Lanikai Beach

It’s no wonder that Oahu’s Lanikai Beach has made it’s way onto many postcards, pictures, travel guides, and wall calendars. For several years, Lanikai Beach has been America’s number one beach. Lanikai in Hawaiian means “heavenly sea”, and that’s exactly what this dreamilike beach is, heavenly.

Being only about a half mile (800 m) long, Lanikai is smaller, but is one of the most scenic stretches of beach on Oahu. If you are looking for a the perfect place for some peace and quite, during the weekdays and the off-season, the beach is usually pretty empty, being only accessible through a small public access path that runs through one of Lanikai’s upscale neighborhoods. But in keep in mind, on the weekends, the beach tends to get quite crowded. Lanikai is a popular spot among snorkelers and divers because of its beautiful reef patches. Kayakers like to enjoy Lanikai Beach’s waters, as well. With the Moku Nui and Moku Iki, two of the Mokulua Islands being nearby, some people like to kayak to them. But if you have never ocean kayaked before, it could be a quite challenging for you with the waves being much larger than one may think.

Be sure to stock up on food and supplies before arriving to Lanikai Beach. There are no restrooms, showers, or other facilities. There is no public parking that is designated for the beach. There is only parking on the side of the street, so finding a parking spot can be challenging during weekends and holidays.

Be sure to time your visit to Lanikai Beach right, between 9 to 12 days after a full moon, jellyfish often get washed ashore. Other days this can happen, too. If you spot one, get out of the water quickly because these translucent creatures can sting you and leave you off of the beach for a good while. After storms, be sure to watch out for stinging seaweed, also known as limu.