hill with lots of traffic. No facilities for washing or bathroom.

Beautiful beach, absolutely worth a visit! We timed our arrival at the end of a full day driving the coast, and scored a perfect parking spot as someone was leaving. Enjoyed the snorkeling until a mild run-in with a jellyfish cut our visit short. Come prepared: tweezers and some hydrocortisone cream from the local drug store made for a quick recovery/ short scare.

Drive through one way roads with street parking-only. Beach access are small pathways.

Very soft sand beach and you can go pretty far out and still be at about 4-ft of seawater. Great for kids.

I could not find a bathroom but may have missed it?

I wish I'd brought our suntent. Many people had their tents pitched against the grass line which was not far. Lanikai sand beach area is not very wide so people sitting on the sandy part aren't too far from the water.

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.

This place isnt what it used to be. Not as chill compared to 10 yrs ago. You are better off at Kailua.

Lanikai Beach - Stunning Scenery, Decent Snorkeling

Lanikai Beach is absolutely breathtaking with its calm turquoise waters, and iconic views of the Mokulua Islands. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy Hawaii’s natural beauty.

We went snorkeling here and had a good experience overall. The water is calm and shallow, which makes it ideal for beginners or families with kids. We saw a decent variety of fish.

The only reason I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the water visibility, which could have been better. It wasn’t as clear as other snorkeling spots we’ve been to, making it harder to fully enjoy the underwater sights. That said, the peaceful atmosphere and stunning surroundings more than make up for it.

Definitely worth a visit for the beach vibes and a relaxed snorkeling experience!

I went when it was cloudy and sprinkled a couple times so there were maybe less than 100 people here. Completely different atmosphere than say Waikiki

Lanikai Beach is gorgeous. There’s also water sports activities between Kailua and Lanikai beach, which are right next to each other. Parking is tough but with a little bit of planning, you will be sure to enjoy the beach.

Beach is behind houses and nothing special, but the snorkeling is amazing! Not too many people and so much area to cover, you never bump into anyone. The water is not too rough. Make sure to bring what you need as there is nothing to purchase. Definitely worth the drive! Be careful when sitting in the sand as I was stung by what someone called a “Portuguese man-o-war” posing for this stupid picture ;)

On our arrival day, we rented a vehicle and jettisoned over to the East side of the island to spend an afternoon at Lanakai Beach. Parking can be challenging, but the beach is spacious and filled with a mix of locals and tourists. The water is beautiful and the experience was worth revisiting.

perfect sand, perfect temperature of the water, perfect views, not too populated, easy access, not too wavy...really a perfect beach

If you love to snorkel, this is the place for calmer waters. Beautiful sand and view of the moku islands.

Was kind of busy when we were there and parking was a bit tough, but OMG was it worth it. The picture is exact: white sand, blue water... 100% GO!

Lanikai Beach is (and I cannot emphasize this enough) extremely popular, and and parking is extremely limited. We did not manage to find any parking on the street one block from the beach. There were a couple spots two blocks away. If you can find a spot, you find yourself on one of the best and most scenic beaches on the island.

DO NOT GO HERE unless you can get dropped off. There is literally NO PARKING! Even in the nearby park the parking lot is blocked off with no parking signs. You will have to walk miles and carry all your chairs and umbrellas if you want to hang out here. This beach is only accessible to those who live in the nearby neighbor hoods. We were very frustrated as it is a one lane road to get in and out of this area and because there is no parking the place was a madhouse and we spent more time stuck on the road that getting to this place. Do not waste your time trying to get here. We wasted a half day to drive across the island to visit only to have to turn around and drive back. So, so, so disappointing. You can read the reviews on reddit about this problem too. the locals took away all parking access to this beach.

IMHO, this is the most beautiful beach on Oahu. It is a nice drive from Waikiki, through beautiful countryside. However, parking is a bit complicated. If you are lucky you can find it on the streets nearby. Or, at parking lots a mile or two away.....nonetheless, well worth it.

Quiet soft sand beach with fewer people on the island where it is calm. Forget Waikiki too many people and the sand is rougher. About 40 minutes from Honolulu

We came, we searched for a parking spot, the tide was way in, too big of a crowd on a small area. Bottom line is it’s a beautiful beach that is way too popular. Nice for families with kids.

It is tough to find parking but the beach is absolutely beautiful. The water is the brightest blue I've ever seen and the view was stunning. If you have the patience to find parking this beach is worth it.

One of the most popular beaches in Oahu that you must visit. My husband spent a good time there snorkeling and saw many fish! ;)

lanikai beach, while a bit out of the way from main areas of oahu, was worth the trip out. huge coral reefs and crystal clear waters with low tide led to an amazing day trip. plus there are a few cute spots in the town near by as well as a cool pill box hike very close to this.

Beautiful beach, but no toilets nearby. Also it is difficult to find parking.
But very white sand (perhaps the whitest of those I've seen on Oahu) and the color of the sea is gorgeous.

Lanikai is a small beach with a long walk required to get there. Better off staying at Kailua beach park.

We visited Lanikai Beach and loved it. It was not crowded like Waikiki Beach. It was not commercial. It had beautiful blue-green water and was peaceful. A sea turtle swam close to us. Beach accesses are marked. Both times we were there, people set up their towels and umbrellas in a line along the beach and did not block another person’s view of the ocean.

On our 3 day trip over from the Big Island, we went to Ala Moana, Kailua, Laniakea and here...this was our favorite! We loved the sand, water, snorkeling (was able to take my 4 and 5yo out to snorkel by the sea turtles!) We were there early, 8:30 or so, so we got a parking spot close to the access, but I can see how parking can be an issue. Only other drawback was no bathroom or showers but we drove up the road and used the Kailua ones before heading out. Such a great beach and such a great day!!

Just a few feet off the shore is home to many fish moving between the scattered sections of coral reef. It is a great spot for some very relaxing snorkeling

Lanikai is like heaven on earth. The water is crystal clear, warm and it's not packed. Depending on when you go, it may even feel like it's your private beach.
The view from the top for whose doing the hike is simply gorgeous, truly breathtaking! In some parts the water is SO clear that the boats seem to be floating. Mesmerising!
I could easily spend the whole day here and it still wouldn't feel enough.
It's definitely a great breach to take kids, families and for stand-up paddle and kayaking.

Such a good beach for kids. Calm water and powdery sand. Beautiful! Parking can get a little tricky but worth it. We had to walk a few blocks. Don’t pack too much if you have a long walk back. Everyone will be plenty tired at the end of the day.

We always stop here to just enjoy the white sand beach and watch the people enjoying the water sports. There are kayakers, surfers, paddle boarders, wind surfers... you name it depending on the weather and wind at the time of year. It is one of the most beautiful beaches and is usually very busy because of this. There are food places and rentals nearby, and the beach has restrooms and dressing rooms. Parking can be tricky but if you are patient you will find something.

Perfect beach! Not crowded and so beautiful. This is Hawaii as it should be!!! Great beach for families!

we had heard/reviewed this beach prior to going but somewhat stumbled upon it one day and we were in awe of the beauty of this beach. we had parked on a side road and walked one of the paths to the beach - what we found was a wall of sandbags that people were sitting on and then would jump into the water to cool off and a perfect view of the mokes from this location. we were fortunate enough to run into a couple local girls who chatted with us some about the area. we loved the beauty of this area - a def must see while in Oahu

Beautiful!!! I'm rating this as probably one of the best beaches I've been to in Oahu. Tucked away behind some luxurious homes in Kailua, this beach is untouched and all natural. It's a hidden gem! One has to definitely look for this place because it's not a beach park with parking and shower facilities. Access to the beach is through alleys in between houses.

While we were there, we got a glimpse of Lanikai Canoe Team during practice. That was fun to watch.

Clear blue water, white sand beach, soft waves if any, and not too crowded. What more can I say?! Oh Lanikai, if only you had a hose to rinse off... it'll be perfection at its best!

Great beach. Clean and lots of parking. You can see the white sand. You can go very far from the shores and you can still stand. Access with bathroom.

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.

World class beach quiet safe great for swimming paddle boarding beautiful sand and views. Dog friendly and just one of the best beaches in the world

Beautiful beach but very limited parking. You have to be careful not to park in the wrong place. They will fine you. It is in a residential neighborhood with only a few public entrances.

Mid-day parking was a challenge, get here early if you are driving. Not sure if it was worth the drive from Waikiki. Nearby Kailua beach has washrooms and showers. Pillbox hike added value to the trip. Nice Sandy beach, no waves made it nice to swim in, but be careful of the rocks under the surface.

Best locals beach, water crystal clear. Free parking, good for wind surfing, kayaking or any water activity.

