Breathtaking beaches, the ocean breeze, & palm trees in a tropical paradise? You will find all that on the beautiful island of Oahu. As the most popular island in Hawaii, there are over 125 unique beaches to choose from. From white sand & turquoise waters to golden beaches with perfect surfing waves.
Finding Oahu’s best beaches in a short amount of time can be hard and time-consuming though…
This list summarizes the most beautiful & picturesque beaches that you definitely don’t want to miss and will make your next trip to Oahu easier & memorable!
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Why Oahu?
Hawaii is known for its breathtaking nature and tropical beaches with clear waters, soft sand, and stunning scenery. The beaches are knowingly great for snorkeling or diving due to the abundant marine life. Surfing is another awesome activity because of the perfect waves (depending on the season). But why Oahu?
Hawaii’s third-largest island is known for its diverse nature, rich culture, and of course stunning beaches. From white to golden sand and from crystal-clear calm waters to the perfect waves for surfing.
Oahu actually has over 125 accessible beaches all over the island, so it’s the perfect travel destination for anyone who loves exploring new beaches, snorkeling, doing water sports, or just tanning. Because of the breathtaking landscape surrounding everything, beach trips can be perfectly combined with hikes & visiting lookouts.
Since Oahu’s beaches are mostly well maintained, they come with parking options, restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and depending on the location plenty of dining options or little shops to stroll around in.
It really is one of the best places to head to on your next tropical vacation!
Now, of course, “best” beach is a rather subjective term and different to everyone – I’ll be listing a collection of picturesque, unique, or tan & swim-friendly beaches that are worth a visit.
Beach Tips
Before heading to Oahu’s stunning beaches, it’s important to keep a few things in mind regarding your own safety, the island & culture, and of course just useful tips in general.
Hawaiian Beaches | Must-Knows
Beach Activities
There are so many great activities you can do at the beach…
Consider these depending on the beach you go to:
Beach Bag Essentials
Going to the beach to explore? Tan? Relax?
Here are some of my beach essentials:
Best Beaches in Oahu
Map of All the Beaches
North Shore
Starting off strong with the North Shore – Oahu’s popular hub among professional surfers for its vibrant surf culture and of course, stunning beaches. The North Shore specifically the “hippie” town of Hale’iwa has so much to offer, from delicious food spots and natural attractions to amazing activities.
Watching the sunset from any of the beaches here will be stunning!
Hale’iwa Beach
As mentioned above, Hale’iwa Town is known for its laid-back atmosphere and great vibes. This beach is located right by all the restaurants and shops along the road. With all the activities it has to offer, this beach is perfect for spending your day here. Definitely stop by Hale’iwa Bowls to get a famous Açai bowl or take some pictures at the angel wings wall on the way there. If you’re visiting during the summer months, the waters here are relatively calm and perfect for doing some stand-up paddle boarding. During the winter months, you can enjoy watching professional surfers riding the waves!
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Crowned as one of the best beaches on the North Shore, Waimea comes with plenty of amazing reasons why you should visit. Firstly, this beautiful large stretch of beach is located right by the Waimea Valley Trail leading to the Waimea Falls. Hiking the trail and heading to the beach afterward is a great way to end the day and watch the sunset. Another highlight here is the Waimea Bay Rock for cliff jumping from about 30 feet high; it’s definitely an experience. In the winter this beach is extremely popular amongst surfers while the summer can be great for snorkeling due to the clear waters.
East Oahu
The beaches on the east side of Oahu are known for primarily white sand and beautiful clear waters. Its proximity to Honolulu makes it a great place to visit, especially as the drive there is quite scenic.
Kailua Beach
This amazing 2-mile-long beach in the city of Kailua offers stunning white sand and turquoise waters. Its location and activities make Kailua Beach one of the best in Oahu. Anything from tanning, doing watersports (like wind/kite surfing and paddle boarding), or just relaxing in the park directly by the beach is possible here. If you enjoy moving around instead of staying in one spot, consider going on the Kailua Bay Beach walk. It’s 5 miles long and has amazing views of the sea and nature around. Truly, the likelihood of Kailua Beach becoming your new favorite is really high!
