VISITED MARCH/APRIL 2016 - LAST VISIT AUGUST 2017
Sunset at Waikiki
ATTENTION - this is a looong page amongst many beaches: for people seeking materials on a specific beach, those I characteristic (in alphabetical order) are:
ALA MOANA - 70% downwardly page
BANZAI PIPELINE - 50% downwardly page
DUKE KAHANOMOKO - 35% dp
FORT DE RUSSY - 28
HALONA - 78%
HANAUMA BAY - 65%
KAILUA - 81%
KO OLINA - 77%+80%
KOOLAULOA - 70
KUHIO - 31
LANIKAI - 85
MAKAP'U - 62
MALEAKAHANA - 82
MOKULEIA/NORTH POLO - 75
PIPELINE - 50
PUPUKEA TIDE POOLS - 37
SANDY - 58
SHARK'S COVE - 37
TURTLE BAY - 77
WAIMANALO - 90
YOKOHAMA - 75
WAIKIKI - 5
WAIMEA BAY - 42
If the beach you lot are seeking isn't inward a higher identify so either it doesn't figure inward my thought of diverse types of BEST BEACHES, or I advert it peripherally.
Similarly, you lot may last LOOKING FOR Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 SPECIFIC TYPE OF BEST BEACH. To salve fourth dimension wading thru many categories - inward monastic tell of appearance are:
BEST BEACH FOR TYPICAL VISITORS - 5%down page
BEST BEACH FOR FAMILIES WITH LITTLE KIDS - 7% downwardly page
BEST BEACH FOR BEGINNER SURFERS - 10% dp
BB FOR SUNSETS - 14%
PEOPLE WATCHING - 20
LAP SWIMMERS - 30
PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS - 39
FAMILIES WITH TEENAGE KIDS - 42
FAMILIES WITH MULTI AGED KIDS 45
SURFERS 50
THRILL SEEKERS/BODY-SURFERS/BODY-BOARDERS 58
SNORKELERS 64
NUDISTS 68
ISOLATIONISTS 70
NATURE ENTHUSIASTS 76
GOLFERS 77
ROMANTICS/FILM BUFFS 78
LAP SWIMMERS 79 (also 27)
HIGH ROLLERS 80
CAMPERS 82
DAY TRIPPERS 85
MY PERSONAL BEST BEACH 90
Dunno how those percentages volition function on your device, but I promise the inward a higher identify helps you lot locate the identify you lot desire a flake easier.
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On my Californian beaches page I said something like...."if you lot desire a goodness beach inward California, best acquire off the aircraft at (or proceed on to) HAWAII"
...only thing is I hadn't been been to Hawaii together with only knew of its goodness beaches via countless surfing films. So I thought it non a bad thought to confirm my argument personally - as presently as a cope priced flying came upward (goold ol' Jetstar) I grabbed it.
All the move books say if you lot are going to Hawaii, don't confine yourself to i island but I had neither the fourth dimension nor coin (I'm a depression budget traveler) to do a detailed banking company check of the others. I'm non too sure close those multi-island itineraries I regard giving 3 or four days on each - I flora my eighteen days on Oahu imbued a pretty goodness thought of the place, but I could receive got used some other calendar week or so.
THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII
There is no absolute best beach - it depends on the user.
The typical visitor who has flown inward seeking an easily accessed prissy beach amongst lots of accommodation/dining/shopping/partying nearby is going to prefer a different i to hard inwardness surfers/snorkelers/thrill merchants/lap swimmers/nudists. Different in i lawsuit to a greater extent than volition last the foremost pick of families amongst footling kids or teenagers. Ditto people who don't heed driving to discovery a pristine and/or deserted patch of silica amongst that amazingly azure H2O you lot tin strength out regard inward the tropics. How close campers, adrenaline junkies, high rollers or golfers?
You may inquire how tin strength out I charge per unit of measurement the beaches of an isle I visited for a curt time. Thing is I'm a seriously quondam beach nerd, surfed for 35+ years starting inward the belatedly 50s, been a budget traveler the past times twenty years - over that fourth dimension I receive got visited to a greater extent than than a K beaches inward Australia, the Pacific, Asia, south-west Nth America together with the Mediterranean.
In the eighteen days I was on Oahu I reckon I walked over 100 miles/160km, traveled way to a greater extent than inward buses (I counted 63 different charabanc trips) together with saw 90% of Oahu beaches including nearly 100% of those the guidebooks advert worth seeing, And I walked the bulk of the latter.
BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR THE TYPICAL VISITOR - BEST OVERALL BEACH - WAIKIKI
WAIKIKI is on the eastern one-half of Ohau's due south coast. It's occupation of greater Honolulu urban expanse together with is 30km/19miles from Honolulu International Airport together with less than 5km eastward of dowtown Honolulu.
WAIKIKI is a coastal department of greater HONOLULU bordered past times ALA WAI SMALL BOAT HARBOUR (A), ALA WAI CANAL (B) and the DIAMOND HEAD hotel precinct (C). The zone is oriented from northward W to due south eastward non west-east as the literature together with signs suggest.
Waikiki is remarkably compact - banking company check the linear scale. The total beach distance from its start inward the north-west to "C" is abt 3.2km/2m. The sand is continuous over this distance but it may disappear high tide inward front end of SANS SOUCI STATE REC ([park) expanse abt 250m northward of "C"
ALA MOANA BEACH (a Honolulu metropolis beach) which I advert downwardly page as i of the BEST BEACHES FOR LAP SWIMMING tin strength out last occupation seen nearest the top left corner of image.
WAIKIKI is non my personal #1 BEST BEACH (see NTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS FLD BCH downwardly page) - but I'm giving "BEST OVERALL BEACH to it on concern human relationship it ticks so many boxes.
TICK 1 - OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR ACCOMMODATION AND ACCESS
For a start Kevin together with Kayla from Kansas volition discovery a fantastic selection of accommodation inward this area.
This is a real compact zone but has hundreds of accommodation options. You are looking at appprox 70% of Waikiki's beachfront hotels. If you lot click-expand pic you lot volition regard the eastern terminate of the hotel strip abt one-half way across image.
As said, this is a real compact expanse - the hotel zone goes dorsum 3 to v blocks making the whole precinct 2.6km x 1.2km /1.6mi x 0.75mi max, so fifty-fifty though Kevin together with Kayla may non receive got a beach-front hotel at that topographic point are many fine ones closed by. Plus less expensive options (this doesn't hateful they are non fine) - fifty-fifty 2 hostels. My HOSTELING INTERNATIONAL WAIKIKI was fine (fer the price).
And Oahu's insistence on populace access to beaches way our gang volition discovery a lane-way close every 400m or so - or fifty-fifty improve they tin strength out stroll through 2 beachside green areas - Kuhio Beach Park only past times the in conclusion hotel mid image and Fort Derussy Beach Park maybe 300m/1400ft behind camera.
Not only does the beach receive got good access from the expanse behind, but the full general Waikiki expanse has good access from HONOLULU AIRPORT - no other tourist goal is as close. The common taxis together with aerodrome shuttles are available, budget travelers tin strength out occupation buses nineteen together with twenty for $2.50 together with many hotels run costless shuttles.
BTW that separate bunch of hotels far correct of ikon is the Diamond Head hotel precinct - Diamond Head itself towers to their left. My camera's focal length makes the hotels appear a fair distance from Waikiki but I strolled the gap several times inward abt 10 minutes (several times because at that topographic point is a goodness green expanse populace practise spot amongst my favorite mentum upward bars fairly closed to the hotels). This stroll is along a prissy bounding main frontage or thru a goodness green area. If an average tourist could salve a lot of coin staying at Diamond Head, go for it. There is a small-scale prissy patch of sand right away W of its hotel precinct called Kaimana Bch or San Souci Bch. It's supposed to last the top beach for hot beach babes. Wouldn't know - the babes had gone dwelling theater when I walked it at 1745.
TICK 2 - ONE OF OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACHES FOR FAMILIES WITH LITTLE KIDS
When Kev together with K go downwardly to the beach they volition discovery the bay protected past times the offshore reef, meaning...
...any wavelets reaching the sand are ankle-ticklers at most. Lack of appreciable waves way at that topographic point are no nasty currents or undertows. All of which makes Waikiki one of my top 3 of:
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACHES FOR FAMILIES WITH LITTLE KIDS
Not to advert older than kids non comfortable/familiar amongst waves together with surf.
BTW I surfed for 35 years - surfers go amateur experts at wave/current conditions together with what causes them (mainly conditions - specially strong/lengthy winds) - together with from what I know of Waikiki's conditions together with orientation I reckon this coast would only close ever acquire benign swell - different say Oahu's NORTH SHORE which is orientated perfectly to grab those awesome tempest swells generated inward the northern Pacific every at nowadays together with so inward winter.
I googled shots of Waikiki when the surfing waves on the exterior reef were bigger than during my see - soundless relative talocrural articulation ticklers reaching the beach.
Nice waves on the reef (well for beginners - Kelly Slater aint gonna last there) but non to much getting thru to the beach (I pinched this ikon from http://www.best-beaches.com/)
This department of the beach has the real terminate of Grays Beach close to photographic tv set camera rapidly becoming what is confusingly known as "Waikiki Beach" (less confusingly aka "Royal Hawaiian Beach) to only past times the in conclusion edifice mid image.
This Waikiki hotel rim puddle seems a dandy spot for tbig kids too.
TICK 3 - Waikiki is also BEST OAHU WAIKIKI BEACH FOR BEGINNER SURFERS
The easiest waves to ride are small-scale like shooting fish in a barrel reef breaks together with the easiest boards to paddle onto them together with ride them are long-boards. Waikiki has a surplus of both. Also at that topographic point is no shortage of people who volition give surfing lessons, although I reckon if you lot can't afford the money/time for at to the lowest degree 3 lessons, best give them a immature lady - surfing is incredibly hard. But learning is fun. And I can't recall of a improve identify to start than Waikiki.
I modified the inward a higher identify ikon from http://www.hyattplacewaikikibeach.com/ - I swam out hither to the take-off zone (just to say I'd been there: for a spell I was First Man Charlie, mid way to Midway) but I wasn't prepared to entrust my photographic tv set camera to those waterproof packs therefore the demand to borrow this shot.
I know some of you lot pedants are going to betoken out that the inward a higher identify moving ridge is to a greater extent than than an talocrural articulation tickler. Okay, for a start this was in all probability shot on i of the few days of the twelvemonth when the swell is bigger. And fifty-fifty then, at that topographic point are farther shallow reefs betwixt the convey off zone together with the beach which volition cutting the size of the waves - so when they achieve the beach they are to a greater extent than probable to last SHIN TICKLERS.
July 2017 - neophyte surfers crowd Waikiki Bay
THE DOWNSIDE OF SINGLE TRAVEL
You are in all probability thinking: amongst 35 years surfing experience why doesn't this dude hire a board together with leave of absence there? Well for a start I'm a existent cheapskate bottom budget traveler together with $us15 an hr board hire would last rather spent on nutrient or something salubrious to imbibe - similar an icy mutual depression temperature Kona beer or two. But to a greater extent than to the point, I ever experience insecure close leaving my valuables lone on the beach spell I disappear into the H2O - together with I don't trust waterproof containers to last 100% effective (just a few drops tin strength out homecoming an expensive to supplant passport non-acceptable past times the border strength nazis). So for my swim I left all my valuables inward my hostel locker, pinned the locker key plus the hostel door keys within my board-short pocket, walked the 2 blocks to the beach together with dived in.
GIVE THE BODYBOARDS Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 MISS btw - those cheaper-to-hire foam trunk boards are incredibly hard to paddle unless you lot receive got a laid of swim fins. Give them the flick.
Advice from tezza to dudes - take away hold dorsum on the board, go amongst the body.
Now this is a gender-equal blog. Most babes won't last interested inward a pic of some cutting body-boarding dude, so I approximate I'll receive got to impart some sage tezza advice to the ladies:
Advice fron tezza to dudettes - take away hold dorsum on the KFC, Krispy Kremes, go amongst the gym together with you lot too tin strength out receive got a trunk similar this.
(Google images flora this Pinterest pic)
Back to hiring a board: Even if you lot only sit down out the dorsum on your long-board together with drinkable inward the surfer-dude/Gidget atmosphere + acquire an off-shore perspective of Waikiki, it is fourth dimension good spent. And long-boards are dead like shooting fish in a barrel to paddle together with sit down on.
This shot gives some thought of what the shore looks similar from out inward the take-off zone. These outrigger canoes seem to last iconic inward films etc close Waikiki beach, but interestingly I saw none on the H2O inward the 8 days I was inward this area. Plenty on the beach.
Not existence prepared to jeopardy my camera, I had to pinch this off http://www.honoluluhi5.com/
CLEAN? On the theme of beaches suited to families together with kids, lets beak close SAND AND WATER CLEANLINESS at Waikiki. Although non as pristine as some other Oahu locations, compared to a lot of busy metropolis beaches I've seen, Waikiki is pretty good. Authorities must pass a fair flake of fourth dimension preparation the beach (I was too lazy to do a 5am banking company check on this) together with tempest H2O (the primary crusade of muddy sea water) command must last good. Although Waikiki's relatively dry out climate doesn't hurt. Doesn't wound your chances of getting plenty of sunshine during your see either.
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TICK 3 - WAIKIKI GETS GOOD SUNSETS
I won't say Waikiki gets OAHU HAWAII'S BEST SUNSETS. There seems to last plenty of due south coast, Leeward Goast together with North Shore beaches amongst goodness sunsets But Waikiki aint bad. The relatively dry out climate important frequently minimal clouds doesn't hurt.
This is from the beer garden of the rather traditional together with famous Moana Surfrider hotel...
....the inward a higher identify 2 shots from the terminate of "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian Bch only curt of Kuhio Beach Park a footling farther south-west.
Note inward the pics inward a higher identify that the sunset volition shift left inward winter, correct inward summertime (this was shot inward Spring). Given the northern shift of the sun's arc until the summertime solstice it's possible that some absolute waterfront buildings inward the fundamental Waikiki expanse may acquire inward the way closed to June21/22 - non existence able to afford to confirm this I'd appreciate whatever reader who knows posting the answer at the human foot of this page.
Mid summertime 2017
Yep. past times belatedly July the Sun had moved far plenty northward to last setting only behind the border of i of the seaside buildings. June 21/22 is ordinarily the sun's northern most engagement so it would in all probability last setting behind that building.
But annotation farther W along the WAIKIKI stretch where the coast curves you lot would last able to regard it setting behind the LEEWARD COAST'S mountains at such times.
They don't telephone holler upward it Sunset Beach for nothing. I shot this from a passing charabanc - you lot tin strength out regard the sunset is non precisely mid bay but this is a belatedly March pic - sunset volition displace to the correct as summertime progresses (at to the lowest degree until June 21/22). Even inward mid wintertime as the sunset moves left you lot would acquire a sunset hither - specially from the curved northern occupation of the beach which faces much to a greater extent than south.
Strewth! I tin strength out listen you lot say. This tezza dude is a flake anal close sunsets!
Guilty as charged, Kemosabe - I'm a existent sunset nerd: if you lot expect at the diverse pages on this weblog at that topographic point are literally hundreds of sunset pix.
Interesting betoken is inward all the years I've been checking sunsets I've only seen 2 perfect ones where cloud didn't acquire inward the way. The foremost was at Broome north-west Commonwealth of Australia long before I started this blog, the 2d you lot tin strength out regard 2 together with 3 shots above. Matter of fact the in conclusion i is so goodness I should crop it to emphasize the point.
So I did. There you lot go.
The following inward the sequence cropped pretty nicely too.
TICK four - Waikiki IS OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR SUNSET CRUISES
Speaking of sunset, if Kev together with K desire to grab a sunset cruise at that topographic point is no lack of choice. Motorized catamarans (foreground) were going correct off the beach, lotsa yachts together with cruiser mainly out of Ala Wai boat harbour abt 3km W together with each pm nosotros had the large sunset dinner cruiser far left background of image.
TICK v - Waikiki is also OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR PEOPLE WATCHING
The beach itself is pretty special.
Looking good! Of course of teaching I'm talking close Diamond Head.
The scene at WAIKIKI'S i remaining quondam style beach bar**, the KOA OASIS BOOZE SHACK inward the FORT DERUSSY BEACH PARK department of the strip - the beach walkway goes correct past times hither amongst plenty of the beautiful people strutting their stuff. More sunning on the sand inward front end of the bar.