Another beautiful beach in Kailua. Small, short strip of sand with gorgeous homes lining the ocean. Excellent waters to swim and other activities [kayaks, boogie boards, windsurfing, etc.]. Can be tough to find parking in the neighborhood [pay attention to signs for parking restrictions]. No facilities as there are at Kailua and Kalama Beach Park. Walking from Kailua Beach area is an option, or hiring Lyft, or riding a bike with enough space for your beach gear [find a secure spot to park it and lock]. Taking a walk or bike ride around the Lanikai neighborhood before, after, in between beach time is excellent; maybe even do the hike at Lanikai PillBox [PillBox Hike].

This beach is not easy to get to as there is no designated parking for it however it is nothing short of AMAZING from end to end! The sand is soft like powdered sugar and the water was aqua blue. We drove to most of the major beaches around all of Oahu. Realizing we missed this one, we made it a priority on our last day and was so worth it! Do NOT miss it! Highly suggest a taking in a sunrise here. Note- there are no restrooms.

Come here early, before 10am, to find street-side parking close to the beach, which is limited. Bring everything with you as there are not shops of any kind on the beach or in the immediate vicinity. The weather was sunny and breezy when we visited on a Sunday morning. There is no shade along the beach, so bring your own. The sand here is a fine powder and the sea is clean and clear, with a sandy bottom. The surf was minimal when we visited but the water was a tad cool. The view of the coast is gorgeous. You will love your beach day out here. Pack a cooler with lunch and relax the hours away.

Lanikai Beach is a gorgeous, sandy beach with fabulous views. Although the street where we parked was crowded, when we reached the beach, it wasn't bad at all. We were there around 5 p.m., which is a great time to visit a beach without shade anyway.

Very calm beach with great view and clear water. Spent there a couple of hours before moving to pillbox hike.

Perfect experience! Water was like glass and equipment was exactly what we needed! We paddled out the two islands that some people refer to as “The Mokes”!

Beautiful beach especially on O'ahu, turquoise water and powdery sand beach with lovely views. Park at Kailua Beach Park and take easy 10 minute walk into neighborhood and take beach path. No rest rooms or amenities, take food and drinks along. WORTH IT! No need to snorkele from beach, stop at Buzz's on the way out across street from parking lot. Skip the mai tai have the Calamari and sushimi.

Incredibly beautiful location, with clear shallow water, a deep beach, and as much parking as you will find on Hawaii beaches. Busiest during holiday and tourist periods, but get here on a weekday and you can find space for yourself.

I hesitate to leave this review because it's nice having such a beautiful beach that is not overly crowded. Short 30 min or so drive from Waikiki. But worlds apart on the vibe and atmosphere. I love Oahu!

There is pretty much NO parking. You're better off parking down the hill at Kailu Beach Park and walking up the hill ( a decent hill especially with kids and lots of stuff) to Lanikai. We were staying close by so just walked there. We should've left stuff behind. Very pretty, nice waters and sand.

Fully satisfied. __________
Guest relation war very good
Amazing experience _____
Will recomed to our friends and family

It's a wonderful sea that lives up to its name as the Sea of Heaven.
I think it's a wonderful sea with beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, where you can be satisfied just looking out at the ocean.
I went there after the pillbox trek, and it's definitely worth a stop.
I went there by bus, and I think it's good for people who like a leisurely bus ride. However, the problem is that it takes longer from Waikiki than I expected and the bus back time is hard to match, but I was healed by the beautiful sea and it was a good memory.

Hey everybody: there is no parking lot here and no parking on Lanikai streets weekdays from 8:30-3:30pm all summer because they're replacing the water main. Because it's a tiny one-way road in and out, it's entirely possible to spend an hour traveling in each direction and NEVER TOUCH SAND. Trust me on this: you will get stuck and waste an entire day of your vacation. It's a gorgeous beach, but you should come another time.

This beach was by far the most beautiful! The sand was super fine and the water was crystal blue! Parking was a little difficult and scarce!

I walked from Kailua Beach to Lanikai and it is beautiful! The water here is so clear and blue and is great for snorkling, more shallow with reef than Kailua side. Lanikai beach is alot smaller than Kailua Beach and dosen't have bathrooms near by. I would definitely check out both beaches, they both offer different things!

This was our favorite beach on the island of Oahu. We tried a few others but this was the most beautiful. Yes, there is not parking lot but we were there around 10AM and easily found a place to park on the side of the street. Definitely go check out Lanikai Beach.

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

Lanikai Beach is definitely beautiful, offering white sands, turquoise waters, and spectacular views. We were there on a Sunday afternoon so it was busy. If you're planning a visit, be aware that parking can be tough to find on the narrow, neighborhood streets and there are no facilities on the beach. We enjoyed a quick stop and stroll along the shore because it is so highly recommended but we wouldn't go back next time we're on the island.

Recently visited this beautiful beach with my 2 granddaughters ages 5 & 8. White sand meets a calm warm ocean. Great beach for children and toddlers to plan in the sand and/or shallow waters. And, the view is spectacular whether looking out to sea and the 2 small islands or looking from the ocean back towards the sand and palm trees set again the rugged ridge line. A fun day of relaxation and swimming. It's located in a residential area and behind rows of houses, so not visible from the road. Street parking lines the 2 rows parallel this beach. But be sure to park only in designated areas as fines are quite high.

We loved this beach. The mokes in the distance make for a great photo opp. We walked the beach, checked out the pill boxes up in the hill and took a moment to enjoy the beauty of the area. The beach and the pill boxes should be on your To do list!

This is a beautiful beach but access is difficult and the beach is crowded. You park on the street and then gain access to it through walks between the beach houses. Scenery and beach and water are beautiful once you are there.

One of the most stunning beaches Ive been to. Beautiful crystal clear water. Can become very busy at times though.

Great place to see corals and tropical fish, once you swim out a little bit.
Beach can get crowded, no shade, very hard to find street parking. Park in southern Kailua Beach park and walk to Lanikai.

This beach is truly so beautiful and I am so happy we visited while on Oahu. There is no parking for the beach so you might be searching for a road-side spot for awhile but it'll be so worth it. The sand is so white and soft and the water is as blue as can be. We visited in the later afternoon and it wasn't busy at all. DO NOT miss a trip to this beach - you won't regret it!

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

Lanikai beach is pretty, but has a lot of drawbacks. It’s in a residential neighborhood and the parking situation is difficult— saw a couple cars being ticketed as we came and left. You have to haul all your stuff in from wherever you can find a place to park. The beach was very crowded, the sand was dirty, there’s no bathrooms, or anywhere to get a drink or food. The views are nice, but just not worth the hassle. We found Kailua beach to be more relaxing and Waimanalo beach was gorgeous and offered a lot of breathing room,

This was the most glorious beach we went to in the entirety of the north shore. The reason we loved it so much was firstly the sand, it was the smoothest softest sand, the water was crystal clear and when we went in snorkelling, we were not expecting amazing coral caves and fish. I have to admit there wasn't as much fish I would have hoped but the snorkelling views were breath taking and the currents here are not as aggressive as some of the other beaches so excellent place to go into the water.

This was one of the best beaches we enjoyed including waimea, sharks cove and three tables.

Laying on this beach was devine and the views are amazing. Absolutely underrated for snorkelling, swimming and kayaking in. Next time I will be spending more of my vacation time on this beach.

Parking was a pain but that is because the beach is next to a residential location so we had to wait for a spot but it was worth it.

I would definitely recommend taking tatami or beach towels, parasol for shade and drinks because there is not much cover/ shade if you have little ones.

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.

One of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen. The water was cold.... Easy access to the beach. Parking is a bit of a pain. Family crowd and tourists like us.

One of the best beaches in the world! Clear blue water and awesome atmosphere. You can kayak and paddle board to the two islands. But scope out the place for blue jelly fish that have been washed up on shore. If there’s some then I would not recommend getting in the water as many people get stung by them. Or you can just suck it up and go in anyways! Hike up to the pillbox for a awesome view of Lanikai🤙🏼

Go on a weekday during the day to avoid the crowds and you will find parking. Stunning beach and super clean!

This is perhaps the loveliest beach in Hawaii and beyond. Photographers bring their wedding couples at dawn and dusk to photograph with the iconic Mokulua Islands (Mokes) behind them. Please carry out your trash, cigarettes, dog doodoo and talk quietly as you walk along the beach access walkways between houses as people live there and must suffer constant noise otherwise. It is much appreciated. You can snorkel and around 5 pm outrigger canoe paddlers launch and practice which is fun to see. Please only use reef safe sunscreen. If you are kayaking near the beach, do watch out for swimmers. Thank you and enjoy!

