Set along the windward coast of Oʻahu in Kaʻōhao, a community within the town of Kailua, Lanikai Beach—also known as Kaʻōhao Beach—is a famous half-mile strip of coastline. Consistently ranked among the best beaches in the world, this public stretch is nestled against a residential neighborhood. Reaching the sand requires walking through public beach access paths, as there is no public parking lot or county beach park facility on site.
Lanikai Beach features extremely soft, powdery, clean white sand and clear waters with temperatures generally between 75 and 80 °F (24 to 27 °C). Framed by the two offshore islands known as Nā Mokulua, or 'the mokes', the pristine seas offer a unique environment for snorkeling amidst a variety of marine life. Visitors often kayak to the larger northern island, while the southern island is off-limits as a bird sanctuary.
The atmosphere at Lanikai ranges from quiet weekday mornings to heavy crowds on weekends and during winter and summer vacation seasons. Models and photographers frequently use the beach for photo shoots with the Mokulua islands in the background. Lanikai is also known for spectacular moonrises over the islands during full moons. At the southern end, Wailea Point edges Waimanalo and features hiking trails leading to pillboxes.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Road | Access the beach via public pedestrian paths through the residential community of Kaʻōhao in Kailua. |
| Parking | Park legally in downtown Kailua to avoid strictly enforced residential parking violations. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Best time to visit & the water
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Winter & Summer | Vacation seasons | The beach is almost completely packed every single day during winter and summer vacation periods. |
| Weekdays | Year-round | Weekdays offer fewer crowds than weekends, though finding parking near access paths remains difficult. |
Conditions vary with weather, tides & season · Last updated: 2026-09-12
04 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- There are no public restrooms, showers, or lifeguards at Lanikai Beach.
- Residential parking fines of $200 are strictly enforced near beach access paths.
- Legal parking areas can be found in downtown Kailua.
- Landing on the southern Nā Mokulua island is forbidden because it is a protected bird sanctuary.