**WAIKIKI has a truck-load of beach bars, but the others are large flash modenistic parts of the beachfront hotels.
In the spirit of gender equal opportunity, fer you lot ladies I dredged upward a shot of a totally cutting beach bloke - ME...
...you receive got to trust me on this.
If you lot are over bikini babes/hunks a goodness fourth dimension to banking company check passers past times is closed to sunset where places similar the junction of "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian Bch together with Kuhio Beach Park receive got no shortage of people (the inward a higher identify was shot a flake after sunset together with already good over one-half the crowd has drifted away).
Earlier it's a special process to grab a topographic point inward i of the flash hotels beachfront bar areas and....
...check out swain patrons.
HEY, NO CELEBRITIES! I listen you lot say. Well inward fact at that topographic point was a large contingent of PR people behind me hither at Moana Surfrider - apparently the guy who plays Steve McGarrett in Hawaiian Five-O was close to appear. Not existence fussed amongst TV or celebrities, I paid footling attention, instead...
...scoping the activeness "out the back", plus...
...on the stage.
For a less expensive beer together with beach/people fix, you lot could essay the only traditional 50s/60s beachside articulation left on the strip - the Koa Oasis Booze Shack ("best margaritas inward Waikiki") at Fort Derussy Beach. Well I can't tell you lot abt the margaritas (although they were selling upward a storm) but the Hawaiian Kona beer inward the biiig drinking glass was pretty good.
Speaking of Waikiki's Beach Parks, at that topographic point is ever something going on...
...such as this grouping before inward the solar daytime inward SANS SOUCI STATE RECREATIONAL BEACH PARK towards the far eastern terminate Waikiki (way past times the hotel zone). After the hippy milkshake looks similar they receive got a goodness spread of tucker arranged. Anyone for lunch? I hung closed to but didn't acquire an invite.
An interesting betoken - regime rig upward a giant covert together with present costless identify unit of measurement friendly movies at Queen's Beach closed behind the photographic tv set camera on several weekends most months. The film is preceded past times alive music together with frequently hula shows. Food vendors also laid up. Very popular. http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net/
Great people watching tin strength out last seen along Kalakaua Ave which runs behind the beachfront hotels for much of Waikiki. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 swain invitee at my Waikiki HI hostel said the whole avenue is a "scene" each night, when tourists together with locals, many inward their finery, come upward out to parade, shop, consume together with last entertained. There are eateries. drinkeries together with retailers to encounter all budgets along here. Plus a number of flash looking clubs, consummate amongst door nazis - although if your gustation inward amusement is to a greater extent than budget they don't come upward much cheaper than the street entertainers - the inward a higher identify crowd had gathered closed to a rather goodness illusionist/comedian from Canada who genuinely explained inward betwixt amusing repartee how he pulled his tricks - this did non spoil his act: rather it left me inward admiration of how clever together with quick his sleights of paw etc are: fifty-fifty when demonstrated inward like shooting fish in a barrel motion.
The abundance of the inward a higher identify makes Waikiki OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR NEARBY SHOPPING, EATING/DRINKING AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS
TICK half-dozen - I reckon Waikiki also shares the rating of OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR LAP SWIMMERS
Thing is, lap swimmers ordinarily dislike bounding main swimming, fifty-fifty the mild bump of an outside-reef sheltered beach expanse which tin strength out swamp their breathing - it tin strength out last existent unpleasant getting a mouthful of H2O when turning the caput to grab some oxygen. So they prefer somewhere to a greater extent than sheltered, but hopefully inward the sunshine to heighten the vacation experience, non some covered pool. Waikiki tin strength out do this inward 2 areas:
KUHIO BEACH POOLS
First nosotros receive got this break-wall protected twin beach puddle which runs a combined 400m/1300ft along Kuhio Beach right away south-east of its junction amongst "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian Beach. Kuhio Beach Park runs behind the beach. I'm gonna telephone holler upward this expanse the KUHIO BEACH POOLS.
It's obvious at that topographic point is a small-scale transcend (break) inward the outer reef that lets to a greater extent than swell thru inward this expanse together with the break-wall was built to protect the beach from moving ridge erosion. Note the trunk boarders bottom left of ikon (you may receive got to click-expand) - they provide goodness amusement riding the waves straight at the break-wall together with bailing out at the in conclusion second.
This dandy shot from the Waikiki Marriot which I pinched off http://sparklingvoyages.com/
I modified this Google ground ikon to give some thought of the pools. That's Kuhio Beach behind the pools, Kuhio Beach Park right away behind the beach together with the primary drag Kalakaua Ave behind that. The eastern terminate of the "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian Bch section of the greater Waikiki beach strip is labelled close the ikon top - my favorite expanse because of like shooting fish in a barrel access via the small-scale green department at its junction amongst the pools. Beach together with H2O pretty okay, in all probability the best Waikiki longboard surfing zone offshore, no shortage of surfboard together with umbrella hire, large crowd at sunset, a populace toilet/change area, 2 beach shower places.and the Waikiki police force station inward white edifice top of image. So less run a jeopardy of undesirables - although the cops didn't displace me on.
WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUM
Keen Google Earth/Maps nerds may notice an opened upward air but wall-enclosed puddle some 700m/2200ft SSW of the above. This is the 100x40m puddle inward the War Memorial Natatorium built inward 1927 together with officially CLOSED inward 1963. Not gonna do your laps hither unless they restore/re-open - which is the programme at fourth dimension of writing.
The War Meomorial Planitarium puddle is pretty clear inward this modified Google image.
That's trendy Kaimana/Sans Souci Beach (apparently the hot babe beach - mentioned upward page) only below.
Check that small-scale patch of sand at the real bottom of ikon - seems the properties at that topographic point receive got their ain exclusive beach, How cool - maybe they receive got dredged/dumped the sand themselves because I could non regard whatever populace access - I recall i of the properties is a high terminate condo: fer the other maybe you lot could google Outrigger Canoe Club. Bet it aint a tezza cheapie.
BTW - that's the Waikiki Aquarium white buildings real top of image.
My favorite green practise zone amongst the mentum upward bars together with much to a greater extent than is non too far inward a higher identify top correct of image.
Fer the anal who reckon every "map" should receive got a scale (I concur - but I'm a map nerd) - it's 450m/1500ft from top to bottom of image.
iamge from http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net/
Reinforcing Waikiki's claim to equal top ranking inward the LAP SWIMMER'S BEST BEACH is DUKE KAHANAMOKU LAGOON way upward the other terminate of the strip.
This completely artificial lagoon was developed past times the twin tower (and more) resort backing it, the HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE. Just after I took the inward a higher identify pic I went for a genuinely prissy long swim inward the lagoon. Now at that topographic point is some ground close populace access, but I walked inward from the surrounding street via i of several opened upward gates behind the photographic tv set camera - ther were no "PRIVATE PROPERTY" or "NO TRESSPASSING" signs. The resort says the populace tin strength out occupation the lagoon for a fee - but I didn't pay together with nobody hassled me or other evidently outsiders swimming or lounging on the grass/sand inward the expanse of the camera. But I can't say at that topographic point seemed to last a large number of outsiders belatedly on a prissy Fri afternoon.
Nothing similar an aerial shot to add together perspective - I can't afford helicopters together with had to pinch this goodness i from the hotel's website. I'm offset to empathize why I wasn't hassled - the lagoon is taking upward quite a large piece of the western terminate of compact DUKE KAHANAMOKU BEACH which extends only as far eastward as that small-scale pier (Hilton Pier) closest camera.
(Behind the pier begins FORT DERUSSY BEACH and DERUSSY BEACH PARK).
The Hawaiian voter is real sensitive close costless populace access to beach areas together with is probable to acquire upset if the Hilton Hawaiian Village gets too heavy close the issue.
In an essay to clarify some of the above, I tilted together with turned this Google ground ikon together with marked inward the diverse beach zones. It's hard to add together a scale to these oblique images but as already said it is abt 2mi/3.2 km along the beach from identify marking Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 to G.
Note the DIAMOND HEAD CRATER far right.
The large green expanse betwixt F together with G is SANS SOUCI STATE REC/KAPIONANI parks - this expanse contains lotsa materials including the WAIKIKI AQAURIUM, HONOLULU ZOO, WAIKIKI SHELL outdoor music venue - non to advert my favorite fitness station amongst the mentum upward bars.
TO SUM UP STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS SECTION:
- most attractive (to me that's prissy sand/water together with non too busy):Ft Derussy.
- busiest: Gray's together with "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian
-quietest:Ft Derussy together with Queen's
- best access from inland hotels:Ft Derussy together with junction of "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian - Kuhio
- best beach babes: "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian together with reputably Sans Souci
- best hunks: I hung closed to generally at junction of D together with E. But I won't last dorsum for some fourth dimension - but the same expanse tends to receive got the most cutting surfer dudes. Some v fit babes too.
- coolest beach bars: all along the strip (down to personal preference).
- best lap swimming - D Kahanomoku (lagoon) together with Kuhio Tide Pools
- easiest access to the "scene" on Kalakaua Ave - left terminate of Kuhio/most of "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian
- best sunsets - all except Gray's together with "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian which human face upward to a greater extent than east.
- best for kids: they are all good, amongst small-scale wavelets/few currents etc. For sand "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian, Ft Derussy together with Duke Kahanokmuku - for genuinely protected H2O Du. Kah. lagoon together with Kuhio tidal pools
- best for touristy surfing** - junction "Waikik"/Roayal Hawaiian together with Kuhio
BUT REMEMBER - THIS IS Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 VERY COMPACT AREA: DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU STAY information technology IS AN EASY WALK TO MOST OTHER BEACH AREAS.
**I reckon HARD CORE Honolulu surfers would in all probability caput for the improve waves inward the expanse due due south of DIAMOND HEAD crater.
This expanse starts only over a km south-east of SANS SOUCI - seems the reef allows to a greater extent than swell to acquire through. Every fourth dimension I went past times at that topographic point was a bunch of surfing wagons parked along the seaside route below DIAMOND HEAD crater together with plenty of surfers out on those reef breaks. They receive got to clamber 15/20m downwardly a steep semi cliff - the beach(es) at the bottom are skinny together with discontinuous.
Okay, it's non the NORTH SHORE - but those breaks are 45/70 minutes away depending on traffic together with parking.
TICK vii - Waikiki is i of OAHU HAWAII'S BEAST BEACH FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS.
With super protected places similar the inward a higher identify DUKE KAHANAMOKU LAGOON together with KOHIO BEACH POOLS plus the reef-protected nature of the balance of the beach areas, I reckon this is the identify for families amongst pre-teens. Sure, plenty of other beaches tin strength out do the reef protected thing - some of them are prettier than Waikiki - but most of us know that having to charge immature families into/out of rental cars or grab the charabanc is no like shooting fish in a barrel task.
TICK 8 - Waikiki is OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS
- because you lot tin strength out stroll to the beach, restaurants/fast food/bars, shopping etc plus access a heed blowing number of solar daytime trips to other parts of the isle
If car-less visitors desire to go elsewhere at that topographic point is a constant fleet of day-trip coaches/vans leaving the expanse - plus lotsa populace buses which go/connect only abt anywhere on the island($2.50 amongst 2 transfers), running specially along Kuhio Ave a few blocks inland. Not to advert many rental-car outlets.
WHOA! - 8 TICKS: WAIKIKI CERTAINLY PICKS UP Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 FAIR FEW BEST BEACH AWARDS
BUT THERE ARE OTHER BEACHES ON OAHU WHICH CAN PICK UP BEST BEACH AWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE VISITOR IS SEEKING
BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR FAMILIES WITH TEENAGED KIDS - WAIMEA BAY
We receive got seen that Waikiki does this well. But Waimea does it improve IMHO
WAIMEA is on the northern one-half of Oahu's NORTH SHORE (the department betwixt the white identify markers). It is 55km/34mi from Honolulu - add together a few for Waikiki. If you lot haven't a car, a goodness choice is charabanc 55 which goes from Honolulu's Ala Moana charabanc interchange, upward closed to the top of the isle together with ends upward at Haleiwa due south of Waimea. For $us2.50.
THE NORTH SHORE'S WAIMEA BAY
Waimea, seen hither early on afternoon on a prissy Spring schoolhouse holiday day, is a pretty attractive beach, to the betoken that until I'd seen some of the lower windward coast beaches featured downwardly page it was my personal pick for BEST BEACH. Note the lagoon inward dorsum - the river feeding it flows out of Waimea Canyon. There is fifty-fifty a small-scale waterfall a curt distance inland. To the image's correct of the lagoon inward pix at that topographic point is a prissy beach green amongst a reasonable sized but non existent large machine park.
The ground I recall teens volition similar it is mainly because of this bound stone downwardly the southern terminate of the bay. Kids were also having lots of fun inward that non nasty shore respite - to a greater extent than fun to teens than Waikiki's normal talocrural articulation ticklers.
Looks similar fun. Even though I'm a geezer, I receive got the emotional historic menstruum of an xi year-old together with it took all my willpower to resist going upward for a jump... 
...although similar similar places it seems considerably higher in i lawsuit upward at that topographic point (Google Images flora this pic at https://uk.pinterest.com/)
SOME CAVEATS RE WAIMEA
- Family-wise I would avoid this identify in i lawsuit the swell gets over four foot. Pay attending to the surf reports. The shore respite becomes nasty, making whatever swimming a hassle. Rip currents develop. In bigger swell in i lawsuit to a greater extent than this beach tin strength out acquire downright unsafe - when the large tempest swells which march inward from the northern Pacific hit, waves tin strength out acquire 20ft plus which is dandy for skillful surfers but should last avoided past times mere mortals. Not that you lot volition acquire anywhere close the beach. The machine green volition last full, the traffic along the primary coast route horrific, access to the sand roped off. There volition last a important cliff cutting past times moving ridge erosion into the sand so that getting into the H2O volition last a trick, together with in i lawsuit inward the H2O the shore respite together with rip currents volition last horrendous. Note wintertime is the fourth dimension for large swells to arrive, but that it is frequently benign or okay for non-expert surfers for long periods betwixt large moving ridge times. Summer sees large swell rarely on the North Shore.
- Several people told me a see to WAIMEA CANYON is non dandy value. Adults pay over $17 EACH together with the waterfall is underwhelming as are the botanical gardens.
A few pluses: - You volition almost surely come upward across from your Waikiki base of operations past times car: the North Shore has no hotels apart from expensive TURTLE COVE RESORT at the island's northern tip - this is 13km/8miles from Waimea together with you lot volition soundless demand a machine unless you lot occupation charabanc 55. The primary identify unit of measurement accommodation you lot volition discovery on the North Shore is inward rented houses/apartments. House rental is expensive on Oahu, specially on the North Shore. Best deals volition last in/around Haleiwa.
Anyway, amongst a machine you lot could brand a DAY-TRIP of it past times also spending fourth dimension at SHARK'S COVE stone puddle (featured right away downwardly page) which is only 2km northward of Waimea.
- Your teens volition in all probability taste dejeuner or a snack at the uniquely Hawaiian together with pop FOOD-TRUCK PARK across the route from the stone puddle also shown following section. And no doubtfulness some of MATSUMOTO'S famous shave-ice at the neat footling surfing town of HALEIWA (Hah li eeva) 7km due south of Waimea afterward inward the afternoon volition go downwardly a treat.
- On the way downwardly to Haleiwa you lot could telephone holler upward inward at LANIAKAE BEACH together with banking company check the turtles.
-Going dorsum across the isle the kids mightiness taste touristy DOLE PINEAPPLE PLANTATION store/restaurant/train tour - specially if they grab the store's pineapple peeling demo after which at that topographic point are costless samples of yummy pineapple.>
If you lot haven't got a car, charabanc 55 tin strength out acquire you lot all the way from Honolulu's Ala Moana Center charabanc interchange correct closed to the top of the isle via Turtle Bay Resort's machine park downwardly to Haleiwa. This is a goodness way to regard a lot of the isle together with volition cost $us2.50 for adults together with I recall i buck for each kid. Going dorsum across the isle from Haleiwa you lot volition demand charabanc 52 - same prices.>
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR FAMILIES WITH MULTI-AGE KIDS - SHARK'S COVE/PUPUKEA TIDE POOLS
So what if you lot receive got both pre-teens together with teens? Well I reckon this neat footling location a curt distance northward of Waimea Bay volition hold them together with you lot occupied.
Shark's Cove is that small-scale inlet far correct of image. Pupukea Tide Pool is the large puddle to its left. Note the patch of sand far left of image.