Gorgeous views as you look on this pristine beach with lots happening. After school means ocean canoe racers practicing. This beach definitely has the younger, more hip vibe to it.

This beach is a MUST VISIT on your trip to Honolulu. It was one of the highlights of my time spent in Hawaii

Nice beach. Not sure I would say it's top 10 in the world as they claim. It's pretty crowded (on a weekday!), but snorkeling was good.

After so many reviews, I had to check it out.
Pluses:
Calm waters
Clear water
Beautiful
Snorkeling

Cons:
Crowded
Street parking you have to fight for
Sand is grainier than I expected

Kailua beach is a mile down the road and better…but no snorkeling and not as calm

We visited Lanikai Beach over the MLK long weekend. The wealthy landowners make sure that the whole Lanikai area is signed no parking due to construction to protect their precious beach time. When we did go back later in the week it really was nothing special. No facilities no life guard. Do yourself a favour and don’t drive past Kailua Beach.

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!

The water at Lanikai is some of the clearest I have ever seen. Parking is found on the street and is sometimes difficult and gets busy on the weekend. There are multiple public entrances to the ocean. Kailua is a quaint little beach town with lots of local food and goods choices nearby. Pet friendly, theres bathrooms and places to wash your feet at Kailua beach, the next beach down. Great place, highly recommend a visit to watch the sunrise.

Beautiful beach 🏖 and very relaxing 😎 here!!! It’s good for family picnic 🧺 and have fun very safe here and location is the best and local people are very nice 👍

Beautiful beach here. Very secluded, not a lot of people there. Not much shade going on, but if you dont mind, it is worth it! Highly recommended!

It’s true that Lanikai is beautiful. However so is Kailua beach right next to it.
Lanikai has no parking so you need to park at Kailua and walk in a half mile. Also there are no bathrooms.
I live near there and I think Kailua which has parking and restrooms is just as beautiful.

Parking was random and we got lucky and found someone leaving around 3pm. Weekends seem busier than mid week.

Great beach! The sand was really nice and it was not over crowded. I would highly recommend this to people visiting Honolulu. The only issue was that you need a car to get there.

Lanikai Beach is often in the conversation of the top beaches in the world. It was my first time here and I admit it is very beautiful. They day we were there it wasn't very crowded. It is hard to find parking here as there are no 'formal' parking lots. We ended up finding a spot in a residential neighborhood, not too far from a small path that led to the beach. This is a great spot to spend an afternoon or day. Pack a lunch, bring your swimsuit and Enjoy!...we loved it.

Got there early and found decent parking close to the beach. It was beautiful and a nice change from the busy pace of Waikiki. My son enjoyed snorkeling and the water was nice and calm.

If your looking for a gorgeous beach with no waves this is the beach for you on Hawaii. Water was clear, it's protected by a barrier reef. Parking can be an issue you have to park on the side of the road so be respectful of local residents and not blocking their driveways.

This was the best beach in my opinion. No coral reef to cut yourself on. The downside is you are going to have to park in the neighborhood and walk in and the parking is hard to find. good luck.

Friends had told us that this is the best beach for snorkeling on Oahu. On the day we arrived, there was nobody in the water and the beach was empty (we arrived just after the sunrise hike to the pillboxes just above the beach).

Parking itself is in the surrounding community. Make sure to read the parking signs as the police come through and frequently ticket those parked wrong. Even if it looks like you can park somewhere, read the signs because along the bike lane side of the roads you are not permitted to park. There are several paths that lead to the beach from the main road.

The water clarity was not that clear that day as there was stronger winds which made the water murky. The coral heads in this area were unlike any other at the beaches around Oahu. It was literally like swimming through a maze of coral navigating your way through without touching the reef (please don't touch or stand on the reef...this kills it and after years of growth you destroy it with one simple action). Also, wear reef safe sun screen and don't go into the water for at least 30 minutes after applying the sun screen...or it all washes off of you causing you to burn and also affect the reef. Due to the visibility, it was hard to see fish however you could still see most of the coral.

On my way back to the beach after a good 40 minutes of snorkeling I found out why nobody else was in the water snorkeling that day...Man-o-wars. They are like jellyfish yet float on the surface. They are little balloons and are blown around by the winds and currents. They have long tentacles that hang down in the water. If snorkeling, you are likely to get stung on the arms and the forehead...option 1 is dive down deeper to hopefully go under them or option 2 is just don't go in the water if it is windy and there are currents (you will see some of them washed up on shore as well...they can still sting you even if they are laying on the beach).

There are bushes just off the beach with white berries...some locals told us that rubbing these on the sting helps to sooth the pain.

My visit to the beach was ruined because of the stings and also because when putting berries on to sooth the pain I had my goggles stolen. I had put down my goggles only to have them taken within 2 minutes (I asked the person who I knew took it but they skirted the question and did not return them). Be careful, some people are friendly and helpful and others are opportunistic and could care less about common courtesy towards others and their belongings.

We discovered this beach, by searching for local beaches in O'ahu. It was a 40 minute ride from Honolulu and when we arrived, you go through a neighborhood trying to find a spot to park. Parking is limited, but we found one fairly quick as we noticed another car departing. It was a short 5 minute walk to the beach and when you come upon it, you know this is a nice beach. It was beautiful, sandy and turquoise colored beach. It was a little windy, but the water was warm and the waves were calm enough. There is no cost to enter the beach, but there are also no restrooms or amenities. It is just the water and whatever you bring. There were a decent amount of people, but not overcrowded when we arrived. We learned later that this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and we agree. You could see the islands close to you and though the water was not too clear to snorkel, we had a very good time here.

Nice small beach, believe or not it’s somewhat secluded beach tucked away in the sleepy town of Kailua. When you’re done tanning it’s a short walk to the pill box hike.....

Hands down my favorite beach in all the Hawaiian islands. Perfect for families with kids, couples, you name it. No lava rocks or coral to step on, just super soft, velvety sand to feel between your toes. Its in a residential neighborhood, so parking can be a challenge. Get there early, bring a picnic lunch, and make memories all day long. You wont be disappointed.

We’ve visited Lanikai beach a few times on this trip. It never disappoints - even with crazy high winds. Okay, maybe a tad disappointing, but still beautiful. The colors are breathtaking and sand soft and comforting.

Ridiculous traffic, virtually no parking. Yes it's a beautiful, natural beach but there are many alternatives. Can take over 3 hours to drive to and from the area just to find there's no parking.

This is a great beach! It's clean, not too crowded, and you get so much sun! Great for casual swimming and relaxing. Highly recommend going to Kalapawai Market/Cafe & Deli to grab some lunch, park near there or near the Pillbox hike trailhead, and enjoy your day at this beach :)

Stunning beach, very calm water and perfect for snorkelling. It was nice to see the mixture of locals and tourists. The best thing was how clean the beach was kept. Great vibe, probably my favourite beach on Oahu!

Lanikai means "heavenly sea" in the Hawaiian language and when you see it you will know why. It is a pristine beach and a locals and visitors favorite. Its mile long beach of fine white sand and surf less turquoise is perfect for a beach day with the kids and enjoying the view of the world's famous Mokuloa Island.
Lanikai Beach offers no public facilities such as restrooms, showers or water fountains.

OMG this beach and area is so beautiful. On the leeward side of the island so the wind can whip up consistently but wow... The sand is like sugar and the water so crystal clear. Tourquoise and blue and beautiful. On a calm day, kayaking or paddle-baording to th Moks is possible. Tons of kite surfing on the day we went due to the 15-20mph blow. A little rough for laying on the beach due to sand being whipped up but just wow. The parking is not easy here, you need to park on the streets and walk to the area.

Beautiful beach, clean surroundings, well kept and safe. No lifeguards. Hoping to return sometime. March 2018

Never thought that we'd find a peaceful beach in Oahu! Burned myself from staying under the sun from 9am until 1pm but all worth it. There was only I guess a dozen people enjoying the beach. Gorgeous waters and fine white sand. The only downside to this area is the lack of parking spaces. Took us about 20 minutes to find a parking spot. You might want to try climbing the pillbox if you're up for it.

My mom, sister and I visited on our last day in Hawaii. I was excited to visit since I’d read some good reviews of the place. While it was nice, it didn’t live up to the hype.

Yes, parking is tough. Weekdays streetside parking is closed in Lanikai, so you have to park elsewhere and hike in. We went on a Sunday so we were able to park close to a beach access point since streetside was available. The water is warm, and the sand is easy to walk on. Wasn’t too crowded at 0930, but traffic was steady going into the lunch hour.