Lanikai Beach
Lanikai is another stunning beach and definitely a hidden gem. It’s actually located near Kailua Beach but has a more secluded feel to it with unique views on “the Mokes” aka Mokulua Islands. Lanikai Beach is actually said to have the clearest and bluest waters in Oahu with super fine sand – a real tropical dream! It’s a great treat to come here after taking the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. The hype comes with many visitors, so getting here early is recommended. Be aware that this beach has no facilities like restrooms though, so consider using the ones at Kailua afterward.
Waimānalo Beach
If busy beaches aren’t for you but you still want to experience a stunning white sand beach similar to Lanikai, consider visiting Waimānalo. Due to its location near the road, you will drive past it on the way to Kailua anyway and it’s actually much closer to Honolulu. The 3-mile-long beach has great views of the nearby mountains with mild waves that are great for swimming or boogie boarding. Other than road and nature, there isn’t really anything nearby if walking to food places is important to you.
South Oahu | Honolulu Area
Driving far out of the city to see a beach doesn’t sound fun? These Oahu’s south shore beaches are located close to or in Honolulu making them great everyday beaches.
Sandy Beach Park
Known for its big choppy waves, Sandy Beach in Oahu is a must-see while on the island. Also, the golden sand and nearby rocks make for awesome pictures. Unless you’re an experienced surfer or boogie boarder though, it’s NOT recommended to go in the water. The steep entrance into the sea and dangerous waves coupled with many accidents give Sandy Beach the name “the beach of broken necks”.
Waikīkī Beach & Kuhio Beach Park
Located directly in the heart of Honolulu lies the famous Waikīkī Beach. Many resorts line up on this stretch of beach, just minutes away from shopping and restaurants. This is easily the most-known beach in Hawaii. Unfortunately, due to its popularity, the beach gets extremely crowded and busy – making it quite overrated in my opinion.
Next to Waikīkī though, you’ll discover Kuhio Beach. This beach is popularly nicknamed “Kuhio Ponds” because the waters are separated by a big rocky barrier creating the perfect place to swim without ocean currents. It basically has everything Waikīkī has, just without the crazy crowd and hype. It’s also amazing for watching the sunset. So if you decide to spend your day at a beach in Honolulu, Kuhio might be the best choice.
West Oahu
The beaches on the Westside are rather far from the resorts and tourist areas. Mainly visited by locals, these beaches are considered more dangerous for tourists. Higher crime rates in some areas and no lifeguards don’t make the west shore the best option. It still has beautiful beaches nonetheless, that offer great picture opportunities.
Nānākuli aka Kalaniana’ole Beach
This beach was a rather spontaneous stop along the road, but totally worth it! It’s actually located near the Mermaid Caves, where you can take stunning pictures. This specific beach offers many amenities making it great for family/friend gatherings. Also, watching the sunset from the west shore gives you the best golden hour. You can also have fun jumping in the waves here!
And that sums up all the best beaches in Oahu, Hawaii that you definitely don’t want to miss!
Regardless of what you were looking for, I’m sure you found THE beach for you in this list.
Even if you don’t have time to see them all, choose at least one favorite and plan your visit – you won’t regret it!
My personal recommendation, if I had to pick the top 3 beaches, would be:
- Lanikai Beach in Kailua
- Waimea Bay Beach Park in Waimea
- Waimānalo Beach in Waimānalo
BONUS
A “Beach Day Essentials”-Checklist with all the necessities & tips you wouldn’t think of!
↓ Make sure to download it for FREE ↓
The Ultimate Packing List for the Beach
Share your favorite beaches in the comments or let me know which Oahu beach you liked the most! 🙂
Still looking for more travel tips? Check out Maui:
Maui’s Best Beaches || What to Do in Maui || Full Road to Hana Guide
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Gorgeous pictures! Thank you for all the useful information, this is looking amazing, especially now in winter I barely see the sun outside.
Amazing how many beaches this small island has. But wow, these pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing.
I’m headed to Oahu in April and can’t wait to hit the beaches, especially Waikiki Beach. I’ll be bringing this guide with me when I go!
I love that they have restrooms and showers. It doesn’t seem necessary until it is!