They are located on the primary coastal road (the Kam Hwy) across from PUPUKEA FOODLOANDS (white roof)
This expanse is pop so if you lot acquire inward after mid morning time you lot may receive got to search for a parking spot. There is parking inward small-scale highway-side lots to the due south (left above) together with northward of the 2 closest side roads, i of which you lot tin strength out regard bottom left, but many people green along the highway or the 2 side streets. I'm non sure if parking is costless inward FOODLAND'S lot.
If you lot receive got footling kids, access via the small-scale beach/park - the northern access via tracks downwardly from the highway following the Cove are steep together with tricky.
As occupation of Pupukea Beach Park, there is an amenities block close the sandy patch.
Those vehicles etc only to the correct of Foodlands make upward the hugely pop Shark's Cove food-truck park.
PUPAKEA TIDE POOL a jewel for visitors of all ages who similar to fossick inward shallow H2O pools - if you lot click-expand you lot volition regard people wading knee/ankle deep inward background.
I'm non sure what the tide was doing during my visit, but the tidal hit is tiny inward Oahu (often less than a ft/300mm) so it volition non brand a lot of difference. Indeed the puddle is so shallow it is hard to spot on Google Earth. But that makes it ideal for littlies who can't swim much. Good swimmers volition discovery deeper H2O where the puddle meets Shark Cove at correct of ikon together with this is also an splendid snorkeling spot amongst plenty of fringing coral together with heaps of fish.
Those rocks to the bounding main side of the puddle offering goodness protection to fifty-fifty moderately large waves, but DON'T COME HERE when the surf study s says the swell is HUGE - Google Images show the whole pool/cove covered inward a wall of swirling white water.
Spot the puddle - I modified this Google ground ikon to emphasize its shallowness plus present some other of import expanse features.
Note a reasonably swell seems to last running together with yet the puddle is benign. SHARK'S COVE seems pretty sheltered too, which suggests both deep H2O together with some due south inward the beginning of the swell.
BTW 1 - some of you lot pedants are in all probability sniffing: well it aint genuinely a BEACH expanse so how the hell does it fit into a listing of Oahu Hawaii's best beaches? Um, good that patch of sand is genuinely close 120m long together with 50m at its widest, so it's a fair flake bigger than the average playground sand pit.
BTW 2 - if whatever of the identify unit of measurement is a qualified diver, SHARK'S COVE is rated by Scuba Diving MagazineONE OF THE TOP TWELVE DIVE SITES IN THE WORLD. The world, non only Oahu or Hawaii! Stone the crows trendsetters, that has to brand this expanse THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR DIVERS too.
SHARK'S COVE is a North Shore location - only nether 65km/40mi from Waikiki, 10km/6mi northward of Haleiwa together with 3km/2mi due south of Sunset Beach, the most northern of the BIG 3 North Shore surfing breaks.
Bus 55 volition acquire you lot hither from Honolulu via the top of the isle together with buse52 goes across the isle to Halweiwa - alter to 55.
After the pool/cove I suggest:
- crossing the busy route to the nutrient trucks for a snack/meal.
There has to last to a greater extent than than a dozen nutrient trucks amongst seating to gibe inward the large lot northward of Foodlands. Very pop amongst locals together with visiting surfers/day-trippers.
- possibly checking the outlook from the viewpoint a curt like shooting fish in a barrel bush walk from the parking lot at the Puu O Mahaka State Monument ruins (entrance only upward the side route from Foodlands)...
Waimea Bay together with due south - that's the island's western-most Kaena Point far background amongst the impressive Wainea Range which separates the southern occupation of the NORTH SHORE from the northern department of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST. Haleiwa is tucked inward behind the headland colina far left of image.
- so heading due south dorsum to Waikiki, calling inward at Laniakea Beach (turtle spotting),Waimea Bay(the bigger kids may taste a stone bound or a surf inward the ordinarily benign shore break), the neat footling town of Haleiwa for Matsumoto's famous shave H2O ice joint...
...whoa! Matusmoto's sure packs them in. This is the delineate out the door on the Sun before Easter. I returned on a weekday - delineate started at door, moved fairly quickly. Note small-scale serve is BIG ENOUGH together with the cost real reasonable.
Plenty of other shave H2O ice together with fast nutrient choices inward town. Plus lotsa surfwear joints together with other surf orientated shops.
...and the Dole Pineapple Plantation attractions
Pineapple peeling demo inward the retail middle at Dole. Free samples handed out after. Gotta last the juciest, freshest pineapple I've had - together with Commonwealth of Australia produces a LOT of pineapples.
I give to a greater extent than details of all these places inward the WAIMEA BAY department right away upward page.
Then again, if your teens are keen together with real competent surfers, they may foremost desire to banking company check out iconic large moving ridge spots similar BANZAI PIPELINE together with SUNSET BAY a real curt distance to the north. Details on PIPELINE right away below.
BEST BEACH IN HAWAII FOR SURFERS - THE BANZAI PIPELINE
There is no "BANZAI PIPELINE" sign on the highway - expect for the depression buildings of SUNSET BEACH ELEMENTAY SCHOOL close a mile due south of SUNSET BEACH'S bay/beach.>
PIPELINE is some other North Shore location - abt 66km/41mi from Waikiki, 12km/7mi northward of Haleiwa together with less than I mile due south of Sunset Beach, the most northern of the BIG 3 North Shore surfing breaks.
Bus 55 volition acquire you lot hither from Honolulu via the top of the isle together with bus52 goes across the isle to Halweiwa - alter to 55.
WHERE'S THE FAMOUS BREAK?
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When I hitting the beach from the carpark I was kinda confused - the swell wasn't huge but at that topographic point was a fairly goodness "semi betoken break" moving ridge to the northward amongst a fair few surfers working it - but baby, that is a correct and everyone knows the best moving ridge at PIPELINE is a left. Go left inward a higher identify together with you lot are gonna smack the rocks/sand.
So I asked the lifeguard where the truthful PIPELINE was. He directed me to expect due south abt 350m where....
...I could brand out a left hander (sorry abt the arrow - I'm non too handy on "paint" - might last worth clicking-expanding the image). The left didn't expect existent impressive but I walked downwardly there....
...and flora a pro surf lensman laid upward beach terminate of i of the populace access lanes. He told me a circular of the WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR QUALIFYING SERIES was going on - these are immature women aged mainly eighteen to mid-20s trying to qualify for the primary women's tour. Most had non been surfing to a greater extent than than 10 years together with yet they were way improve than I ever got inward 35 years. I watched for a long time. >
BTW - pedants volition betoken out the inward a higher identify lady is going RIGHT, non the classic Pipeline LEFT. Okay, she's riding what is known as BACKDOOR PIPELINE which takes off from the same expanse as the classic lefts. Tournament surfers frequently grab a BACKDOOR moving ridge to sneak inward some extra points.
ANYWAY MY JUDGEMENT OF VISITING THIS AREA WHEN THE SURF WASN'T HUGE IS THAT THERE WERE ENOUGH GOOD WAVES AT VARIOUS BREAKS TO ALLOW SURFERS OVER Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE TO ENJOY CONDITIONS (there volition non last contests stealing a respite all that often).AND OF COURSE, WHEN THE SURF DOES GET BIG, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR REALLY SKILLED SURFERS
I couldn't leave of absence this department without showing what Pipeline is similar when it IS epic.
Whoa! I reckon all but the experts would best remain on the beach - ikon from http://www.threebestbeaches.com/
PRACTICAL NOTE - let's say you lot are a surfing enthusiast without the science to surf the likes of the inward a higher identify but you'd similar real much to acquire upward to Pipeline together with nearby Waimea together with Sunset to banking company check out the large moving ridge activeness from the beach. However you lot are topographic point off from what you lot receive got heard close the horrendous traffic together with parking problems on the North Shore when the surf is pumping.
No problems, kemosabe! Jump on bus 55 at Honolulu's Ala Moana transit center which volition convey you lot on a dandy anti-clockwise trip closed to the isle to all 3 of the BIG 3 hell holes. It volition last obvious when you lot receive got reached Sunset Beach together with Waimea, but at that topographic point is no highway sign or standout coastal embayment announcing Pipeline. However you lot volition know where to bound off for Pipeline when you lot regard Sunset Beach Elementary School only a mile/1.6km due south of the actual Sunset Beach. Anyway, the drivers are dandy together with volition assist amongst your stop. As you lot cross the road, giggle at all the desperates looking fer a parking spot.
Bus 55 inward a delineate of traffic which has slowed to banking company check out the turtles spell passing Laniakae Beach 4 miles/7km due south of Pipeline.
But here's the thing - the BIG 3 beaches are so closed together (3.2miles/5.2km past times road) that you lot could acquire off at the Sunset and walk due south taking inward the other beaches - Google Maps tells us the walking occupation should convey close 63 minutes but past times the fourth dimension I checked out all of the many beach access paths together with snapped pix at the large 3 themselves, 3+ hours had passed. Pretty interesting 3 hours.
Not a dandy distance betwixt WIAMEA together with SUNSET.
LANIAKEA is the Turtle spotting beach - it is only a flake over 3.5km northward of HALEIWA.
That sparse dark delineate only inland from the coast for most of the ikon is the escarpment which leads upward to the depression plateau behind the northern one-half of the NORTH SHORE.
THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR KAMIKAZE RISK TAKERS/THRILL SEEKERS
Well if they tin strength out handgrip a surfboard really good it's gotta last PIPELINEwhen HUGE. But board riding is a specialist science which the typical Hawaiian visitor from non coastal areas won't receive got - yet most tin strength out swim together with handgrip a trunk board (gotta receive got fins - amongst straps to hold them on at this spot) so I'm giving them the best run a jeopardy of making U-Tube amongst their Go Pro footage at...
SANDY BEACH
Sandy Beach has i of the world's most consistently gnarly beach breaks - on the 2 occasions I called in, 2 to four human foot waves were slamming downwardly inward close half-dozen inches of water, almost on the beach (note how surfing has resisted metrification) - something to do amongst the way the sea bottom rapidly shallows closed to shore.
The take-off is reasonably safe, but unless these dudes together with dudettes bail out (which they never do - they're HELL RAISERS, right?) they are going to last in....
...deep problem real quickly.
No worries, the life guards come upward out at depression tide amongst a shovel together with dig the bodies out of the sand.
WARNING - SANDY BEACH hell raisers experience several broken necks, snapped spines etc each year. If you lot are non of the kamikaze persuasion, why non sit down on the sand together with drinkable inward the amusement at minimal jeopardy to oneself.
Well, minimal - I suffered some whiplash scoping out the co-eds on Spring Break - Sandy Beach seemed to receive got the best array of thong-bikinis on the island.
Sandy Beach is a pretty prissy strip of silica. There is plenty of costless parking together with an amenities block. It is worth a call-in for a flake of sunshine (not to advert the amusement topographic point on past times the adrenaline junkies) if you lot are doing a day-trip of the area's attractions such as HANUAMA BAY snorkeling (see downwardly page), KOKO CRATER RIDGE CLIMB together with VIEWPOINT (ditto), HALONE BEACH together with BLOWHOLE (down page), MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUESE WALK together with VIEWPOINT, SEA LIFE PARK, the PILL BOX TRAIL together with VIEWPOINT (down page) or returning from MY PERSONAL #1 BEACH or from what I regard asTHE BEST BEACH IN HAWAII FOR DAY-TRIPPERS(the most distant of the 2 13miles/21km together with both downwardly page).
Note from the inward a higher identify pic that to a greater extent than swell seems to acquire thru this closed to the south-east corner of the isle - Waikiki only 10miles/16km W was its common benign self the same day. However SANDY was way smaller than the large swell running only closed to the corner of the isle at....
...Makapu'U Beach. This is close the only spot along both the eastward coast together with the adjoining due south coast non protected past times an off-shore reef, which allows swell generated past times the prevailing north-east merchandise winds to acquire correct thru to the beachThe reef presently kicks inward - notice the relative calm of the bay right away north.
I shot this from Makapu'U lighthouse viewpoint - if you lot don't fancy the i hr homecoming walk upward hither notice the viewpoint bottom left of ikon - it has a primary route machine green together with gives a much to a greater extent than elevated outlook over the beach than would appear from the inward a higher identify pic.
btw that's theSea Life Park complex behind the route loop only past times the beach - at that topographic point is also the pop Chief's Luau adjacent.
(If you lot haven't a car, buses 22 - Waikiki/23 - Waikiki together with Honolulu which come upward dorsum this way + charabanc 57 which pushes on northward upward ikon eventually re-curving to Honolulu start from inward there).
SANDY BEACH is towards the eastern terminate of the due south coast abt 20km/12mi from Waikiki together with a footling over 3.5km/2mi farther on from HANAUMA BAY (see below).Bus 22 for populace transport.
BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR SNORKELERS - HANAUMA BAY
Here's the thing - you lot tin strength out hitting the H2O at dozens of Oahu spots together with discovery goodness coral together with plenty of fishies. Hard inwardness snorkelers (which I'm not) volition receive got contacts/do their query to discovery snorkeling spots improve than the iconic HANAUMA - but for the average visitor who wants to banking company check out some goodness coral at a identify easily accessed from Waikiki/Honolulu, I'm sticking amongst HANAUMA.
HANAUMA BAY is towards the eastern terminate of the due south coast. It is a flake less than 17km/11mi from Waikiki - charabanc 22 overcomes whatever parking problems.
Whoa - sweet. Check out that coral only offshore. I didn't banking company check it (see below) but an skillful snorkeler told me the materials closed to shore is pretty used upward - gets improve farther our: the best is on the OUTSIDE where the reef drops into deeper water. Plenty of prissy fish everywhere.
But nosotros receive got some full general PROBLEMS at HANAUMA.
For a start, parking although only $1, is severely limited. And at that topographic point is no parking on access roads or upward on the primary coastal road. This is deliberate - regime are concerned that over-use of the expanse volition degrade the coral too much. So best acquire at that topographic point early on for a guaranteed park.
Buses run into the machine green - banking company check out charabanc 22. But whatever fourth dimension after mid-day they acquire existent packed for the journeying dorsum to Waikiki. Get to the charabanc halt early on or similar me, force on to SANDY BEACH together with other touristy spots to the east.
Secondly nosotros receive got the admission accuse rip off. Okay, Hawaiian together with other USA citizens don't pay which is fair together with a goodness deal: but foreigners do - together with it is way over the top $7 dollars+. That's maybe okay if you lot are gonna remain for some fourth dimension - but I only wanted to go downwardly together with banking company check the beach (I've stated elsewhere on this page why I'm uneasy close leaving my materials on the beach unattended spell I swim/surf/snorkel - also which I've seen the best coral/fish spots inward the world - at THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - together with everywhere else leaves me amongst a feel of anticlimax
Next - as said above, the homecoming buses to Waikiki acquire genuinely packed after abt 1130. Either delineate upward at the charabanc halt early on or grab i going the other way, checking out places similar SANDY BEACH, MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUSE TREK/VIEWPOINT together with SEA LIFE PARK (the charabanc pauses at that topographic point 10 mins or so before starting its homecoming trip to Waikiko) - if you lot occupation your transfer stub to do this 2d trip, the homecoming $2.50 to Waikiki volition last the same as you lot would pay from Hanauma dorsum to Waikiki (you can't occupation transfer stubs for homecoming trips).
Last a small-scale betoken - the bay is closed Tuesdays. Adjust your schedule.
THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR NUDISTS - NORTH POLO (MOKULEIA) BEACH
Referred to past times the locals as NUDIE BEACH this may also last the ONLY nudist beach inward Oahu - at that topographic point is supposed to last some other inward the far north-east of the isle but the only people I saw inward this remote expanse were fishermen together with wild fauna protection volunteers (see downwardly page).
NUDIE BEACH is on the "southern" one-half of Oahu's NORTH SHORE - 55km/34mi from Waikiki together with 10km/6mi W due south W of Haleiwa. Buses 55 together with 52 volition acquire you lot from Honolulu to Haleiwa together with so charabanc 76 to Waialua from where it's a 50 infinitesimal walk.
This is the nudist department to the northward of the populace access rail close the polo land on the Farringon Hwy half-dozen miles/10km due south of Haleiwa. The beach is pretty nice, non busy on weekdays together with surely non hither belatedly on a Th afternoon - to a greater extent than crowded on wek-ends but no Playa Es Trenc.
Protected past times the common offshore reef, the H2O off the beach was fairly calm, clear, azure - okay snorkeling amongst plenty of fish, coral showing affect of sand closed inward but improve farther out.