However, it’s dirty. I found trash EVERYWHERE. The photo I included is just a small fraction of the trash my sister and I picked up in our immediate area. And it’s the worst trash possible - bits of plastic and string that kill birds and marine life. We even found whole zip ties! People, be responsible humans and pick up after yourself! It’s not hard to pack out your trash. Also there are no bathrooms available. you’ll have to walk about 10 minutes to Kailua beach park to get to them and showers.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one. Go next door to Kailua beach park where there’s more room, showers and restrooms and a bigger parking lot. Also you can watch the windsurfers and walk on firmer sand.

This beach is secluded, beautiful, with clear water, calm and perfect. We were there almost by ourselves with this amazing beach. Everywhere we looked was incredible beautiful.

Seriously, the softest sand you ever walk on. It's like walking on the soufflé pancake that I ate that morning. Water is crystal clear.

Yes, this was rare, but we gotta experience that. The area had rains right since late morning, and it was clean rain swept, Since the beach was also submerged with the rains, hardly a few people walking in the area.

We really enjoyed this rare view and site at Lanikai.

There is no parking at Lanikai beach you have to walk over from Kailua park. This is about a 15-20 minutes walk. All the restrooms and showers are at Kailua park. If you plan to go to Lanikai beach, plan on taking everything with you that you will need and can carry. There are no amenities at the beach. The beach itself was amazing. The water is turquoise when the sun is shining. This is known as the best beach in Oahu and I would agree. It is the quintessential Hawaii beach. The water was fairly warm and the views were amazing.

Out group attended and thought that this beach was probably one of the best that you could visit while in Oahu. It certainly wasnt very crowded, but it was beautiful and had just enough tourists and locals to keep it interesting but definitely not overcrowded or nearly as crowded as Waikiki.

If you have a car or care to take a bus, it would definitely be a real treat to take in this beautiful and quieter beach!

With a morning to myself I picked up my mask, fins, and snorkel to hit up the reefs between the Mokes and the beach. The snorkel was easy, plenty of fish to see and some coral.

Absolutely stunning beach with clear crystal waters and white sand. It's beautiful for a dip in the ocean but during our visit we couldn't locate any fish even around the corals so if you are looking for snorkeling I would recommend other beaches, but for sunbathing and chilling this is total paradise! Arrive early to secure parking!

Crystal clear water, perfect for all kinds of water sports. Great for all ages. The Sun rises on this side of the Island, making your trip to this beach worth every second. Parking might be a little challenging during weekends.

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.

like waikiki beach, it is one of the cleanest beaches in oahu. family-friendly, colorful and scenically pleasing to the eye.

It was beautiful! It was a white, sandy, soft beach, with pretty good conditions. The waves were the opposite of harsh, and I loved it! Its a really nice place to just relax and have fun.

Cute hidden beach. Not so crowded. Pristine, clean and little bit rocky on one side and high waves.loved it. A must visit.

Lanikai is too beautiful. One of my favourites in Oahu. White sand, turquoise sea, full of canoe club to watch.
Parking is quite difficult, you need to have patience. But once parking nearby the access is quite quiet. Another option is to park in Kailua, equally wonderful beach that is next door.
You need to bring your drink and food.

While this beach CAN get crowded (roll the dice), it's still totally worth it. Get there early, carve out your own place, and enjoy! One of the things we totally forgot to bring was our snorkel equipment for the day and we missed out on some pretty amazing snorkel opportunities. It's clean, clear water, calm ocean waves, and great for families.

Lanikai beach used to be one of my favorite places. Yes, it has beautiful views. However listing it and promoting it has caused major issues due to over tourism in a small area that is not suited for this. Lanikai Beach has NO services, no restrooms, no fresh water, no garbage cans. There is no beach parking other than on the side of the already very narrow roads. As someone who recently visited a friend who lives here, we constantly dealt with people blocking the driveway and gate access to their home, leaving trash at the side of the road (stinky shrimpy fishing bait... nice), garbage and diapers on the walkway to the beach, people pooping/peeing in the bushes, dog poop everywhere, trash on the beach, trash in the water, trash in the reef, etc. We pulled garbage out of the sand and water every day. It was disgusting and endless. Tour guides are not supposed to drop off people here but yet they do and it causes huge issues, especially when they are trying to drive or park large vehicles/busses in these narrow residential streets (there is only one way in and one way out). Please don't employ these guides. Please act like you live here. Clean up after yourself, your children, and your pets.

If you want to go to Lanikai, take The Bus (it's easy). Walk in from Kailua Beach. Bring a re-usable bag or backpack for trash. Clean up after yourself. Pick up some extra trash. Take it back with you and dump it in a can somewhere. That way everyone can hopefully enjoy this place in the future.

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.

In our opinion the most beautiful beach on the island. Kailua is also beautiful, but Lanikai has something special. We almost always came here after seeing the others and making a comparison. Maybe it's the non-straight beach, maybe it changes with the tide, maybe we never found it too crowded, but it has something magical about it. They will be the dream homes with access to this beach also that makes everything fabulous. It will also be silence in off-peak hours.

Park at the free Kailua Beach Boat Ramp car park, if you find a spot, it's an 8-10 minute walk. If you don't find it there you will definitely find it at the free parking lots of Kailua Beach and from there it is about 15 minutes walk. Here you will also find free toilets and showers that do not hurt near the boat ramp. Who knows if we will ever get the chance to go back, but we were lucky enough to have been there a week.

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.

Gorgeous fabulous great place to relax and let kids play. Truly a calm and peaceful place. Friendly people in the region

Great place to visit as a couple or a family. Absolutely beautiful! I will say parking can be a challenge so be sure to secure a spot early or expect to have a little hike during busy times.

The beach was absolutely gorgeous! Parking is pretty hard… And we went when it was super windy! We weren’t able to stay for long because the wind and sand we’re almost unbearable… But definitely worth the trip! One of my favorite beaches.

This is a must do. There’s no parking anywhere, you just have to drive around until you find some street parking. But it’s absolutely worth it. The beach is pretty secluded and the ocean was like a lake. Beautiful views, very peaceful. Could have spent all week here! Pro tip: order subs from Timmy T’s Gourmet Grinders. They deliver right to the beach!

Absolute best beach in Oahu!! The sand is perfection. Just the softest sand ever. The water is super clear and warm making snorkeling a dream. We took our floats out into the water for a few hours and just relaxed in the soft waves. I only wish we'd had our rental car longer during our trip so we could have gone back all week.

Pristine, uncrowned. We walked the beach every day. Good snorkeling just a few hundred feet off shore in about 10 feet of water. Our grandkids played for hours in the fine white sand. Felt very safe. No peddlers.

Very nice beach, clean and not crowded since we went early in the morning. However, there is no restroom or shower since it’s located in the residential areas. I got a ticket parking in front of a park, I guess residents do not want people to park there anymore. There seems to be a parking lot near the beach, which presumely is about 5-10 mins walk.

Beautful and calm waters. Epic views. Easy kayaking. Best day ever on Oahu...

Study your map to find the quiet passages to the beach, thereby avoiding the main parking lot and giving your group a lot of space and peace.

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.

Beautiful beach but all the beaches in Hawaii are beautiful in their own way check it out 🌴🌴beautiful view walking the shoreline

Beautiful beach with beautiful water. Like most people, parking was a nightmare. We finally found a spot next to a beach entrance. Lots of people even in September!

Best snorkeling on Oahu. Very calm waters and coral everywhere. Water is crystal clear so can easily see the fish all around the coral. Yes the parking is tough to find but be patient and keep circling.

Beautiful, clean beach! The ocean is calm here. There are some reefs if you swim farther out for snorkeling but nothing in shallower water. Just wish there was a public bathroom facility.

We grabbed some time here and enjoyed the views and the snorkeling. This one is a hidden gem! The crowds were light and the water was just right. One of our favorites so far!

Spent several days here walking and swimming. Beautiful scenery as well as a lovely place to play in the water.

Amazing views, no rocks just pure soft sand and clear water. Great for families. Also, turtles swim by near the shore.

The only issue you will have is parking. Get there early or later in the afternoon to secure a parking spot on the street. Protected bay good for swimming, snorkeling, paddle board, kayak or wind surfing. Can’t beat the view on that sugary sand!

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.

Worth the early get up. Nice stroll from parking lot to beach. Good for snorkeling pretty coral . A tad windy. It also rained in the morning but then got hot for sun bathing

It’s beautiful and lesser people. BUT bring a bottle of vinegar in case you get stung by the Portuguese man o' war (僧帽水母). It’s blue. My daughter thought it’s a blue shinny bracelet, so she reaches to it and the sting is so painful that we needed to take her to the nearest Braun urgent care. The ladies said it’s so common here and soak her fingers to vinegar. Do NOT pee on it!! It doesn’t work! 😆😆
But it’s a beautiful beach!