This is the non-nudist department to the due south of the populace access track. Sweet beach - continues to a greater extent than or less uninterrupted for several km until the result betoken of the Farrington Hwy
THE BEST ISOLATED BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII
Some people's thought of BEST BEACH is a not-unattractive i way out inward the middle of no-where amongst no or few other people around.
This is close the most isolated but soundless attractive beach I flora - way upward towards the northward terminate of the Windward (east) Coast behind the James Campbell Wildlife Reserve - I can't discovery a call so lets telephone holler upward it Campbell Beach (or occupation the surfer term SPOT X
This beach is so isolated at that topographic point weren't fifty-fifty whatever of the fishermen featured on most other northern Windward Coast beaches. Maybe too isolated - you lot may discovery it too hard to reach. There are no populace access roads or walking tracks thru the biological reserve from the primary route nearly a mile inland - I had walked downwardly the beaches from the island's northern tip at Turtle Bay Resort. I was abt 2 hours into my trek.
A GOOD ALTERNATIVE - KOOLAULOA BEACH
A improve bet may last farther north, non too far from Turtle Bay Resort's machine park/bus halt for #55.
This is the beach eastward of the resort (far background) - pretty prissy together with as the call suggests...
...a goodness identify for turtle spotting.
Not only turtles...
...but this Hawaiian Monk Seal. She was existence watched over past times a volunteer wild fauna protector who told me she had been thru a traumatic fourth dimension giving nativity before inward the solar daytime - unfortunately the pup died.
Your kids may similar this expanse because of the inward a higher identify nicely protected stone pool. Hell, I'm no tike together with I enjoyed a dip.
Both are northern WINDWARD COAST beaches. For KOOLAULO grab charabanc 55 to the TURTLE BAY RESORT machine green together with walk eastward maybe 15mins. SPOT X volition demand some other 100mins or so. Doesn't expect it, but baby, it's non all that straightforward navigating the coast upward there.
MEA CULPA -NOT EXPLORED - close the only department of coast on the isle I didn't acquire a expect at is the northern 30% of the dry, non-touristy LEEWARD COAST on concern human relationship buses only run northward as far as famous large moving ridge location MAKAHA. There's a ground the charabanc terminates at that topographic point - real footling settlement farther on. But Google Earth shows some rather attractive sections of sand farther north-west.
I only saw them from a distance at the top of the Waianea RangeKuaokola Loop Trail trek, but they sure looked nice. And isolated.
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I tilted this modified Google ground ikon to give some thought of the upper Leeward Coast.
Yokohama Bch/Bay similar Makaha to the south, is some other famous large moving ridge spot - tends to last goodness inward the wintertime months when the huge NW Pacific tempest swells hitting Oahu.
Note "road's end" inward a higher identify is non quite truthful - at that topographic point is a restricted access side route climbs upward the ridge to the satellite tracking station on top. Trekkers volition discovery a plane 3.8km/2.1mi rail behind the rocks from roads terminate to the point.
It is hard to topographic point a scale on these tilted images - it is 12km/7mi from the Makaha identify marking to the tip of Kaena Point.
Yokahama Beach. Looks pretty sweet, non to advert isolated. Backdrop of mountains sets it off. It's obvious I ripped this pic off TO-HAWAII.COM
NOT EXPLORED CLOSELY
One other department I didn't banking company check on human foot was the far southern terminate of the NORTH SHORE on the other side of Kaena Point from the previous image. I saw this from a passing machine plus through the clouds on my epic half-dozen hr trek along the spine of the Waianea Range inward a higher identify Dillingham Airfield - the sand/water sure looked nice. People had parked cars along the Farrington Hwy which leads to within 4km of the betoken together with were swimming/relaxing - but non many people: this is a real uncrowded department of coast.
The sand is to a greater extent than or less i continuous strip from Nudie Beach to the road's end, although it does acquire a flake skinny only before Dillingham Airfield.
It is 12km/7mi inward a straight delineate from Nudie Beach's identify marking to the terminate of Kaena Point. There is a 4km walking rail from the terminate of the route to the point.
Car-less people volition receive got difficulty hither - the in conclusion charabanc halt is inward the prissy footling beach-side town of Waialua abt 35mins walk out of ikon bottom left.
Even though this is the southern terminate of the North Shore, the coast runs almost eastward to W here. You are looking at the abovefrom the north-east towards the south-west.
This is close 800m of the beach only due south of Dillingham airfield. I shot this close one-half way downwardly the steep, fossil oil trail from the top of the Waianea Range - whatever higher together with clouds obscured outlook.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR NATURE ENTHUSIASTS?
Does the high possibility of seeing turtles together with seals brand the KOOLAULOA BEACH/TURTLE BAY expanse mentioned inward the previous department best for this?
I'm non sure - betoken is I saw many turtles together with seals over a broad hit of beaches on both the northern one-half of the windward coast together with along the North Shore - specially due south of Waimea Bay. Maybe the possibility of checking out native together with migratory beast (migratory sea birds are a special emphasis) together with native flora including many endangered species living inward a natural habitat at the nearby JAMES CAMPBELL NATURE RESERVE enhances KOOLAULOA/TURTLE BAY'S claim, but the nature reserve is non a commercial performance together with is closed to the public. However guided tours tin strength out last arranged on a special basis.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR GOLFERS?
Once in i lawsuit to a greater extent than I'm non sure - I'm non a golfer together with haven't researched this. But the fact is TURTLE BAY has 2 golf game courses following the resort - THE ARNOLD PALMER together with the KALIMA. The KAHUKU GOLF COURSE is only 4miles/6.5km due south on the other side of the nature reserve.
However the real attractive KO OLINA HOTEL/LAGOON complex (see downwardly page nether BEST BEACH FOR HIGH ROLLERS) at the southern terminate of the Leeward Coast has the integrated KO OLINA GOLF CLUB designed past times Ted Robinson, whoever he is. Apparently the course of teaching has hosted some large fourth dimension world tournaments over the years
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THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR ROMANTICS - HALONA BEACH
Doesn't expect existent special, but this is where the classic "smooch inward the waves sequence" amongst Burt Lancaste together with Deborah Kerr was shot for the film FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. The sequence (You Tube) was thought super hot at the fourth dimension but is of course of teaching way tame now.
I shot the inward a higher identify pic from the carpark of the HALONA BLOWHOLE LOOKOUT. This inward itself is...
a pop call-in for visitors (maybe non at its best inward pic - blowhole performance depends on swell together with tide). The scout is only a few hundred meters W of SANDY BEACH
OAHU HAWAII'S EQUAL BEST LAP SWIMMING BEACH
We receive got already seen that Waikikii is i of the best inward this category.
But 2 other beaches charge per unit of measurement as high:
1 - ALA MOANA
ALA MOANA is only W of Waikiki - it's a HONOLULU CITY beach - has the sizable ALA MOANA BEACH PARK betwixt the sand together with the huge ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER/BUS INTERCHANE. Tends to last existent calm on concern human relationship of its double-barrel protection: a goodness offshore reef + an inner-groyne parallel to the beach which you lot tin strength out regard towards the left inward the inward a higher identify pic.
2- KO OLINA - I give lots to a greater extent than info/images/maps etc right away below inward the BEST BEACH FOR HIGH ROLLERS section. But note, this lovely expanse is opened upward to the full general populace - if you lot receive got a machine it's non too hard to access, or if you lot are similar me, you lot tin strength out acquire at that topographic point via charabanc amongst a flake of a walk at the end.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR HIGH ROLLERS - KO OLINA
KO OLINA is on the lower occupation of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST abt 42km /26mi from Waikiki.
Public charabanc users demand charabanc C from Honolulu's Ala Moana interchange but you lot are inward for a flake of a walk downwardly from the highway
Waikiki hotels do shuttle-bus day-trips out here. In the previous department I give this rather attractive expanse a gong for jointly existence best beach expanse for LAP SWIMMERS. But most movers together with shakers are non interested inward lap swimming - they desire somewhere to print their buddies dorsum dwelling theater at the solid ground club. Thing is at that topographic point are heaps of real high terminate absolute beach front end hotels inward Waikiki volition do the job. But baby, everyone stays at Waikiki - you lot desire somewhere to a greater extent than exclusive. KO OLINA fits the bill.
This expanse has four landscaped lagoons backed past times hotels together with high ascent condos spread over abt 1500m of the southern coastal section, 3 undeveloped lagoons to the north, a entitle golf game course, together with plenty of villas, depression ascent condos together with houses you lot large movers tin strength out rent. I forgot to topographic point a scale on this Google ground ikon - it is 1.5 miles/2.5km inward a straight delineate from the charabanc identify marking at top to that of the marina at bottom.
Detracting a flake from its exclusivity may last the fact that the expanse is opened upward to the populace together with at that topographic point is ample populace parking together with access lanes behind the lagoons. This is in all probability occupation of the cope past times which the populace regime allowed the evolution of the expanse - Hawaii's KEEP THE COUNTRY COUNTRY motion is notoriously anti development. But fer you lot high roller fugitive Wall St bond traders - remain cool: I was the only disreputable reprobate type I saw wandering closed to the place.
I came past times populace bus, but my charabanc halt top left was a flake of a hike from the lagoons. Note that large day-trip tour coaches come upward inward from Waikiki.
The most northern of the landscaped lagoons, the KOHOLA (whale) was past times far the most crowded - maybe because of the pop DISNEY RESORTS inward background (hey, maybe their tariff is to a greater extent than identify unit of measurement friendly - only demand to last a semi high roller - MID ROLLER?). The JW MARRIOT to left of frame was closed for redevelopment. Sure looked swish.
If you lot desire fewer people inward a to a greater extent than natural environment, the foremost of the undeveloped pools, PARADISE COVE (abt 500m northward of Kohola) does it well. Behind is the PARADISE COVE LUAU, immensely pop amongst resort residents together with day-trippers.
My el-cheapo Olympus' focal width was too tight to acquire a total lagoon shot so I pinched this i off Wikepedia's KO OLINA page to present the measure features of the improved lagoons - this i is KOHOLA but the others follow the same pattern amongst 3 openings to the sea, a prissy sandy beach expanse etc. These panorama shots ordinarily click-expand nicely.
One downside of staying at Ko Olina could last relative isolation. However I saw the large coach from the popular POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER inward Laei way upward inward the island's northward eastward close as far from Ko Olina as you lot tin strength out get, dropping people off belatedly inward the solar daytime - which suggests the accommodation places tin strength out lay on the common exterior trips for patrons. And no doubtfulness receive got plenty of shuttles into Honolulu/Waikiki.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR CAMPERS - MALEAKAHANA
Maleakahana is on the upper WINDWARD COAST abt 58km/36mi from Waikiki.
Bus users demand #55 from Honolulu's Ala Moana charabanc interchange.
I didn't query pre-trip where to discovery a goodness Oahu camping ground beach - Jetstar's lowest fare allows deport on luggage only amongst a 7kg bound - rules out my gear. However the nicest beach amongst plenty of campgrounds I saw was MALEAKAHANA BEACH on the northern windward coast. Hey, this is a sugariness beach - maybe if I'd seen it before inward the solar daytime when the Sun was high together with when I wasn't a flake tired from my four hour+ trek downwardly from TURTLE BAY I would receive got rated it correct upward at that topographic point amongst my favorite beach NORTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS FIELD featured downwardly page.
This long (there is twice as much beach behind camera) white strip of sand (I shot this getting towards dark) is backed for much of its length past times woods. The rather goodness privately owned MALEAKAHANA BEACH CAMPGROUND is situated behind those kids inward the H2O - the reef allows a flake of swell through to the beach's northern areas together with at that topographic point were some small-scale fun surfing waves reverse the camp....
...and at the far northern terminate where the small-scale flow drains into the ocean. People had tents together with campervans hither - but I kinda recall this may last an unofficial camping ground area: Google Maps
shows no camground.
This guy was taking it like shooting fish in a barrel mid-way along the beach.
Immediately due south of the State Rec Area is some other prissy strip of sand of similar size leading downwardly to the town of LAIEwith its sizable peninsula out of ikon to the left. The occupation of the beach backed past times vegetatation is known as HUKILAE BEACH - inward front end of the town, TEMPLE BEACH. LAIE is best known for its POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER, the BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY-HAWAII and the rather impressive MORMON TEMPLE.For campers of course of teaching the town would last a goodness provide center.
As common I forgot to add together a scale - it is 3km/nearly 2 miles inward a straight delineate betwixt "unofficial" identify marking at top together with that of "Laie" bottom of image.
There are some to a greater extent than camping ground spots inward the large MALEAKAHANA STATE RECREATION PARK betwixt the 2 beaches. But province rec military camp grounds receive got fussy booking conditions together with closed downwardly for i or to a greater extent than days per calendar week to discourage permanent settlement past times the homeless.
NOTE - I didn't notice them, but this site says at that topographic point are military camp sites at my favorite beach WAIMANALO/BELLOWS (see downwardly page). However they are CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU CAMP GROUNDS and receive got the disadvantages of closing 2 or four days a calendar week together with some other restrictions.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST DAY-TRIP BEACH - LANIKAI BEACH
I receive got already mentioned a number of beaches as goodness day-trip destinations inward that they receive got a bunch of other attractions nearby/along the way. But Lanikai wins the gong - partly because it is totally gorgeous...
...with white sand backed past times palms, azure H2O together with some prissy offshore islands the keen kayak to.
ADDITIONALLY behind the beach is i of the best curt treks on the island:
The PILLBOX TRAIL takes you lot upward to 2 quondam gun emplacements overlooking Lanikae Beach below right. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 360 grade outlook takes inward the fabulous beach areas both northward together with south, MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUSE POINT (Aohu's eastern most tip) together with the razer abrupt KO'OLAU RANGE which separates this occupation of the Windward Coast from the southern Honolulu/Waikiki coast. Hey, if you lot click expand you lot may last able to regard some okay coral only off the beach which could brand it an interesting snorkeling location. I didn't check. Adding to Lanikae's status as top daytrip beach: it's a dandy starting betoken to banking company check out other nearby attractions such as MY PERSONAL BEST BEACH (NORTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS as mentioned right away downwardly page), SEA LIFE PARK, MAKAP'U POINT TREK AND LOOKOUTS together with on the way dorsum to Waikikik/Honolulu SANDY BEACH, HALONA BEACH/BLOWHOLE, the awesome KOKO CRATER RIDGE CLIMB, HANAUMA SNORKELING BAY together with the panorama from the top of DIAMOND HEAD. I receive got pix or information on most of the inward a higher identify elsewhere on this page - except for:
..the awesome KOKO CRATER RIDGE CLIMB - 1048 of those sleeper steps baby, non to advert seriously steep inward parts.
...the view from the top is worth it as is...
...the top off the much easier (but soundless a goodness workout) DIAMOND HEAD VIEWPOINT TRACK.
CAVEAT - inward relation to LANIKEA BEACH: my i reservation close this gorgeous beach is that it looked a flake skinny from H2O to dorsum of beach together with could last existent sparse inward some parts at high tide. No matter, if you lot caput that way at high tide at that topographic point prissy or (nicer inward the representative of my personal favorite) beaches within a few minutes drive amongst plenty of sand width ADJACENT LANIKAI - KAILUA BEACH
One of the closed beaches to LANIKAI I haven't featured elsewhere on this page - some other rated i of the best inward Oahu past times some - is KAILUA BEACH which starts only a few hundred meters northward of LANIKAI together with runs over 4km/2.5miles farther north. I hitting this beach good after sunset due to lingering too long on the PILL BOX trail (instead of retracing my path from pill box #2 I continued on, turning a 40minute trek into a 3 hr plus slog - had to recuperate inward THE SHACK, a cool bar close where I popped dorsum out to suburbia) - so I couldn't fairly jurist how KAILUA BEACH rated compared to other top places. But it did expect nice. Despite the pathetic light, if you lot click-expand ikon you lot volition regard the high tide grade leaves plenty of sand for beach goers - so if you lot discovery LANIKAI too skinny at high tide, caput on northward a curt distance to here.
MY PERSONAL BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII - the NORTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS BEACH STRIP
This lovely department of beach is abt 32km/20mi from Waikiki - seems to receive got plenty of parking at the diverse Beach Parks - regard Google Maps.
Bus users receive got diverse options but for the most scenic route (sit on the correct paw side of the bus) is #s22,23 changing at Sea Life Park to #57. .
This is shot close one-half way along this real long beach. Understand that the overall beach is divided into 3 locations - from the south, WAIMANO BEACH, following WAIMANO BAY BEACH together with after that BELLOWS FIELD BEACH. I had jumped off charabanc 57 at Waimanalo Beach Park close a mile/1.6km behind the photographic tv set camera together with walked northward towards Bellows Field Beach in the far distance. The pic was taken a fair way northward - past times this phase I had reached the mid-bay WAIMANO BAY BEACH. I specially liked this department because it is backed past times casuarina trees etc rather than the houses close my entrance point. Access is goodness amongst some other beach park/picnic expanse (WAIMANO BAY BEACH PARK) amongst ample parking, alter together with wc facilities, BBQs together with fifty-fifty a few camping ground spaces (note you lot demand a county permit together with these types of campgrounds tend to closed downwardly i or 2 days a calendar week to discourage the homeless from setting upward permanently.
back on the beach: the sand nice, the H2O clean, protected from large waves past times an offshore reef together with tending towards that lovely azure color you lot acquire inward many tropical areas, The beach wasn't overcrowded despite existence a top solar daytime on the Easter Holiday weekend.
Bellows Field Beach starts beyond these rocks together with runs several miles/kms to Wailea Point to the north. Many guidebooks say Bellows is Oahu's best beach, but I couldn't differentiate it from northern Waimanalo. Despite existence on military machine land, access is opened upward to the populace via a goodness route off the primary drag into Bellows Field Beach Park. Perhaps if you lot force on to the real far terminate which runs only behind some airfield base of operations housing, they volition shoot you. I didn't examination this out.
CAVEAT - existence on a reserve airforce base, the regime only opened upward beach access on weekends. No worries - on weekdays caput due south a curt distance to access as prissy WAIMANALO BAY BEACH via WAIMANALO BAY BEACH PARK.
Locals taking wages of the prissy conditions together with goodness parking at Bellows. Aw, aint that nice!
Now this is some other has to last some other of the BEST BEACHES FOR Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 DAY-TRIP because all those destinations listed inward the inward a higher identify LANIKAE BEACH department are only as easily accessed from here.
THE BUS
Bus 55 close to pick me upward on the Kam Hwy at the northward Windward Coast's LAIE (see BEST BEACH FOR CAMPERS - MALEAKAHA) together with convey me way closed to the other side of the isle to HALEIWA.
TheBus is a dandy resources for budget travelers because populace buses go everywhere on the isle except the far northern terminate of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST together with the far "southern" (actually south-western) terminate of the NORTH SHORE.
Even if you lot receive got a rental machine buses tin strength out last useful to avoid traffic jams together with parking problems at places similar the NORTH SHORE (when the surf is genuinely pumping together with everyone wants to banking company check it out) together with HANAUMA BAY.
Travel is inexpensive at $2.50 per ticket (kids one-half - nether 5s free, concessional fares etc), which allows 2 additional transfers amongst some restrictions. The $60 (calendar) monthly transcend was goodness value for me - I took over lx trips inward close sixteen days (less than a buck a ride). Even accounting for occupation of transfer stubs I would receive got had to purchase good over xxx tickets. And the CONVENIENCE of non having to discovery the correct alter etc is worth it alone.
The website is terrific - amongst schedules, route maps, trip planners together with much more.
IF YOU SEE MISTAKES OR HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE POST BELOW.
BUT IF YOU HAVE Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 QUESTION, PLEASE ASK information technology IN THE FORUM - I CHECK THE FORUM MOST DAYS WHEREAS I WILL ONLY RETURN TO THIS PAGE OCCASIONALLLY.
Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/
ATTENTION - this is a looong page amongst many beaches: for people seeking materials on a specific beach, those I characteristic (in alphabetical order) are:
ALA MOANA - 70% downwardly page
BANZAI PIPELINE - 50% downwardly page
DUKE KAHANOMOKO - 35% dp
FORT DE RUSSY - 28
HALONA - 78%
HANAUMA BAY - 65%
KAILUA - 81%
KO OLINA - 77%+80%
KOOLAULOA - 70
KUHIO - 31
LANIKAI - 85
MAKAP'U - 62
MALEAKAHANA - 82
MOKULEIA/NORTH POLO - 75
PIPELINE - 50
PUPUKEA TIDE POOLS - 37
SANDY - 58
SHARK'S COVE - 37
TURTLE BAY - 77
WAIMANALO - 90
YOKOHAMA - 75
WAIKIKI - 5
WAIMEA BAY - 42
If the beach you lot are seeking isn't inward a higher identify so either it doesn't figure inward my thought of diverse types of BEST BEACHES, or I advert it peripherally.
Similarly, you lot may last LOOKING FOR Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 SPECIFIC TYPE OF BEST BEACH. To salve fourth dimension wading thru many categories - inward monastic tell of appearance are:
BEST BEACH FOR TYPICAL VISITORS - 5%down page
BEST BEACH FOR FAMILIES WITH LITTLE KIDS - 7% downwardly page
BEST BEACH FOR BEGINNER SURFERS - 10% dp
BB FOR SUNSETS - 14%
PEOPLE WATCHING - 20
LAP SWIMMERS - 30
PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS - 39
FAMILIES WITH TEENAGE KIDS - 42
FAMILIES WITH MULTI AGED KIDS 45
SURFERS 50
THRILL SEEKERS/BODY-SURFERS/BODY-BOARDERS 58
SNORKELERS 64
NUDISTS 68
ISOLATIONISTS 70
NATURE ENTHUSIASTS 76
GOLFERS 77
ROMANTICS/FILM BUFFS 78
LAP SWIMMERS 79 (also 27)
HIGH ROLLERS 80
CAMPERS 82
DAY TRIPPERS 85
MY PERSONAL BEST BEACH 90
Dunno how those percentages volition function on your device, but I promise the inward a higher identify helps you lot locate the identify you lot desire a flake easier.
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On my Californian beaches page I said something like...."if you lot desire a goodness beach inward California, best acquire off the aircraft at (or proceed on to) HAWAII"
...only thing is I hadn't been been to Hawaii together with only knew of its goodness beaches via countless surfing films. So I thought it non a bad thought to confirm my argument personally - as presently as a cope priced flying came upward (goold ol' Jetstar) I grabbed it.
All the move books say if you lot are going to Hawaii, don't confine yourself to i island but I had neither the fourth dimension nor coin (I'm a depression budget traveler) to do a detailed banking company check of the others. I'm non too sure close those multi-island itineraries I regard giving 3 or four days on each - I flora my eighteen days on Oahu imbued a pretty goodness thought of the place, but I could receive got used some other calendar week or so.
THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII
There is no absolute best beach - it depends on the user.
The typical visitor who has flown inward seeking an easily accessed prissy beach amongst lots of accommodation/dining/shopping/partying nearby is going to prefer a different i to hard inwardness surfers/snorkelers/thrill merchants/lap swimmers/nudists. Different in i lawsuit to a greater extent than volition last the foremost pick of families amongst footling kids or teenagers. Ditto people who don't heed driving to discovery a pristine and/or deserted patch of silica amongst that amazingly azure H2O you lot tin strength out regard inward the tropics. How close campers, adrenaline junkies, high rollers or golfers?
You may inquire how tin strength out I charge per unit of measurement the beaches of an isle I visited for a curt time. Thing is I'm a seriously quondam beach nerd, surfed for 35+ years starting inward the belatedly 50s, been a budget traveler the past times twenty years - over that fourth dimension I receive got visited to a greater extent than than a K beaches inward Australia, the Pacific, Asia, south-west Nth America together with the Mediterranean.
In the eighteen days I was on Oahu I reckon I walked over 100 miles/160km, traveled way to a greater extent than inward buses (I counted 63 different charabanc trips) together with saw 90% of Oahu beaches including nearly 100% of those the guidebooks advert worth seeing, And I walked the bulk of the latter.
BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR THE TYPICAL VISITOR - BEST OVERALL BEACH - WAIKIKI
Waikiki is remarkably compact - banking company check the linear scale. The total beach distance from its start inward the north-west to "C" is abt 3.2km/2m. The sand is continuous over this distance but it may disappear high tide inward front end of SANS SOUCI STATE REC ([park) expanse abt 250m northward of "C"
ALA MOANA BEACH (a Honolulu metropolis beach) which I advert downwardly page as i of the BEST BEACHES FOR LAP SWIMMING tin strength out last occupation seen nearest the top left corner of image.
WAIKIKI is non my personal #1 BEST BEACH (see NTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS FLD BCH downwardly page) - but I'm giving "BEST OVERALL BEACH to it on concern human relationship it ticks so many boxes.
TICK 1 - OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR ACCOMMODATION AND ACCESS
For a start Kevin together with Kayla from Kansas volition discovery a fantastic selection of accommodation inward this area.
As said, this is a real compact expanse - the hotel zone goes dorsum 3 to v blocks making the whole precinct 2.6km x 1.2km /1.6mi x 0.75mi max, so fifty-fifty though Kevin together with Kayla may non receive got a beach-front hotel at that topographic point are many fine ones closed by. Plus less expensive options (this doesn't hateful they are non fine) - fifty-fifty 2 hostels. My HOSTELING INTERNATIONAL WAIKIKI was fine (fer the price).
And Oahu's insistence on populace access to beaches way our gang volition discovery a lane-way close every 400m or so - or fifty-fifty improve they tin strength out stroll through 2 beachside green areas - Kuhio Beach Park only past times the in conclusion hotel mid image and Fort Derussy Beach Park maybe 300m/1400ft behind camera.
Not only does the beach receive got good access from the expanse behind, but the full general Waikiki expanse has good access from HONOLULU AIRPORT - no other tourist goal is as close. The common taxis together with aerodrome shuttles are available, budget travelers tin strength out occupation buses nineteen together with twenty for $2.50 together with many hotels run costless shuttles.
BTW that separate bunch of hotels far correct of ikon is the Diamond Head hotel precinct - Diamond Head itself towers to their left. My camera's focal length makes the hotels appear a fair distance from Waikiki but I strolled the gap several times inward abt 10 minutes (several times because at that topographic point is a goodness green expanse populace practise spot amongst my favorite mentum upward bars fairly closed to the hotels). This stroll is along a prissy bounding main frontage or thru a goodness green area. If an average tourist could salve a lot of coin staying at Diamond Head, go for it. There is a small-scale prissy patch of sand right away W of its hotel precinct called Kaimana Bch or San Souci Bch. It's supposed to last the top beach for hot beach babes. Wouldn't know - the babes had gone dwelling theater when I walked it at 1745.
TICK 2 - ONE OF OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACHES FOR FAMILIES WITH LITTLE KIDS
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACHES FOR FAMILIES WITH LITTLE KIDS
Not to advert older than kids non comfortable/familiar amongst waves together with surf.
BTW I surfed for 35 years - surfers go amateur experts at wave/current conditions together with what causes them (mainly conditions - specially strong/lengthy winds) - together with from what I know of Waikiki's conditions together with orientation I reckon this coast would only close ever acquire benign swell - different say Oahu's NORTH SHORE which is orientated perfectly to grab those awesome tempest swells generated inward the northern Pacific every at nowadays together with so inward winter.
I googled shots of Waikiki when the surfing waves on the exterior reef were bigger than during my see - soundless relative talocrural articulation ticklers reaching the beach.
This department of the beach has the real terminate of Grays Beach close to photographic tv set camera rapidly becoming what is confusingly known as "Waikiki Beach" (less confusingly aka "Royal Hawaiian Beach) to only past times the in conclusion edifice mid image.
TICK 3 - Waikiki is also BEST OAHU WAIKIKI BEACH FOR BEGINNER SURFERS
I modified the inward a higher identify ikon from http://www.hyattplacewaikikibeach.com/ - I swam out hither to the take-off zone (just to say I'd been there: for a spell I was First Man Charlie, mid way to Midway) but I wasn't prepared to entrust my photographic tv set camera to those waterproof packs therefore the demand to borrow this shot.
I know some of you lot pedants are going to betoken out that the inward a higher identify moving ridge is to a greater extent than than an talocrural articulation tickler. Okay, for a start this was in all probability shot on i of the few days of the twelvemonth when the swell is bigger. And fifty-fifty then, at that topographic point are farther shallow reefs betwixt the convey off zone together with the beach which volition cutting the size of the waves - so when they achieve the beach they are to a greater extent than probable to last SHIN TICKLERS.
THE DOWNSIDE OF SINGLE TRAVEL
You are in all probability thinking: amongst 35 years surfing experience why doesn't this dude hire a board together with leave of absence there? Well for a start I'm a existent cheapskate bottom budget traveler together with $us15 an hr board hire would last rather spent on nutrient or something salubrious to imbibe - similar an icy mutual depression temperature Kona beer or two. But to a greater extent than to the point, I ever experience insecure close leaving my valuables lone on the beach spell I disappear into the H2O - together with I don't trust waterproof containers to last 100% effective (just a few drops tin strength out homecoming an expensive to supplant passport non-acceptable past times the border strength nazis). So for my swim I left all my valuables inward my hostel locker, pinned the locker key plus the hostel door keys within my board-short pocket, walked the 2 blocks to the beach together with dived in.
GIVE THE BODYBOARDS Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 MISS
Now this is a gender-equal blog. Most babes won't last interested inward a pic of some cutting body-boarding dude, so I approximate I'll receive got to impart some sage tezza advice to the ladies:
Advice fron tezza to dudettes - take away hold dorsum on the KFC, Krispy Kremes, go amongst the gym together with you lot too tin strength out receive got a trunk similar this.
(Google images flora this Pinterest pic)
Back to hiring a board: Even if you lot only sit down out the dorsum on your long-board together with drinkable inward the surfer-dude/Gidget atmosphere + acquire an off-shore perspective of Waikiki, it is fourth dimension good spent. And long-boards are dead like shooting fish in a barrel to paddle together with sit down on.
Not existence prepared to jeopardy my camera, I had to pinch this off http://www.honoluluhi5.com/
CLEAN? On the theme of beaches suited to families together with kids, lets beak close SAND AND WATER CLEANLINESS at Waikiki. Although non as pristine as some other Oahu locations, compared to a lot of busy metropolis beaches I've seen, Waikiki is pretty good. Authorities must pass a fair flake of fourth dimension preparation the beach (I was too lazy to do a 5am banking company check on this) together with tempest H2O (the primary crusade of muddy sea water) command must last good. Although Waikiki's relatively dry out climate doesn't hurt. Doesn't wound your chances of getting plenty of sunshine during your see either.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
TICK 3 - WAIKIKI GETS GOOD SUNSETS
I won't say Waikiki gets OAHU HAWAII'S BEST SUNSETS. There seems to last plenty of due south coast, Leeward Goast together with North Shore beaches amongst goodness sunsets But Waikiki aint bad. The relatively dry out climate important frequently minimal clouds doesn't hurt.
Note inward the pics inward a higher identify that the sunset volition shift left inward winter, correct inward summertime (this was shot inward Spring). Given the northern shift of the sun's arc until the summertime solstice it's possible that some absolute waterfront buildings inward the fundamental Waikiki expanse may acquire inward the way closed to June21/22 - non existence able to afford to confirm this I'd appreciate whatever reader who knows posting the answer at the human foot of this page.
Mid summertime 2017
But annotation farther W along the WAIKIKI stretch where the coast curves you lot would last able to regard it setting behind the LEEWARD COAST'S mountains at such times.
So which beach gets OAHU HAWAII'S BEST SUNSETS?
Well the Leeward Coast beaches human face upward a flake due south of due W together with so in all probability receive got wintertime fall/winter/spring sunsets sinking fairly straight out to sea (but maybe non mid summer) - I listen large moving ridge spot Makaha does the chore existent well. And the busy occupation of the North Shore faces northward of due W together with inward summertime would regard the Sun sinking roughly mid-bay many places. Think inward terms of Sunset Beach (check that name), the Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Shark Cove and nearby places.
Strewth! I tin strength out listen you lot say. This tezza dude is a flake anal close sunsets!
Guilty as charged, Kemosabe - I'm a existent sunset nerd: if you lot expect at the diverse pages on this weblog at that topographic point are literally hundreds of sunset pix.
Interesting betoken is inward all the years I've been checking sunsets I've only seen 2 perfect ones where cloud didn't acquire inward the way. The foremost was at Broome north-west Commonwealth of Australia long before I started this blog, the 2d you lot tin strength out regard 2 together with 3 shots above. Matter of fact the in conclusion i is so goodness I should crop it to emphasize the point.
TICK four - Waikiki IS OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR SUNSET CRUISES
TICK v - Waikiki is also OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR PEOPLE WATCHING
The beach itself is pretty special.