We kayaked from here to Moku Nui instead of Kailua Beach because it was closer to get out to the island. Parking is only on one side of the street and is usually full. We had to unload the kayaks at one of the narrow walkways to the ocean and then try to find a parking spot. It helps if someone can park the car while you go down to the water. There was a family on the shore having a picnic and us with two kayaks, which is about all that fits. A highlight for us was meeting the owner of the Segway rentals who was very nice and helped us launch our kayaks. Nice guy! I would check the tide before going if you want to spend any beach time. We were probably at high tide so there wasn't much to do but swim and launch boats. Beautiful views of the islands and pretty houses to look at.

Lanikai is one of my favorite beaches. Its so beautiful and clean. The water is also pretty calm to. They do not have bathrooms, showers, beach equipment, or any food spots, so make sure to bring your own beach stuff.

It is the most beautiful beach on Oahu, in my opinion, with super fine white sand, transparent sea, few people, easily accessible by public transportation from Waikiki.

We went straight from Kailua Beach Park to Lanikai. Lanikai is nice, but it’s no Kailua and in the competition for your precious travel time, it’s hard to recommend you spend it here. One other negative is that the beach, at least where we were, was incredibly narrow, practically non-existent. If you were a local and liked variety, I can see coming here. Otherwise, go to Kailua.

One of the most scenic beaches on Oahu and the calmest surf for swimming. Did encounter one blue bottle jellyfish but did not get stung. Parking can be challenging, but we got there by 10 am and had no difficulty.

Lanikai Beach is the next beach to south of Kailua Beach on the east side of the island. You will have to drive through a residential area to get there and find the path to the beach…I’m not sure if there’s more than one access path. No designated parking lot or any other amenities. It’s more of a local neighbourhood beach meaning a lot less busy than Kailua Beach Park. It’s a long, wide beach and the water looked inviting but it was a super windy day in February when we went so we didn’t go in. Definitely a good spot to check out during the warmer sunny calm days.

Call it my happy place. Grinning ear to ear upon reaching this beach with awesome views of Na Mōkūlua. We took theBus from Kailua beach, got off after the Lanikai pillbox hike trail to one of the secret entrances. clear, calm waters, fine powder white sand tho some areas have coarse sand. Just lovely.

This is a beautiful beach- but very hard to get to, and with no services once you get there. We biked here from Kialua. In truth, we would have been just as well off to stay in Kialua- which has services and nearby restaurants. I wouldn’t break my neck to get to this beach just because it’s rated this or that.

Amazing views and various locations for public beach access. Sometimes it is hard to get into the loop due to traffic.

Wanting to diversify our Oahu beach experience beyond Waikiki, my partner and I ventured out to Lanikai. As we were without a car in Honolulu, this was a 30 minute Uber ride which meant we didn't have to deal with the lack of parking in the residential neighborhood. We were let out in front of a street with a public access road to the beach. What emerged was an absolute picture perfect Hawaiian beach, with fine white sand, palm trees, twin islands on the near horizon and water in varying shades of blue and turquoise. The waves were gentle that day and though we would have wanted to stay longer, the strong winds that morning made it difficult to enjoy the beautiful locale. Be warned that there are no lifeguards, bathrooms or amenities here.

The water was such a beautiful gradient of turquoise blue. Less crowded and great for relaxing, swimming and snorkeling.

This is a beautiful white sand beach. I highly recommend visiting! Parking is a big challenge though. If you can find a parking space, it's worth it!

Beautiful blue waters. The main beach was very busy, we found a park in the residential area and walked about 800m to the beach. Many of the access lanes had access to water only as there was no beach but keep walking and you’ll find beach access and it’s worth it.

No rocks, calm waters, stunning colours and much quieter than Waikiki. The drive back to Waikiki is simply breathtaking, especially as the sun sets.

I've been to many beaches but this ranks as my all time favourite, we frequented our quiet little beach further up with the little stone jetty, the beach can be non existent when tide is right in but is an absolute dream when it's out.

The sand here is made for walking the sea / shore line you can stroll as we did for a mile or two the beach itself and the neighbouring beaches have lots of space for piece and quiet if that’s what you like as well as what seemed to be the popular parts full of families and couples .. the calm crystal clear water is so inviting and once In there is no debris no wild life , “ fish or other “ to bother those who don’t like it “ I am not one of them for the record “ but the wife freaks at fish so for us was a win win .

This is the best beach; beautiful sandy beach and aqua blue water. The beach is perfect for families, water activities and it's pretty calm....... Love this heavenly beach.

Most beautiful beach in Hawaii !
Not easy to find but when you arrive you will agree Lanikai is one of the most beautiful beaches in the World !

Love this beach! Check weather forcast before you go as it’s often windy. It’s also common to her stingers. But it’s worth the research as it’s just so incredibly beautiful!!

I love this beach that’s all I can say ♥️ The water is clear, warm and full of waves for everyone. Great place to snorkel and just enjoy life...

Lanikai is one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever experienced. I grew up down the shore in Kailua before moving to the mainland. Lanikai is an incredible gem to take in.

Golden sand as soft as powdered sugar, turquoise waters, and the most incredible sunrises. We make it a point to visit Lanikai at least a few times when traveling to the island.

Respect is due if visiting as parking is limited and the beach backs into a residential community.

The most beautiful beach! Parking is a nightmare so my husband dropped us off. We were staying on the North Shore and came to this beach on a recommendation of a friend. It did not disappoint. Warm water. Soft sand. Beautiful views. And a turtle! A must do while in Oahu.

This beach gets crowded, but is definitely worth a visit. I recommend getting there early. Parking is on the street, throughout a residential area, so spots fill up quickly.

Fortunately, the beach is pretty long, so even with the crowds, you should be able to find a spot. It’s also nice for people-watching and is the picturesque-type of beach you want in Hawaii.

Beach was beautiful and good for families, teal blue water and white sands.
Cons - no designated parking (need to park on the street)
No facilities - no bathrooms and no water
Snorkeling - yes, but sad. Most of the coral looked like it has been ruined by tourists, in touching and petroleum based sunscreens. Saw a tourist standing on top of one of them. I was so disgusted as an avid scuba diver. Get there early, or you'll be struggling for parking.

We love the beach, crystal clear water and a breathtaking landscape.
We went by bus! We bought the free pass for a full day.

We stopped for a few minutes while on a drive around the island. The sand is the softest that we've felt thus far on Oahu.

Lovely beach with nice, fine sand. Was able to see several turtles swimming in the ocean and one came up on the beach for awhile so was able to get great pics!
Limited parking, come early!

This beach is beautiful but get there early because the parking is on the side of the streets. Also, no facilities are available.

Sterling electric teal water, unreal beauty. We kayaked from Kailua beach through Lanikai out to the Mokulua Islands and it was breathtakingly exquisite. Also great for snorkeling! Best beach on the island!

Lanikai is BEAUTIFUL and absolutely worth visit, but just a warning (because we were unprepared), there are NO public restrooms or anywhere to change. That's the only thing I wish we'd known ahead of time. But otherwise - Wow!

Beautiful beach, soft sand, no small rocks where we swam! Was a bit windy and had bigger waves than the Waikiki beach. Wonderful hidden place! Come check it out

Beautiful and not very crowded beach. Lots place to park and there are ample trails to get in and out of the coastline. Recommend!

The big difference in Lanikai Beach and Waikiki is that there are no facilities. The bacteria count is often up so there are brown water warnings keeping people out of the water. People are defecating in the bushes and on homeowners property. This is not the Lanikai beach of old.

While the views are nice there's no public restroom, no where to change, no rentals available and the parking is horrible since it's a residential area

This is one of the nicest beaches on Oahu. Great swimming and snorkeling beach. Very few if any waves. Head to the North Shore or Sandy Beach if you want to surf. Located in a residential neighborhood so parking is very limited but it's well worth it once you find a parking space for your car. The beach is less crowded during the week. There are no lifeguards on this beach.

Visited Hawaii and started to lose hope finding a decent swimmable beach. On our last day, we went to Lanakai beach in Oahu and was fortunate enough to find street parking just a few steps away from the public beach access. It wasn’t busy when we arrived at about 11 am but got busier around 2 pm. Not much trees that you can use for shade so best to bring a beach umbrella or something. The water was refreshing and it has a gradual slope. Waters were calm at that time, a bit cloudy but we were able to go snorkeling and saw some colorful fish around corals nearby. Sand is good, granulated (not sugar fine) and light tan color (not white). We didn’t see any restrooms or showers but you can probably shower in the nearby Kailua beach park which is about 3 min. away. I would rate this as a 3.5.