**WAIKIKI has a truck-load of beach bars, but the others are large flash modenistic parts of the beachfront hotels.
In the spirit of gender equal opportunity, fer you lot ladies I dredged upward a shot of a totally cutting beach bloke - ME...
Earlier it's a special process to grab a topographic point inward i of the flash hotels beachfront bar areas and....
HEY, NO CELEBRITIES! I listen you lot say. Well inward fact at that topographic point was a large contingent of PR people behind me hither at Moana Surfrider - apparently the guy who plays Steve McGarrett in Hawaiian Five-O was close to appear. Not existence fussed amongst TV or celebrities, I paid footling attention, instead...
An interesting betoken - regime rig upward a giant covert together with present costless identify unit of measurement friendly movies at Queen's Beach closed behind the photographic tv set camera on several weekends most months. The film is preceded past times alive music together with frequently hula shows. Food vendors also laid up. Very popular. http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net/
The abundance of the inward a higher identify makes Waikiki OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR NEARBY SHOPPING, EATING/DRINKING AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS
TICK half-dozen - I reckon Waikiki also shares the rating of OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR LAP SWIMMERS
Thing is, lap swimmers ordinarily dislike bounding main swimming, fifty-fifty the mild bump of an outside-reef sheltered beach expanse which tin strength out swamp their breathing - it tin strength out last existent unpleasant getting a mouthful of H2O when turning the caput to grab some oxygen. So they prefer somewhere to a greater extent than sheltered, but hopefully inward the sunshine to heighten the vacation experience, non some covered pool. Waikiki tin strength out do this inward 2 areas:
KUHIO BEACH POOLS
It's obvious at that topographic point is a small-scale transcend (break) inward the outer reef that lets to a greater extent than swell thru inward this expanse together with the break-wall was built to protect the beach from moving ridge erosion. Note the trunk boarders bottom left of ikon (you may receive got to click-expand) - they provide goodness amusement riding the waves straight at the break-wall together with bailing out at the in conclusion second.
WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUM
Keen Google Earth/Maps nerds may notice an opened upward air but wall-enclosed puddle some 700m/2200ft SSW of the above. This is the 100x40m puddle inward the War Memorial Natatorium built inward 1927 together with officially CLOSED inward 1963. Not gonna do your laps hither unless they restore/re-open - which is the programme at fourth dimension of writing.
That's trendy Kaimana/Sans Souci Beach (apparently the hot babe beach - mentioned upward page) only below.
Check that small-scale patch of sand at the real bottom of ikon - seems the properties at that topographic point receive got their ain exclusive beach, How cool - maybe they receive got dredged/dumped the sand themselves because I could non regard whatever populace access - I recall i of the properties is a high terminate condo: fer the other maybe you lot could google Outrigger Canoe Club. Bet it aint a tezza cheapie.
BTW - that's the Waikiki Aquarium white buildings real top of image.
My favorite green practise zone amongst the mentum upward bars together with much to a greater extent than is non too far inward a higher identify top correct of image.
Fer the anal who reckon every "map" should receive got a scale (I concur - but I'm a map nerd) - it's 450m/1500ft from top to bottom of image.
Reinforcing Waikiki's claim to equal top ranking inward the LAP SWIMMER'S BEST BEACH is DUKE KAHANAMOKU LAGOON way upward the other terminate of the strip.
(Behind the pier begins FORT DERUSSY BEACH and DERUSSY BEACH PARK).
The Hawaiian voter is real sensitive close costless populace access to beach areas together with is probable to acquire upset if the Hilton Hawaiian Village gets too heavy close the issue.
I honey this i because it non only shows the lagoon but the whole Waikiki beach ending at DIAMOND HEAD hotel precinct far correct of image. There is no beach right away left of ikon - mainly roads leading across to nearby ALA WAI small-scale boat harbour together with ALA WAI CANAL, lined amongst a hell of a lot of accommodation options
Back on the image: from left to correct nosotros receive got the DUKE KAHANOMOKU LAGOON together with neighboring DUKE KAHANOMOKU BEACH, followed past times the prissy together with fairly serenity FORT DERUSSY BEACH inward front end of the dark-green green area, so the rather sparse but pop GRAY'S BEACH expanse on together with closed to the corner 60% across image. Where you lot tin strength out regard it widen, the beach becomes what is confusingly called the "WAIKIKI BEACH" department which ends fractionally past times the in conclusion beachfront tower inward the Waikiki strip - my favorite occupation of the greater beach. The foremost 3rd of the dark-green expanse to correct of that has the respite wall protected KUHIO BEACH POOLS featured upward page - followed past times the rather serenity QUEEN'S BEACH/SANS SOUCI STATE REC BEACH PARK expanse together with finally tiny SANS SOUCI BEACH/KAPIONI BCH correct upward against the DIAMOND HEAD hotel precinct. This dandy ikon came fromhttp://www.discounthotelshawaii.com/
Note the DIAMOND HEAD CRATER far right.
The large green expanse betwixt F together with G is SANS SOUCI STATE REC/KAPIONANI parks - this expanse contains lotsa materials including the WAIKIKI AQAURIUM, HONOLULU ZOO, WAIKIKI SHELL outdoor music venue - non to advert my favorite fitness station amongst the mentum upward bars.
TO SUM UP STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS SECTION:
- most attractive (to me that's prissy sand/water together with non too busy):Ft Derussy.
- busiest: Gray's together with "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian
-quietest:Ft Derussy together with Queen's
- best access from inland hotels:Ft Derussy together with junction of "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian - Kuhio
- best beach babes: "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian together with reputably Sans Souci
- best hunks: I hung closed to generally at junction of D together with E. But I won't last dorsum for some fourth dimension - but the same expanse tends to receive got the most cutting surfer dudes. Some v fit babes too.
- coolest beach bars: all along the strip (down to personal preference).
- best lap swimming - D Kahanomoku (lagoon) together with Kuhio Tide Pools
- easiest access to the "scene" on Kalakaua Ave - left terminate of Kuhio/most of "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian
- best sunsets - all except Gray's together with "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian which human face upward to a greater extent than east.
- best for kids: they are all good, amongst small-scale wavelets/few currents etc. For sand "Waikiki"/Royal Hawaiian, Ft Derussy together with Duke Kahanokmuku - for genuinely protected H2O Du. Kah. lagoon together with Kuhio tidal pools
- best for touristy surfing** - junction "Waikik"/Roayal Hawaiian together with Kuhio
BUT REMEMBER - THIS IS Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 VERY COMPACT AREA: DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU STAY information technology IS AN EASY WALK TO MOST OTHER BEACH AREAS.
**I reckon HARD CORE Honolulu surfers would in all probability caput for the improve waves inward the expanse due due south of DIAMOND HEAD crater.
Okay, it's non the NORTH SHORE - but those breaks are 45/70 minutes away depending on traffic together with parking.
TICK vii - Waikiki is i of OAHU HAWAII'S BEAST BEACH FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG KIDS.
With super protected places similar the inward a higher identify DUKE KAHANAMOKU LAGOON together with KOHIO BEACH POOLS plus the reef-protected nature of the balance of the beach areas, I reckon this is the identify for families amongst pre-teens. Sure, plenty of other beaches tin strength out do the reef protected thing - some of them are prettier than Waikiki - but most of us know that having to charge immature families into/out of rental cars or grab the charabanc is no like shooting fish in a barrel task.
TICK 8 - Waikiki is OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CARS
- because you lot tin strength out stroll to the beach, restaurants/fast food/bars, shopping etc plus access a heed blowing number of solar daytime trips to other parts of the isle
If car-less visitors desire to go elsewhere at that topographic point is a constant fleet of day-trip coaches/vans leaving the expanse - plus lotsa populace buses which go/connect only abt anywhere on the island($2.50 amongst 2 transfers), running specially along Kuhio Ave a few blocks inland. Not to advert many rental-car outlets.
Finally Waikiki's the sort of identify you lot tin strength out come upward inward on a belatedly flight, mass into your hotel fifty-fifty afterward - together with so stroll downwardly to the beach, dip your toes into the talocrural articulation ticklers, convey a stroll along the shore together with correct away you lot are enjoying the beach vacation vibe.
WHOA! - 8 TICKS: WAIKIKI CERTAINLY PICKS UP Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 FAIR FEW BEST BEACH AWARDS
BUT THERE ARE OTHER BEACHES ON OAHU WHICH CAN PICK UP BEST BEACH AWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE VISITOR IS SEEKING
We receive got seen that Waikiki does this well. But Waimea does it improve IMHO
WAIMEA is on the northern one-half of Oahu's NORTH SHORE (the department betwixt the white identify markers). It is 55km/34mi from Honolulu - add together a few for Waikiki. If you lot haven't a car, a goodness choice is charabanc 55 which goes from Honolulu's Ala Moana charabanc interchange, upward closed to the top of the isle together with ends upward at Haleiwa due south of Waimea. For $us2.50.THE NORTH SHORE'S WAIMEA BAY
Looks similar fun. Even though I'm a geezer, I receive got the emotional historic menstruum of an xi year-old together with it took all my willpower to resist going upward for a jump... 
...although similar similar places it seems considerably higher in i lawsuit upward at that topographic point (Google Images flora this pic at https://uk.pinterest.com/)
SOME CAVEATS RE WAIMEA
- Family-wise I would avoid this identify in i lawsuit the swell gets over four foot. Pay attending to the surf reports. The shore respite becomes nasty, making whatever swimming a hassle. Rip currents develop. In bigger swell in i lawsuit to a greater extent than this beach tin strength out acquire downright unsafe - when the large tempest swells which march inward from the northern Pacific hit, waves tin strength out acquire 20ft plus which is dandy for skillful surfers but should last avoided past times mere mortals. Not that you lot volition acquire anywhere close the beach. The machine green volition last full, the traffic along the primary coast route horrific, access to the sand roped off. There volition last a important cliff cutting past times moving ridge erosion into the sand so that getting into the H2O volition last a trick, together with in i lawsuit inward the H2O the shore respite together with rip currents volition last horrendous. Note wintertime is the fourth dimension for large swells to arrive, but that it is frequently benign or okay for non-expert surfers for long periods betwixt large moving ridge times. Summer sees large swell rarely on the North Shore.
- Several people told me a see to WAIMEA CANYON is non dandy value. Adults pay over $17 EACH together with the waterfall is underwhelming as are the botanical gardens.
A few pluses: - You volition almost surely come upward across from your Waikiki base of operations past times car: the North Shore has no hotels apart from expensive TURTLE COVE RESORT at the island's northern tip - this is 13km/8miles from Waimea together with you lot volition soundless demand a machine unless you lot occupation charabanc 55. The primary identify unit of measurement accommodation you lot volition discovery on the North Shore is inward rented houses/apartments. House rental is expensive on Oahu, specially on the North Shore. Best deals volition last in/around Haleiwa.
Anyway, amongst a machine you lot could brand a DAY-TRIP of it past times also spending fourth dimension at SHARK'S COVE stone puddle (featured right away downwardly page) which is only 2km northward of Waimea.
- Your teens volition in all probability taste dejeuner or a snack at the uniquely Hawaiian together with pop FOOD-TRUCK PARK across the route from the stone puddle also shown following section. And no doubtfulness some of MATSUMOTO'S famous shave-ice at the neat footling surfing town of HALEIWA (Hah li eeva) 7km due south of Waimea afterward inward the afternoon volition go downwardly a treat.
- On the way downwardly to Haleiwa you lot could telephone holler upward inward at LANIAKAE BEACH together with banking company check the turtles.
-Going dorsum across the isle the kids mightiness taste touristy DOLE PINEAPPLE PLANTATION store/restaurant/train tour - specially if they grab the store's pineapple peeling demo after which at that topographic point are costless samples of yummy pineapple.>
If you lot haven't got a car, charabanc 55 tin strength out acquire you lot all the way from Honolulu's Ala Moana Center charabanc interchange correct closed to the top of the isle via Turtle Bay Resort's machine park downwardly to Haleiwa. This is a goodness way to regard a lot of the isle together with volition cost $us2.50 for adults together with I recall i buck for each kid. Going dorsum across the isle from Haleiwa you lot volition demand charabanc 52 - same prices.>
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR FAMILIES WITH MULTI-AGE KIDS - SHARK'S COVE/PUPUKEA TIDE POOLS
So what if you lot receive got both pre-teens together with teens? Well I reckon this neat footling location a curt distance northward of Waimea Bay volition hold them together with you lot occupied.
Shark's Cove is that small-scale inlet far correct of image. Pupukea Tide Pool is the large puddle to its left. Note the patch of sand far left of image.They are located on the primary coastal road (the Kam Hwy) across from PUPUKEA FOODLOANDS (white roof)
This expanse is pop so if you lot acquire inward after mid morning time you lot may receive got to search for a parking spot. There is parking inward small-scale highway-side lots to the due south (left above) together with northward of the 2 closest side roads, i of which you lot tin strength out regard bottom left, but many people green along the highway or the 2 side streets. I'm non sure if parking is costless inward FOODLAND'S lot.
If you lot receive got footling kids, access via the small-scale beach/park - the northern access via tracks downwardly from the highway following the Cove are steep together with tricky.
As occupation of Pupukea Beach Park, there is an amenities block close the sandy patch.
Those vehicles etc only to the correct of Foodlands make upward the hugely pop Shark's Cove food-truck park.
PUPAKEA TIDE POOL a jewel for visitors of all ages who similar to fossick inward shallow H2O pools - if you lot click-expand you lot volition regard people wading knee/ankle deep inward background.I'm non sure what the tide was doing during my visit, but the tidal hit is tiny inward Oahu (often less than a ft/300mm) so it volition non brand a lot of difference. Indeed the puddle is so shallow it is hard to spot on Google Earth. But that makes it ideal for littlies who can't swim much. Good swimmers volition discovery deeper H2O where the puddle meets Shark Cove at correct of ikon together with this is also an splendid snorkeling spot amongst plenty of fringing coral together with heaps of fish.
Those rocks to the bounding main side of the puddle offering goodness protection to fifty-fifty moderately large waves, but DON'T COME HERE when the surf study s says the swell is HUGE - Google Images show the whole pool/cove covered inward a wall of swirling white water.
Spot the puddle - I modified this Google ground ikon to emphasize its shallowness plus present some other of import expanse features.Note a reasonably swell seems to last running together with yet the puddle is benign. SHARK'S COVE seems pretty sheltered too, which suggests both deep H2O together with some due south inward the beginning of the swell.
BTW 1 - some of you lot pedants are in all probability sniffing: well it aint genuinely a BEACH expanse so how the hell does it fit into a listing of Oahu Hawaii's best beaches? Um, good that patch of sand is genuinely close 120m long together with 50m at its widest, so it's a fair flake bigger than the average playground sand pit.
BTW 2 - if whatever of the identify unit of measurement is a qualified diver, SHARK'S COVE is rated by Scuba Diving MagazineONE OF THE TOP TWELVE DIVE SITES IN THE WORLD. The world, non only Oahu or Hawaii! Stone the crows trendsetters, that has to brand this expanse THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR DIVERS too.
SHARK'S COVE is a North Shore location - only nether 65km/40mi from Waikiki, 10km/6mi northward of Haleiwa together with 3km/2mi due south of Sunset Beach, the most northern of the BIG 3 North Shore surfing breaks.Bus 55 volition acquire you lot hither from Honolulu via the top of the isle together with buse52 goes across the isle to Halweiwa - alter to 55.
After the pool/cove I suggest:
- crossing the busy route to the nutrient trucks for a snack/meal.
There has to last to a greater extent than than a dozen nutrient trucks amongst seating to gibe inward the large lot northward of Foodlands. Very pop amongst locals together with visiting surfers/day-trippers.- possibly checking the outlook from the viewpoint a curt like shooting fish in a barrel bush walk from the parking lot at the Puu O Mahaka State Monument ruins (entrance only upward the side route from Foodlands)...
Waimea Bay together with due south - that's the island's western-most Kaena Point far background amongst the impressive Wainea Range which separates the southern occupation of the NORTH SHORE from the northern department of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST. Haleiwa is tucked inward behind the headland colina far left of image.- so heading due south dorsum to Waikiki, calling inward at Laniakea Beach (turtle spotting),Waimea Bay(the bigger kids may taste a stone bound or a surf inward the ordinarily benign shore break), the neat footling town of Haleiwa for Matsumoto's famous shave H2O ice joint...
...whoa! Matusmoto's sure packs them in. This is the delineate out the door on the Sun before Easter. I returned on a weekday - delineate started at door, moved fairly quickly. Note small-scale serve is BIG ENOUGH together with the cost real reasonable.Plenty of other shave H2O ice together with fast nutrient choices inward town. Plus lotsa surfwear joints together with other surf orientated shops.
...and the Dole Pineapple Plantation attractions
Pineapple peeling demo inward the retail middle at Dole. Free samples handed out after. Gotta last the juciest, freshest pineapple I've had - together with Commonwealth of Australia produces a LOT of pineapples.I give to a greater extent than details of all these places inward the WAIMEA BAY department right away upward page.
Then again, if your teens are keen together with real competent surfers, they may foremost desire to banking company check out iconic large moving ridge spots similar BANZAI PIPELINE together with SUNSET BAY a real curt distance to the north. Details on PIPELINE right away below.
BEST BEACH IN HAWAII FOR SURFERS - THE BANZAI PIPELINE
There is no "BANZAI PIPELINE" sign on the highway - expect for the depression buildings of SUNSET BEACH ELEMENTAY SCHOOL close a mile due south of SUNSET BEACH'S bay/beach.>
PIPELINE is some other North Shore location - abt 66km/41mi from Waikiki, 12km/7mi northward of Haleiwa together with less than I mile due south of Sunset Beach, the most northern of the BIG 3 North Shore surfing breaks.
Bus 55 volition acquire you lot hither from Honolulu via the top of the isle together with bus52 goes across the isle to Halweiwa - alter to 55.
WHERE'S THE FAMOUS BREAK?
</ When I hitting the beach from the carpark I was kinda confused - the swell wasn't huge but at that topographic point was a fairly goodness "semi betoken break" moving ridge to the northward amongst a fair few surfers working it - but baby, that is a correct and everyone knows the best moving ridge at PIPELINE is a left. Go left inward a higher identify together with you lot are gonna smack the rocks/sand.
So I asked the lifeguard where the truthful PIPELINE was. He directed me to expect due south abt 350m where....
...I could brand out a left hander (sorry abt the arrow - I'm non too handy on "paint" - might last worth clicking-expanding the image). The left didn't expect existent impressive but I walked downwardly there....
...and flora a pro surf lensman laid upward beach terminate of i of the populace access lanes. He told me a circular of the WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR QUALIFYING SERIES was going on - these are immature women aged mainly eighteen to mid-20s trying to qualify for the primary women's tour. Most had non been surfing to a greater extent than than 10 years together with yet they were way improve than I ever got inward 35 years. I watched for a long time. >
BTW - pedants volition betoken out the inward a higher identify lady is going RIGHT, non the classic Pipeline LEFT. Okay, she's riding what is known as BACKDOOR PIPELINE which takes off from the same expanse as the classic lefts. Tournament surfers frequently grab a BACKDOOR moving ridge to sneak inward some extra points.
ANYWAY MY JUDGEMENT OF VISITING THIS AREA WHEN THE SURF WASN'T HUGE IS THAT THERE WERE ENOUGH GOOD WAVES AT VARIOUS BREAKS TO ALLOW SURFERS OVER Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE TO ENJOY CONDITIONS (there volition non last contests stealing a respite all that often).AND OF COURSE, WHEN THE SURF DOES GET BIG, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR REALLY SKILLED SURFERS
I couldn't leave of absence this department without showing what Pipeline is similar when it IS epic.
Whoa! I reckon all but the experts would best remain on the beach - ikon from http://www.threebestbeaches.com/
PRACTICAL NOTE - let's say you lot are a surfing enthusiast without the science to surf the likes of the inward a higher identify but you'd similar real much to acquire upward to Pipeline together with nearby Waimea together with Sunset to banking company check out the large moving ridge activeness from the beach. However you lot are topographic point off from what you lot receive got heard close the horrendous traffic together with parking problems on the North Shore when the surf is pumping.
No problems, kemosabe! Jump on bus 55 at Honolulu's Ala Moana transit center which volition convey you lot on a dandy anti-clockwise trip closed to the isle to all 3 of the BIG 3 hell holes. It volition last obvious when you lot receive got reached Sunset Beach together with Waimea, but at that topographic point is no highway sign or standout coastal embayment announcing Pipeline. However you lot volition know where to bound off for Pipeline when you lot regard Sunset Beach Elementary School only a mile/1.6km due south of the actual Sunset Beach. Anyway, the drivers are dandy together with volition assist amongst your stop. As you lot cross the road, giggle at all the desperates looking fer a parking spot.
Bus 55 inward a delineate of traffic which has slowed to banking company check out the turtles spell passing Laniakae Beach 4 miles/7km due south of Pipeline.
But here's the thing - the BIG 3 beaches are so closed together (3.2miles/5.2km past times road) that you lot could acquire off at the Sunset and walk due south taking inward the other beaches - Google Maps tells us the walking occupation should convey close 63 minutes but past times the fourth dimension I checked out all of the many beach access paths together with snapped pix at the large 3 themselves, 3+ hours had passed. Pretty interesting 3 hours.
Not a dandy distance betwixt WIAMEA together with SUNSET.
LANIAKEA is the Turtle spotting beach - it is only a flake over 3.5km northward of HALEIWA.
That sparse dark delineate only inland from the coast for most of the ikon is the escarpment which leads upward to the depression plateau behind the northern one-half of the NORTH SHORE.
THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR KAMIKAZE RISK TAKERS/THRILL SEEKERS
Well if they tin strength out handgrip a surfboard really good it's gotta last PIPELINEwhen HUGE. But board riding is a specialist science which the typical Hawaiian visitor from non coastal areas won't receive got - yet most tin strength out swim together with handgrip a trunk board (gotta receive got fins - amongst straps to hold them on at this spot) so I'm giving them the best run a jeopardy of making U-Tube amongst their Go Pro footage at...
SANDY BEACH
Sandy Beach has i of the world's most consistently gnarly beach breaks - on the 2 occasions I called in, 2 to four human foot waves were slamming downwardly inward close half-dozen inches of water, almost on the beach (note how surfing has resisted metrification) - something to do amongst the way the sea bottom rapidly shallows closed to shore.
The take-off is reasonably safe, but unless these dudes together with dudettes bail out (which they never do - they're HELL RAISERS, right?) they are going to last in....
...deep problem real quickly.
No worries, the life guards come upward out at depression tide amongst a shovel together with dig the bodies out of the sand.
WARNING - SANDY BEACH hell raisers experience several broken necks, snapped spines etc each year. If you lot are non of the kamikaze persuasion, why non sit down on the sand together with drinkable inward the amusement at minimal jeopardy to oneself.
Well, minimal - I suffered some whiplash scoping out the co-eds on Spring Break - Sandy Beach seemed to receive got the best array of thong-bikinis on the island.
Sandy Beach is a pretty prissy strip of silica. There is plenty of costless parking together with an amenities block. It is worth a call-in for a flake of sunshine (not to advert the amusement topographic point on past times the adrenaline junkies) if you lot are doing a day-trip of the area's attractions such as HANUAMA BAY snorkeling (see downwardly page), KOKO CRATER RIDGE CLIMB together with VIEWPOINT (ditto), HALONE BEACH together with BLOWHOLE (down page), MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUESE WALK together with VIEWPOINT, SEA LIFE PARK, the PILL BOX TRAIL together with VIEWPOINT (down page) or returning from MY PERSONAL #1 BEACH or from what I regard asTHE BEST BEACH IN HAWAII FOR DAY-TRIPPERS(the most distant of the 2 13miles/21km together with both downwardly page).
Note from the inward a higher identify pic that to a greater extent than swell seems to acquire thru this closed to the south-east corner of the isle - Waikiki only 10miles/16km W was its common benign self the same day. However SANDY was way smaller than the large swell running only closed to the corner of the isle at....
...Makapu'U Beach. This is close the only spot along both the eastward coast together with the adjoining due south coast non protected past times an off-shore reef, which allows swell generated past times the prevailing north-east merchandise winds to acquire correct thru to the beachThe reef presently kicks inward - notice the relative calm of the bay right away north.
I shot this from Makapu'U lighthouse viewpoint - if you lot don't fancy the i hr homecoming walk upward hither notice the viewpoint bottom left of ikon - it has a primary route machine green together with gives a much to a greater extent than elevated outlook over the beach than would appear from the inward a higher identify pic.
btw that's theSea Life Park complex behind the route loop only past times the beach - at that topographic point is also the pop Chief's Luau adjacent.
(If you lot haven't a car, buses 22 - Waikiki/23 - Waikiki together with Honolulu which come upward dorsum this way + charabanc 57 which pushes on northward upward ikon eventually re-curving to Honolulu start from inward there).
SANDY BEACH is towards the eastern terminate of the due south coast abt 20km/12mi from Waikiki together with a footling over 3.5km/2mi farther on from HANAUMA BAY (see below).Bus 22 for populace transport.
BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR SNORKELERS - HANAUMA BAY
Here's the thing - you lot tin strength out hitting the H2O at dozens of Oahu spots together with discovery goodness coral together with plenty of fishies. Hard inwardness snorkelers (which I'm not) volition receive got contacts/do their query to discovery snorkeling spots improve than the iconic HANAUMA - but for the average visitor who wants to banking company check out some goodness coral at a identify easily accessed from Waikiki/Honolulu, I'm sticking amongst HANAUMA.
HANAUMA BAY is towards the eastern terminate of the due south coast. It is a flake less than 17km/11mi from Waikiki - charabanc 22 overcomes whatever parking problems.
Whoa - sweet. Check out that coral only offshore. I didn't banking company check it (see below) but an skillful snorkeler told me the materials closed to shore is pretty used upward - gets improve farther our: the best is on the OUTSIDE where the reef drops into deeper water. Plenty of prissy fish everywhere.
But nosotros receive got some full general PROBLEMS at HANAUMA.
For a start, parking although only $1, is severely limited. And at that topographic point is no parking on access roads or upward on the primary coastal road. This is deliberate - regime are concerned that over-use of the expanse volition degrade the coral too much. So best acquire at that topographic point early on for a guaranteed park.
Buses run into the machine green - banking company check out charabanc 22. But whatever fourth dimension after mid-day they acquire existent packed for the journeying dorsum to Waikiki. Get to the charabanc halt early on or similar me, force on to SANDY BEACH together with other touristy spots to the east.
Secondly nosotros receive got the admission accuse rip off. Okay, Hawaiian together with other USA citizens don't pay which is fair together with a goodness deal: but foreigners do - together with it is way over the top $7 dollars+. That's maybe okay if you lot are gonna remain for some fourth dimension - but I only wanted to go downwardly together with banking company check the beach (I've stated elsewhere on this page why I'm uneasy close leaving my materials on the beach unattended spell I swim/surf/snorkel - also which I've seen the best coral/fish spots inward the world - at THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - together with everywhere else leaves me amongst a feel of anticlimax
Next - as said above, the homecoming buses to Waikiki acquire genuinely packed after abt 1130. Either delineate upward at the charabanc halt early on or grab i going the other way, checking out places similar SANDY BEACH, MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUSE TREK/VIEWPOINT together with SEA LIFE PARK (the charabanc pauses at that topographic point 10 mins or so before starting its homecoming trip to Waikiko) - if you lot occupation your transfer stub to do this 2d trip, the homecoming $2.50 to Waikiki volition last the same as you lot would pay from Hanauma dorsum to Waikiki (you can't occupation transfer stubs for homecoming trips).
Last a small-scale betoken - the bay is closed Tuesdays. Adjust your schedule.
THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR NUDISTS - NORTH POLO (MOKULEIA) BEACH
Referred to past times the locals as NUDIE BEACH this may also last the ONLY nudist beach inward Oahu - at that topographic point is supposed to last some other inward the far north-east of the isle but the only people I saw inward this remote expanse were fishermen together with wild fauna protection volunteers (see downwardly page).
NUDIE BEACH is on the "southern" one-half of Oahu's NORTH SHORE - 55km/34mi from Waikiki together with 10km/6mi W due south W of Haleiwa. Buses 55 together with 52 volition acquire you lot from Honolulu to Haleiwa together with so charabanc 76 to Waialua from where it's a 50 infinitesimal walk.
This is the nudist department to the northward of the populace access rail close the polo land on the Farringon Hwy half-dozen miles/10km due south of Haleiwa. The beach is pretty nice, non busy on weekdays together with surely non hither belatedly on a Th afternoon - to a greater extent than crowded on wek-ends but no Playa Es Trenc.
Protected past times the common offshore reef, the H2O off the beach was fairly calm, clear, azure - okay snorkeling amongst plenty of fish, coral showing affect of sand closed inward but improve farther out.
This is the non-nudist department to the due south of the populace access track. Sweet beach - continues to a greater extent than or less uninterrupted for several km until the result betoken of the Farrington Hwy
THE BEST ISOLATED BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII
Some people's thought of BEST BEACH is a not-unattractive i way out inward the middle of no-where amongst no or few other people around.
This is close the most isolated but soundless attractive beach I flora - way upward towards the northward terminate of the Windward (east) Coast behind the James Campbell Wildlife Reserve - I can't discovery a call so lets telephone holler upward it Campbell Beach (or occupation the surfer term SPOT XThis beach is so isolated at that topographic point weren't fifty-fifty whatever of the fishermen featured on most other northern Windward Coast beaches. Maybe too isolated - you lot may discovery it too hard to reach. There are no populace access roads or walking tracks thru the biological reserve from the primary route nearly a mile inland - I had walked downwardly the beaches from the island's northern tip at Turtle Bay Resort. I was abt 2 hours into my trek.
A GOOD ALTERNATIVE - KOOLAULOA BEACH
A improve bet may last farther north, non too far from Turtle Bay Resort's machine park/bus halt for #55.
This is the beach eastward of the resort (far background) - pretty prissy together with as the call suggests...
...a goodness identify for turtle spotting.
Not only turtles...
...but this Hawaiian Monk Seal. She was existence watched over past times a volunteer wild fauna protector who told me she had been thru a traumatic fourth dimension giving nativity before inward the solar daytime - unfortunately the pup died.
Your kids may similar this expanse because of the inward a higher identify nicely protected stone pool. Hell, I'm no tike together with I enjoyed a dip.
Both are northern WINDWARD COAST beaches. For KOOLAULO grab charabanc 55 to the TURTLE BAY RESORT machine green together with walk eastward maybe 15mins. SPOT X volition demand some other 100mins or so. Doesn't expect it, but baby, it's non all that straightforward navigating the coast upward there.
MEA CULPA -NOT EXPLORED - close the only department of coast on the isle I didn't acquire a expect at is the northern 30% of the dry, non-touristy LEEWARD COAST on concern human relationship buses only run northward as far as famous large moving ridge location MAKAHA. There's a ground the charabanc terminates at that topographic point - real footling settlement farther on. But Google Earth shows some rather attractive sections of sand farther north-west.
I only saw them from a distance at the top of the Waianea RangeKuaokola Loop Trail trek, but they sure looked nice. And isolated.
< I tilted this modified Google ground ikon to give some thought of the upper Leeward Coast.
Yokohama Bch/Bay similar Makaha to the south, is some other famous large moving ridge spot - tends to last goodness inward the wintertime months when the huge NW Pacific tempest swells hitting Oahu.
Note "road's end" inward a higher identify is non quite truthful - at that topographic point is a restricted access side route climbs upward the ridge to the satellite tracking station on top. Trekkers volition discovery a plane 3.8km/2.1mi rail behind the rocks from roads terminate to the point.
It is hard to topographic point a scale on these tilted images - it is 12km/7mi from the Makaha identify marking to the tip of Kaena Point.
Yokahama Beach. Looks pretty sweet, non to advert isolated. Backdrop of mountains sets it off. It's obvious I ripped this pic off TO-HAWAII.COMNOT EXPLORED CLOSELY
One other department I didn't banking company check on human foot was the far southern terminate of the NORTH SHORE on the other side of Kaena Point from the previous image. I saw this from a passing machine plus through the clouds on my epic half-dozen hr trek along the spine of the Waianea Range inward a higher identify Dillingham Airfield - the sand/water sure looked nice. People had parked cars along the Farrington Hwy which leads to within 4km of the betoken together with were swimming/relaxing - but non many people: this is a real uncrowded department of coast.
The sand is to a greater extent than or less i continuous strip from Nudie Beach to the road's end, although it does acquire a flake skinny only before Dillingham Airfield.
It is 12km/7mi inward a straight delineate from Nudie Beach's identify marking to the terminate of Kaena Point. There is a 4km walking rail from the terminate of the route to the point.