This beach offered the combination of less people, clear water and clean sandy beach making this one of our top beaches to visit on Oahu.

As this was located in a residential neighborhood there was only limited amount of parking and it took one complete circuit before we snagged a spot. Please do be considerate for the families living here especially when they block the spots in front of their homes for their own use.

We walked less than five minutes to one of the public access routes to the beach. We staked out our spot on the beach with only a couple families nearby. It was nice having more space to ourselves.

The water was calm and clear. If only we remembered to bring our snorkeling gear we could have enjoyed some of the nearby coral and a larger number of crabs and fishes than I expected to see. Swim goggles were our only alternatives and that gave the kids something to chase around in the water for a little while.

A couple of families rented kayaks from Kailua Beach and headed out towards a nearby small island where we could see people walking around.

The minor issue was a lack of nearby facilities.

We spent about an hour swimming at Lanikai Beach before a storm rolled in, and it was by far the calmest beach we swam at on Oʻahu that wasn’t a bay.

The water was gentle and clear, making it a perfect spot for a relaxing swim. Even though the weather cut our visit a bit short, it was still one of our favorite beach stops.

We could not visit because all parking in the whole town was banned from January 3 to February 28! Apparently they’ve been so bugged by tourists that they’ve basically closed the town to outsiders!

This beach was absolutely amazing. Not too many people (like Waikiki Beach), the waves aren't too big, the sand was nice and powdery. Just a nice place to come and relax.

Amazing beach and to my surprise not completly overcrowded. Really clear water and not a lot of rocks. By far more relaxing than anything in Waikiki. You can perfectly combine it with a short hike to the pillboxes where you will have a nice view down.

Said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It was nice. I had a picnic lunch here. The beach is long enough that, while there were a lot of people there, it didn't feel too crowded. A bit of a walk from where we parked. My friend said there are closer spots but they are often taken and the traffic to get there is bad so that could have been our fault that the walk was so long.

One of my favorite beaches in all of Oahu. Great visibility to two iconic islands. Perfect sand and shallow beach that slowly stretches out into the ocean.

spectacular beach of incredible beauty
Very quiet, quite busy on the side of the road
We didn't see any services or lifeguards.
Lots of nautical activity, fine sand and an incredible blue sea
We took an Uber from Waikiky, perfectly.

Lanikai Beach is overrun with tourists and does not have parking and you will spend a long time looking for a space on a side street and walking a long way to the beach. The beach has almost no sand. It has been washed away. And there are no bathrooms or lifeguards. Kailua Beach park has both and maybe a little more sand but there is a very steep drop off from the parking area to the beach. Kailua Town has been overrun with tourists looking at each other. Waikiki has much better shopping. The tour operators are promoting these towns so they can collect your money for transportation. Kolina Beach Park has wonderful clean facilities and lovely calm lagoons and many hotel shops. It is much better to get a ride there!

Blessed with great weather for a beach day. Parking was a bit challenging, but still managed to get close to the beach. Nice way to spend an afternoon.

Great hotel and staff! Centrally located. Although it’s not all inclusive there are a variety of restaurants and bars around. The spa is a must do. There are daily package offers and reasonable prices. We booked a couples massage, facial, and reflexology package and it was worth it! Therapist Yadira and Emma were excellent. Definitely left the spa feeling pampered and relaxed.

This beach may be a little hard to access but it’s worth it. It’s beautiful just and it’s just like paradise.

Parking is difficult in this area and only on the neighboring streets. Pristine beach that is peaceful with not many people. Go early in the day parking may be easier.

Takes some neighborhood driving and a prayer for an open parking spot. But there are gorgeous paths to the beach between the houses. (Respect their area and be courteous on the walk ways)
Come out to about one of the prettiest beaches I’ve been to. We were on south side earlier that day with 20-30ft waves. And this side was nice and gentle waves. And even with some trees for shade. Just beautiful for a day at the beach. We’ve heard you need to be here early, but we found a spot around 3p

Pros: Ocean is beautiful and calm. Water is so calm, your kids could swim in there safely while you are on the beach.

Cons: No parking. Used to be able to park on side of road but many residents cone off areas. No bathrooms. Terrible traffic driving into Lanikai. Horrible crowds. Difficult to find a spot to relax away from other people. Not relaxing and healing as the ocean should be.

Parking is the main problem here. There is no easy way to get to the beach. You have to know where there is a gap between the residential houses. It's quite secluded, so the effort is worth it if that's what you're looking for. Kailua Beach to the north is crowded but there's lots of activities, e.g. kayaking, SUP, kite surfing. Waimanalo Beach further south can be just as secluded.

A beautiful whir sand beach with turquoise color water. Must visit location, but be aware, it's a street parking, no bathrooms or restaurants

There are very few beaches in the world that are this scenic. We headed to this place knowing well that there may be parking issues, there are no washing facilities or restaurants and such around. We went here around 4pm and found parking in the residential part without much of a problem. The walk to the beach is short and the place was very laid back in comparison to what we had thought it would be.
We did not actually swim but just dipped out feet and spent much of the time just sitting and watching the scenery. The water is very clear and the 2 islands in the front adds to the magic of the place. We took some lovely pictures and headed back in about 2 hours, time just flew by.
Please go here. It is totally worth it.

Just go! Make the trip because why not!? If you are anywhere on the island the drive to get there is also pretty! Plus you'll have a photo worth printing as a memorable keepsake!

Beautiful beach to see but not to spend time in. Skip it and visit the others. Plus jellyfish in the summer

My family and I just loved this beach. The water was clear, the sand was soft and even in the middle of December the water temperature was ok. The initial shock was getting in the water but then it became very pleasant.

Lanikai Beach is hands down my favorite spot in O’ahu—maybe even the world! The sand is unbelievably soft and white, and the water is the perfect shade of turquoise, gorgeous in any weather. The views of the Mokulua Islands are stunning, and the nearby Lanikai Pillbox Trail is an awesome hike with incredible scenery. I look forward to coming back every time I visit O’ahu and already can’t wait for my next trip!

Had some beach time here with the family including 2 kids, during our first time visit to Oahu. We stayed for maybe three hours tops. Overall I'd call it a good time. After having checked out Halona Bay / Eternity Beach earlier that morning, this was our second beach experience on the island.

Some observations:

--It was difficult to find street parking within walking distance in the surrounding residential area. Really difficult. It took us several blocks on foot from where we left the car, carrying our folded beach chairs, umbrella, beach bags and cooler.

--Look out for the correct street sign leading to beach access. There is at least one other access point sign to an alleyway leading to part of the shoreline that is NOT the beach.

--This beach has no amenities, facilities, lifeguards, concessions, equipment rentals. No bathrooms, no beach showers.

--It's popular. Expect to share the beach with quite a few other visitors. Not nearly as crowded as Waikiki Beach, but still...

--it's a rather small, narrow strip of beach compared to what I was expecting. Different groups of visitors placed themselves rather close to each other.

--The sand texture was coarse rather than soft or smooth, compared to some other beaches such as those on the south side of Maui, or at Aruba in the Caribbean.

Overall, it was a pleasant place to spend beach time with the family. However, if this is the best beach on the island of Oahu, as I've read in some travel guides, then I find Maui beaches to be my preference.

When you arrive at Kailua beach, which is beautiful, you will see some islands off to your right. Kailua Beach has more people and less space to sit, but it does have a parking lot and bathrooms. If you drive around the point ( to the right of Kailua beach) and follow the street you will end up in Lanikai beach, which is stunning. You have to find street parking, there are no bathrooms, but much less crowded and peaceful. Go before lunch on a weekday. Well worth it.

It's beautiful but this isn't a "hidden gem"

Con: the entrance is in a residential area, parking is along the curb/sidewalk.

Plus: This beach isn't as crowded as the western beaches

One of the two best (non-surfing) beaches in Oahu. Snorkeling is excellent with tons of live coral (nearly all other beaches have dead coral) and some turtles. Beautiful sand and water. No shade.

Residential location, Difficult parking so best to park at the Lanikai Beach crazy area, and walk over the hill or have someone drop you off.

Go for a dip at Lanikai Beach. “Lanikai” means heavenly sea! TripAdvisor has once ranked it as the Best Beach in the US! I say this has to be one of the best beaches in the world! It has once been a well-kept secret but now shared with locals and tourists alike! Powder soft white sand, peaceful jade green water, just paradise!

Really beautiful sandy beaches. Lots of fun activities around this beach, you can rent kayaks and SUP which is fun! However, Parking can be hard to find.

Everything about this place is simply beautiful! It's one of the many treasures on the island. Definitely worth a visit!

Gorgeous beach, very fine sand, no rocks, less people. Arrived at 9am on a weekday and got a close parking spot (though we’ve read these fill up quickly). No shade on the beach, very happy we brought our umbrella/tent. Wind is strong and feels incredible. Bring your own snacks and drinks as this is situated next to a neighborhood without restaurants in walking distance.

Beautiful water. Kid friendly. Water felt soft and not bad for young kids. Bring water and snacks. Didn’t see vendors. It’s worth visiting at least once!!

Lanikai Beach is just 5 minutes away from Kailua Beach. We parked in a residential area and walked to the beach. We arrived towards the end of the day and the beach was not much crowded. Water was pretty warm and it was nice to get in.

The beach is very beautiful with white sand and turquoise water, and it wasn't crowed when we were there. It was beautiful and peaceful. we stayed there for 2 hours.

Gorgeous but not worth the trek. I was reading through the reviews and other forums that there is no parking in the neighborhoods. I visited during the weekday so I parked at the end of Kailua beach and walked up the paved walkway up the hill. By the time that I reached up the hill and down, I saw cars parked at the side of the street and front of the homes. I was annoyed by this because, I was so tired from the trek that I just entered the first alley way to the beach, instead of going further out for more beach-way.

I think the place is overhyped actually. I see it nothing different from the other beaches than the calm and shallow waters. Nice beach but like one review said....if you find parking.

Thought this beach was a little over rated, we'd read so many amazing reviews but I'm just not sure it lived up to them all. Parking is an absolute mission, lost count of how many blocks we went around until we found a park. It was super busy and was the only beach we found bluebottle jellyfish at. Water was nice and calm the day we went, no bathrooms which doesn't encourage good beach habits so it was just ok.

Since it was hard to find a parking spot on a nearby street, we were able to park our car in Kailua Beach public parking. That area has bathrooms as well. It was an easy walk of about 15 to 20 minutes. The sand was soft and the beach was crowded. We were happy to make it here. Lanikai Beach is on the east side of Oahu and it's windy. This is a beautiful and iconic beach and just like its namesake, which translates to “heavenly ocean”. Come very early to enjoy the visit

This is a beautiful and unspoiled beach! A great place for an early morning or evening stroll plus great swimming.

There is no parking. There is construction planned for months. It takes hour to get in and out, searching for parking. Plus, no facilities.

This is one of my favorite beaches on the island! Beautiful water, soft sand and gorgeous views! Sometimes I even see sea turtles popping their head up out of water! Parking can be difficult, especially on weekends. Do not block driveways when you park, and go early!

We arrived about 9 am on last Saturday, and were greeted by "No Parking After 10 AM" signs on all the residential streets. Bummer...

The good news is that we could find a spot close to the path to the beach, there were no crowds and the sun was up high enough to see well for snorkeling. Just right off the sand are coral heads with plenty of small fish. The coral isn't in great shape, though it gets better the further you are from shore.
Be sure to bring a lot of water, as there is no shower.

Lanikai beach is one of the best beaches on Oahu.
It is beautiful, normally calm, much fewer people than Waikiki with a fine white sand. The beach can only be reached through access paths in a residential area and parking is very limited and often can be difficult to find.... so be patient or be prepared to walk a bit.
One of the best and worth the effort.

My wife had never been to Hawaii, and I wanted her to see everything we possibly could while on our honeymoon. I had been to Hawaii multiple times in the Navy but hadn't been to many beaches. A quick internet search showed that Lanikai Beach was one of the best beaches in the world, so we had to go there. We were not disappointed. It was absolutely beautiful! The beach was all soft sand. No trash, seaweed, or other debris. It was a little difficult to find parking, but we got lucky and got a spot right across the street from a path to the beach. Surprisingly, with all the cars, the beach wasn't overcrowded. The views were amazing and the water was perfect. If you're planning a trip to Oahu you have to go to Lanikai Beach!

Best beach in Oahu that we visited. There may be a few beaches we missed but this was our favorite as far as we have seen. The sand was soft, the waves are small to moderate and good for a family. My only negative is it’s somewhat difficult to get to due to parking. Our solution was we parked at the beach just north then had to walk about a half mile both ways. This beach is well worth the trouble to get to providing the views.

We loved Lanikai Beach! The water was a divine turquoise blue. The only problem was parking but we got there late afternoon so were able to find a park fairly quickly. No restrooms either.

We went to this beach after hiking the Lanikai pillbox trailhead. There is No parking for this beach. You park along the streets or Lanikai park and you walk along the road adjacent to the beach and there are many access paths to walk in. It is beautiful and not a lot of people. No bathrooms.

Yes, the sand is like talcum powder. Yes, the water is is gentle, turquoise and beautiful, but there are 4 VALID reasons to visit somewhere else. #1. You are invading a neighborhood. Its NOT a park. People live here. How would you like it if you come home from work and can't get in your driveway because a rental car is blocking it. There is NO parking lot. Just limited street parking. Also, there is 1 way in and 1 way out which creates a massive traffic issue. #2. No lifeguard. Although the ocean is calm, there are bee's you could step on and you have to constantly watch out for man-o-wars. #3. No bathrooms. Ate some bad sushi from ABC? Start running or get in your car and drive to the public restroom in Kailua. #4. No public trash pick up. You pack it in, you pack it out. Do NOT use residents trash containers for your rubbish. They pay for that privilege, you don't. Aloha!

We drove over from Honolulu and it was amazing and worth it! We went a little further down from the main area and followed a residential beach path, that was public, and it was great! It was less crowded and plenty of space! The ware was perfect and we could walk out a ways and not have to swim! The sand was perfect also! Highly recommend this beach!

We visited on an exceptionally windy day, but enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. Parking can be difficult to find.

We enjoyed lounging in the beautiful beach and watching the ocean.

This was the perfect beach for our family. We were able to find street parking easily each time with only a short walk to to beach. The sand is incredibly soft and the water is clear so you’re able to snorkel by the coral not too far out. It’s also a swimmable beach, so getting some exercise is easy to do. There were always other people on the beach but never what I would consider crowded.

Definitely would come again and would suggest arriving early for the BEST parking and spots on the beach.

We found a place to park - watch the traffic! Crossed the road and saw the most sea turtles ever! They were so neat to watch. Got a lot of good video and pictures and just stood there and watched them wash in, eat and wash out. They never paid any attention to us and people were very respectful of them.

We come out as much as possible. Beautiful beach, wonderful sand, and great for kids. Also, dog friendly! We bring our pup here all the time.

The most beautiful beach I have ever been to!
One of the most beautiful beaches in Ohau...white sand and crystal clear sea!

There are no services on the beach and parking is not very close but it is absolutely worth it.

Hidden from the main roads, with access between homes and streets, Lanakai Beach offers a long but narrow beach with great snorkeling towards the right side of the beach when facing the ocean. There are several crops of coral as you head out into the water as well and they too are great for snorkeling on or near. The beach features a nice mix of international people, plus the beach backs to some beautiful homes. Beware though, there are no facilities at this beach!

There is not a parking lot available here so you likely will need to circle a bit to find a parking spot, and we did, a good one in fact. As the saying goes, “You can still get a great space in this town - if you apply yourself.”

Lanikai Beach is a destination all unto itself. It is not only described as most beautiful of all Oahu beaches, but Lanikai Beach ranks as one of the best beaches in the world. Surrounded by endless miles of calm tranquil blue waters.

Beautiful beach; feels more exclusive in a snobby way than Kailua, which is the next beach over, but the water is clearer and calmer. Just so very beautiful. Wish I could have stayed longer.

This is another “Must Do’s” on Oahu! So this is the east side of Oahu so the sun comes up first here. We got to Oahu from Phoenix at 5 pm so we were really at 2 pm our time. Because of the time difference we were wide awake at 4 AM, packed up our breakfast, coffee, beach chairs and blanket and wondered over to the beach to await the sunrise and what a sunrise it was!!!

Lanikai Beach has been rated as one of the most beautiful ones in Oahu and has been featured in magazines and other media. The water here is turquoise in color and the white sand provides an ideal contrast. This little bit of paradise, in a word, is beautiful. It has limited parking, so get there early.

Lanikai Beach is one of the best beaches that we visited during our six-days drive in Oahu. The beach sand is white, powdery, and so sift to walk on. From the beach are visible the pleasing pair of Mokulua Islands. The water is clear with different shades of aqua marine blue. There is no dedicated parking to access the beach, but parking is allowed on the adjacent residential street and dedicated access paths are available from the street.

Make Lanikai Beach a not to miss beach when you visit Oahu.

This beach was so beautiful - the sand and water and view were all awesome. The water wasn’t as cold as some other places on the island, and the area around the beach was really pretty. This is one place I’d love to go back to!

Lanikai Beach is abeautiful peace of land which we discovered on a O'Ahu round trip. stayed there for a while and enjoyed the beautiful sand beach. Really nice to stay and swim

Gives you a front-seat view of the majestic and spectacular show of Sunrise from the Pacific Ocean! Truly a presentation of one of God’s magnificent and breathtaking daily blessings and miracle!
Pristine White sand. Reminds me of the wonderful white beaches of my beloved province of Bohol in the Philippines!
No restaurants or business establishments in the vicinity. No public restrooms. No entrance fee as with the other beaches in Oahu!
Remember to use beach shoes!

You can't beat the views of the Moku's, the beautiful water, sand, and quiet place to relax. It did get a little busy after school released for the holidays, but before then it was private with not many visitors. We'll definitely be back.

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.

This is our 2nd visit to Lanikai and we enjoy walking the beach in the mornings and evenings. Lots of sand for people to just sit, relax and read or run around and play in the water. We enjoy taking photos of the scenery. The views from the beach provide plenty to enjoy. You can see people kayaking or wind surfing as well as view the Mokes toward the south and east. Holidays are busier as everyone heads to the water.

The beach is very nice. But there is no showers, no bathrooms and it gets super crowded on the weekends. Parking is also a pain because there is no designated parking area. If you want to enjoy a beautiful, less crowded beach with all the facilities on the East side of Oahu then try Waimanalo Beach. Much better IMO.

Born and raised on this island, is what has made me! The beach is a wonderful place to enjoy Gods creation! Wish I could get back there before I am too old to travel!

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".

This is one of the most beautiful, paradisiac beaches I ever seen. It’s a very special spot, with clear turquoise calm waters that allow you to swim and enjoy the ocean. The sand is white and fluffy and the views are just amazing.
Downside: No bathroom, no showers, hard to park (specially during the weekends)

This is certainly a nice beach, but as so many others note - parking can be hard to find. however we have never had to park more than a block away. The beach itself is often quite crowded, but is beautiful.
I think the nearby Kalama Beach in Kailua is much larger, wider, longer, and nicer. SO big it is never crowded. Try it instead - however, still note that parking in this whole area is pretty restricted, so be patient!

Long white sandy, snorkel friendly beach. Coral just yards from shoreline. No fish for the most part. A sea turtle or two are sighted most days. Parking is nearly non-existent. Best to park at Kailua Beach and walk.

This beach was absolutely stunning. Beautiful blue water, very calm water too. The sand was so soft, and the water was very clear. There was good snorkeling as well. It was also not very crowded. We went on a weekend so there was street parking available but during the weeks there is no street parking, and you’d need to drive to Kailua beach nearby and walk.

Lanikai Beach is a tranquil paradise known for its soft white sand and crystal-clear waters, making it an ideal getaway for swimming, kayaking, or simply unwinding. Its gentle waves and breathtaking scenery create a peaceful ambiance, perfect for a relaxing day by the shore. Though amenities are minimal and parking is scarce, the natural charm and serene surroundings make the effort worthwhile. Arriving early in the morning is the best way to avoid crowds and fully appreciate the calm, picturesque atmosphere.

Beautiful beach. Nice to get there early in the morning with your snorkel. Calm tide. Beautiful sea creatures!!!

Another overrated beach? Yes, it's beautiful and sandy but with no parking/toilet/shower and very average snorkeling, nothing unique in a way that we just didn't find it worthwhile to go again during our 2-week stay in Oahu.

Think twice before going to this beach. NO parking and if you find some, you might get ticketed. No bathrooms. Not much of a beach.

This in our opinion was the best beach in Oahu! Absolutely gorgeous and what a view! Very chill and overall a great spot to just lounge and hang out. The beach next door has all the amenities (bathrooms etc) so be prepared when you come here to bring what you need. It felt unspoiled where as waikiki felt outdated and hyped up. Loved it here, and would def come back. Park on the street and just walk on down :)

This is a beautiful area that is being loved to death. It can be crowded by local standards as well as the water, while clear, belies the fact that there are NO BATHROOM FACILITIES.
Weekends are nuts and forget about a holiday weekend. The parking restrictions are to have better access for Fire and Rescue vehicles of which there seems to be at least one or 2 a day between the beach, the off shore islands and the popular Pill Box Trail.
That being said. The best time to visit is during the off season, and mid week. I prefer the late afternoons when the crowds have left.
The beach is not as long as the whloe road so park close to the Lanikai Park and walk from there.
Snorkeling is really great if you go out far enough. Turtles are out there too.They are protected Marine Animals so stay well away from them. They might approach you though.

Beautiful beach, well worth visiting! Not worth kayaking to, best to arrive by car and have all your beach essentials with you!

We are on holiday staying in Waikiki where the beach can be quite busy, so myself and hubby decide to go on a coast road drive to find some a little quieter..
We came across Lanikai beach which was perfect like something on a postcard.
White sand for as far as you can see and clear blue sea with calm waters that’s is shallow if you have small children who just want to play or you can swim out a little further or just float about. Perfect for all including families with younger child.. plenty of palm trees along the beach if you need some shade and showers and toilet facilities along the way.
Parking can be hard to find but there is more than one car park and these are free. We went early so didn’t struggle to much with parking but seem to be getting busy when we were leaving about 2pm.
We had a very relaxing day loved this beach favourite so far.
It is also patrolled by lifeguards too.

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.

One of the best places to snorkel and have a picnic. Beautiful beach to enjoy the day which is close to everything. One may want to bring food from Subway or your favorite place to eat. A nice beach umbrella and something to sit on would be a good recommendation. Also, sunscreen is advisable because it does get hot and scorching on this beach from the sun.

This was our favorite beach on the island. Very quiet, very clean, with bright blue water and white sand. We felt like we had stumbled upon paradise. We spent a pleasant couple of hours just relaxing and soaking in the vibes here after doing the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. If you're a beach lover, don't miss this. It's worth the trip to Kailua from Honolulu.

the beach is really amazing, but it’s just quite disappointing that there isn’t any parking lot near such a famous beach. Plus the access is quite complicated. However it truly is worth the visit. We spent maybe... what... 30 mins there but these were part of my most amazing memories from hawaii. I definitely recommand to go there.

This beach is long a with clear waters and white sand. It is perfect for relaxing and sun tanning. However, you need to find street parking that makes it challenging. It is a place to visit and enjoy.

This is one of my favorite beaches in Oahu. The sand was soft and gummy. The water was clear. Bring your snorkel gear because I saw two sea turtles in the water and there's some reefs around for snorkeling. Park at Kailua beach and walk over. Definitely worth the visit.

Truly one of the most beautiful beaches we've ever been on. Water was warm, blue and just simply beautiful. Sand is white and fine. Some people were snorkeling, others were kayaking. Unfortunately, the beach gets very crowded during the day. Definitely is a lack of modesty with some people as well. But it's free and the views are breathtaking. Highly recommend!

This is an absolutely gorgeous, picturesque beach to spend the day relaxing with family. It is great for swimming , kayaking and playing in the sand. When we visited in August, the waters were very calm, almost too calm to boogie board. This isn’t a great snorkel beach. Although the water is a gorgeous turquoise, it’s sandy, so visibility isn’t good.

Keep in mind that parking is very limited. You can find some residential street parking, but you may have to walk a ways to the beach access. There isn’t much shade, so bring an umbrella. Also, sadly, there is quite a bit of plastic debris that washes up on the otherwise soft, white sand, which is very sad.

Overall, if you’re looking for a beach that looks like something from a postcard, this is the beach for you.

This beach is awesome. Probably one of the best beaches we have ever viewed. Pristine describes the quality.

The water is unbelievable. The sand is like no other. The ocean amazing.

Note: parking is a nightmare. Go early or be prepared to use patience to seek and find a spot to park.

While Lanikai is a bit more difficult to get to, it makes it that much better. You can't just park in a lot and hop in the water, so that cuts down on the number of people who actually make it to the sand.

I went for a solo snorkel run and needed to leave some things on the beach while I was in the water. It was a great opportunity to meet some kind people who were planning on spending the day there.

The reef was a good place to snorkel, though the coral wasn't very colorful. I had wanted to see some sea turtles, but didn't go out far enough since there weren't a lot of people swimming that day. There are plenty of colorful fish to see, and if you get near some of the larger parts of the reef, you can spot some eels!