Car-less people volition receive got difficulty hither - the in conclusion charabanc halt is inward the prissy footling beach-side town of Waialua abt 35mins walk out of ikon bottom left.
Even though this is the southern terminate of the North Shore, the coast runs almost eastward to W here. You are looking at the abovefrom the north-east towards the south-west.
This is close 800m of the beach only due south of Dillingham airfield. I shot this close one-half way downwardly the steep, fossil oil trail from the top of the Waianea Range - whatever higher together with clouds obscured outlook.OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR NATURE ENTHUSIASTS?
Does the high possibility of seeing turtles together with seals brand the KOOLAULOA BEACH/TURTLE BAY expanse mentioned inward the previous department best for this?
I'm non sure - betoken is I saw many turtles together with seals over a broad hit of beaches on both the northern one-half of the windward coast together with along the North Shore - specially due south of Waimea Bay. Maybe the possibility of checking out native together with migratory beast (migratory sea birds are a special emphasis) together with native flora including many endangered species living inward a natural habitat at the nearby JAMES CAMPBELL NATURE RESERVE enhances KOOLAULOA/TURTLE BAY'S claim, but the nature reserve is non a commercial performance together with is closed to the public. However guided tours tin strength out last arranged on a special basis.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR GOLFERS?
Once in i lawsuit to a greater extent than I'm non sure - I'm non a golfer together with haven't researched this. But the fact is TURTLE BAY has 2 golf game courses following the resort - THE ARNOLD PALMER together with the KALIMA. The KAHUKU GOLF COURSE is only 4miles/6.5km due south on the other side of the nature reserve.
However the real attractive KO OLINA HOTEL/LAGOON complex (see downwardly page nether BEST BEACH FOR HIGH ROLLERS) at the southern terminate of the Leeward Coast has the integrated KO OLINA GOLF CLUB designed past times Ted Robinson, whoever he is. Apparently the course of teaching has hosted some large fourth dimension world tournaments over the years
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THE BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII FOR ROMANTICS - HALONA BEACH
Doesn't expect existent special, but this is where the classic "smooch inward the waves sequence" amongst Burt Lancaste together with Deborah Kerr was shot for the film FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. The sequence (You Tube) was thought super hot at the fourth dimension but is of course of teaching way tame now.
I shot the inward a higher identify pic from the carpark of the HALONA BLOWHOLE LOOKOUT. This inward itself is...
a pop call-in for visitors (maybe non at its best inward pic - blowhole performance depends on swell together with tide). The scout is only a few hundred meters W of SANDY BEACH
OAHU HAWAII'S EQUAL BEST LAP SWIMMING BEACH
We receive got already seen that Waikikii is i of the best inward this category.
But 2 other beaches charge per unit of measurement as high:
1 - ALA MOANA
ALA MOANA is only W of Waikiki - it's a HONOLULU CITY beach - has the sizable ALA MOANA BEACH PARK betwixt the sand together with the huge ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER/BUS INTERCHANE. Tends to last existent calm on concern human relationship of its double-barrel protection: a goodness offshore reef + an inner-groyne parallel to the beach which you lot tin strength out regard towards the left inward the inward a higher identify pic.
2- KO OLINA - I give lots to a greater extent than info/images/maps etc right away below inward the BEST BEACH FOR HIGH ROLLERS section. But note, this lovely expanse is opened upward to the full general populace - if you lot receive got a machine it's non too hard to access, or if you lot are similar me, you lot tin strength out acquire at that topographic point via charabanc amongst a flake of a walk at the end.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR HIGH ROLLERS - KO OLINA
KO OLINA is on the lower occupation of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST abt 42km /26mi from Waikiki.
Public charabanc users demand charabanc C from Honolulu's Ala Moana interchange but you lot are inward for a flake of a walk downwardly from the highway
Waikiki hotels do shuttle-bus day-trips out here. In the previous department I give this rather attractive expanse a gong for jointly existence best beach expanse for LAP SWIMMERS. But most movers together with shakers are non interested inward lap swimming - they desire somewhere to print their buddies dorsum dwelling theater at the solid ground club. Thing is at that topographic point are heaps of real high terminate absolute beach front end hotels inward Waikiki volition do the job. But baby, everyone stays at Waikiki - you lot desire somewhere to a greater extent than exclusive. KO OLINA fits the bill.
This expanse has four landscaped lagoons backed past times hotels together with high ascent condos spread over abt 1500m of the southern coastal section, 3 undeveloped lagoons to the north, a entitle golf game course, together with plenty of villas, depression ascent condos together with houses you lot large movers tin strength out rent. I forgot to topographic point a scale on this Google ground ikon - it is 1.5 miles/2.5km inward a straight delineate from the charabanc identify marking at top to that of the marina at bottom.
Detracting a flake from its exclusivity may last the fact that the expanse is opened upward to the populace together with at that topographic point is ample populace parking together with access lanes behind the lagoons. This is in all probability occupation of the cope past times which the populace regime allowed the evolution of the expanse - Hawaii's KEEP THE COUNTRY COUNTRY motion is notoriously anti development. But fer you lot high roller fugitive Wall St bond traders - remain cool: I was the only disreputable reprobate type I saw wandering closed to the place.
I came past times populace bus, but my charabanc halt top left was a flake of a hike from the lagoons. Note that large day-trip tour coaches come upward inward from Waikiki.
The most northern of the landscaped lagoons, the KOHOLA (whale) was past times far the most crowded - maybe because of the pop DISNEY RESORTS inward background (hey, maybe their tariff is to a greater extent than identify unit of measurement friendly - only demand to last a semi high roller - MID ROLLER?). The JW MARRIOT to left of frame was closed for redevelopment. Sure looked swish.
If you lot desire fewer people inward a to a greater extent than natural environment, the foremost of the undeveloped pools, PARADISE COVE (abt 500m northward of Kohola) does it well. Behind is the PARADISE COVE LUAU, immensely pop amongst resort residents together with day-trippers.
My el-cheapo Olympus' focal width was too tight to acquire a total lagoon shot so I pinched this i off Wikepedia's KO OLINA page to present the measure features of the improved lagoons - this i is KOHOLA but the others follow the same pattern amongst 3 openings to the sea, a prissy sandy beach expanse etc. These panorama shots ordinarily click-expand nicely.
One downside of staying at Ko Olina could last relative isolation. However I saw the large coach from the popular POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER inward Laei way upward inward the island's northward eastward close as far from Ko Olina as you lot tin strength out get, dropping people off belatedly inward the solar daytime - which suggests the accommodation places tin strength out lay on the common exterior trips for patrons. And no doubtfulness receive got plenty of shuttles into Honolulu/Waikiki.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST BEACH FOR CAMPERS - MALEAKAHANA
Bus users demand #55 from Honolulu's Ala Moana charabanc interchange.
I didn't query pre-trip where to discovery a goodness Oahu camping ground beach - Jetstar's lowest fare allows deport on luggage only amongst a 7kg bound - rules out my gear. However the nicest beach amongst plenty of campgrounds I saw was MALEAKAHANA BEACH on the northern windward coast. Hey, this is a sugariness beach - maybe if I'd seen it before inward the solar daytime when the Sun was high together with when I wasn't a flake tired from my four hour+ trek downwardly from TURTLE BAY I would receive got rated it correct upward at that topographic point amongst my favorite beach NORTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS FIELD featured downwardly page.
This long (there is twice as much beach behind camera) white strip of sand (I shot this getting towards dark) is backed for much of its length past times woods. The rather goodness privately owned MALEAKAHANA BEACH CAMPGROUND is situated behind those kids inward the H2O - the reef allows a flake of swell through to the beach's northern areas together with at that topographic point were some small-scale fun surfing waves reverse the camp....
...and at the far northern terminate where the small-scale flow drains into the ocean. People had tents together with campervans hither - but I kinda recall this may last an unofficial camping ground area: Google Maps
shows no camground.
This guy was taking it like shooting fish in a barrel mid-way along the beach.
Immediately due south of the State Rec Area is some other prissy strip of sand of similar size leading downwardly to the town of LAIEwith its sizable peninsula out of ikon to the left. The occupation of the beach backed past times vegetatation is known as HUKILAE BEACH - inward front end of the town, TEMPLE BEACH. LAIE is best known for its POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER, the BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY-HAWAII and the rather impressive MORMON TEMPLE.For campers of course of teaching the town would last a goodness provide center.
As common I forgot to add together a scale - it is 3km/nearly 2 miles inward a straight delineate betwixt "unofficial" identify marking at top together with that of "Laie" bottom of image.
There are some to a greater extent than camping ground spots inward the large MALEAKAHANA STATE RECREATION PARK betwixt the 2 beaches. But province rec military camp grounds receive got fussy booking conditions together with closed downwardly for i or to a greater extent than days per calendar week to discourage permanent settlement past times the homeless.
NOTE - I didn't notice them, but this site says at that topographic point are military camp sites at my favorite beach WAIMANALO/BELLOWS (see downwardly page). However they are CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU CAMP GROUNDS and receive got the disadvantages of closing 2 or four days a calendar week together with some other restrictions.
OAHU HAWAII'S BEST DAY-TRIP BEACH - LANIKAI BEACH
I receive got already mentioned a number of beaches as goodness day-trip destinations inward that they receive got a bunch of other attractions nearby/along the way. But Lanikai wins the gong - partly because it is totally gorgeous...
...with white sand backed past times palms, azure H2O together with some prissy offshore islands the keen kayak to.
ADDITIONALLY behind the beach is i of the best curt treks on the island:
The PILLBOX TRAIL takes you lot upward to 2 quondam gun emplacements overlooking Lanikae Beach below right. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 360 grade outlook takes inward the fabulous beach areas both northward together with south, MAKAPU'U LIGHTHOUSE POINT (Aohu's eastern most tip) together with the razer abrupt KO'OLAU RANGE which separates this occupation of the Windward Coast from the southern Honolulu/Waikiki coast. Hey, if you lot click expand you lot may last able to regard some okay coral only off the beach which could brand it an interesting snorkeling location. I didn't check. Adding to Lanikae's status as top daytrip beach: it's a dandy starting betoken to banking company check out other nearby attractions such as MY PERSONAL BEST BEACH (NORTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS as mentioned right away downwardly page), SEA LIFE PARK, MAKAP'U POINT TREK AND LOOKOUTS together with on the way dorsum to Waikikik/Honolulu SANDY BEACH, HALONA BEACH/BLOWHOLE, the awesome KOKO CRATER RIDGE CLIMB, HANAUMA SNORKELING BAY together with the panorama from the top of DIAMOND HEAD. I receive got pix or information on most of the inward a higher identify elsewhere on this page - except for:
..the awesome KOKO CRATER RIDGE CLIMB - 1048 of those sleeper steps baby, non to advert seriously steep inward parts.
...the view from the top is worth it as is...
...the top off the much easier (but soundless a goodness workout) DIAMOND HEAD VIEWPOINT TRACK.
CAVEAT - inward relation to LANIKEA BEACH: my i reservation close this gorgeous beach is that it looked a flake skinny from H2O to dorsum of beach together with could last existent sparse inward some parts at high tide. No matter, if you lot caput that way at high tide at that topographic point prissy or (nicer inward the representative of my personal favorite) beaches within a few minutes drive amongst plenty of sand width ADJACENT LANIKAI - KAILUA BEACH
One of the closed beaches to LANIKAI I haven't featured elsewhere on this page - some other rated i of the best inward Oahu past times some - is KAILUA BEACH which starts only a few hundred meters northward of LANIKAI together with runs over 4km/2.5miles farther north. I hitting this beach good after sunset due to lingering too long on the PILL BOX trail (instead of retracing my path from pill box #2 I continued on, turning a 40minute trek into a 3 hr plus slog - had to recuperate inward THE SHACK, a cool bar close where I popped dorsum out to suburbia) - so I couldn't fairly jurist how KAILUA BEACH rated compared to other top places. But it did expect nice. Despite the pathetic light, if you lot click-expand ikon you lot volition regard the high tide grade leaves plenty of sand for beach goers - so if you lot discovery LANIKAI too skinny at high tide, caput on northward a curt distance to here. 
LANIKAI BEACH is on the southern Windward Coast abt 26km/16mi from Wailiki.
Bus users tin strength out come upward from Honolulu's Ala Moana interchange via the Pali Hwy tunnels on a vareity of buses, changing somewhere inward the KAILUA AREA for local #70 which volition drib you lot at i of the populace access lanes to the beach (refer to TheBus website for details) - or move straight from Waikiki to the south-eastern corner of the isle on #s22,23 changing at Sea Life Park to #57, changing in i lawsuit once to a greater extent than to #70 somewhere inward Kailua. This slightly longer trip is to a greater extent than scenic together with goes past times some dandy places mentioned on this page. Both trips require 3 different buses if you lot are leaving from Waikiki - i $2.50 ticket allows you lot 2 transfers together with so volition do the total distance.
3 GOOD ONES CLOSE TOGETHER
Reinforcing Lanikai's credentials as a goodness daytrip goal - 2 other prissy beach areas each side (I regard BELLOWS/N WAIMANALO as i beach area). I also present the PILL BOXES' location amongst the blueish photographic tv set camera behind Lanikai.
The swell diminishing offshore barrier reef is clear inward this shot as is the KAILUA MALL (white roofed buildings high left margin). Distance from the mall to HONOLULU via the inland mountain/tunnel route is 20km/12mi. From the bottom margin of the map to WAIKIKI via the scenic due south eastward coastal drive is abt 29km/18mi.
FOR SCALE: straight delineate distance from the top KAILUA identify marking to that of lowest NTH WAIMANALO is 5.7km/3.6mi.
MY PERSONAL BEST BEACH IN OAHU HAWAII - the NORTH WAIMANALO/BELLOWS BEACH STRIP
Bus users receive got diverse options but for the most scenic route (sit on the correct paw side of the bus) is #s22,23 changing at Sea Life Park to #57. .
This is shot close one-half way along this real long beach. Understand that the overall beach is divided into 3 locations - from the south, WAIMANO BEACH, following WAIMANO BAY BEACH together with after that BELLOWS FIELD BEACH. I had jumped off charabanc 57 at Waimanalo Beach Park close a mile/1.6km behind the photographic tv set camera together with walked northward towards Bellows Field Beach in the far distance. The pic was taken a fair way northward - past times this phase I had reached the mid-bay WAIMANO BAY BEACH. I specially liked this department because it is backed past times casuarina trees etc rather than the houses close my entrance point. Access is goodness amongst some other beach park/picnic expanse (WAIMANO BAY BEACH PARK) amongst ample parking, alter together with wc facilities, BBQs together with fifty-fifty a few camping ground spaces (note you lot demand a county permit together with these types of campgrounds tend to closed downwardly i or 2 days a calendar week to discourage the homeless from setting upward permanently.
back on the beach: the sand nice, the H2O clean, protected from large waves past times an offshore reef together with tending towards that lovely azure color you lot acquire inward many tropical areas, The beach wasn't overcrowded despite existence a top solar daytime on the Easter Holiday weekend.
Bellows Field Beach starts beyond these rocks together with runs several miles/kms to Wailea Point to the north. Many guidebooks say Bellows is Oahu's best beach, but I couldn't differentiate it from northern Waimanalo. Despite existence on military machine land, access is opened upward to the populace via a goodness route off the primary drag into Bellows Field Beach Park. Perhaps if you lot force on to the real far terminate which runs only behind some airfield base of operations housing, they volition shoot you. I didn't examination this out.
CAVEAT - existence on a reserve airforce base, the regime only opened upward beach access on weekends. No worries - on weekdays caput due south a curt distance to access as prissy WAIMANALO BAY BEACH via WAIMANALO BAY BEACH PARK.
Locals taking wages of the prissy conditions together with goodness parking at Bellows. Aw, aint that nice! Now this is some other has to last some other of the BEST BEACHES FOR Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 DAY-TRIP because all those destinations listed inward the inward a higher identify LANIKAE BEACH department are only as easily accessed from here.
THE BUS
TheBus is a dandy resources for budget travelers because populace buses go everywhere on the isle except the far northern terminate of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST together with the far "southern" (actually south-western) terminate of the NORTH SHORE.
Even if you lot receive got a rental machine buses tin strength out last useful to avoid traffic jams together with parking problems at places similar the NORTH SHORE (when the surf is genuinely pumping together with everyone wants to banking company check it out) together with HANAUMA BAY.
Travel is inexpensive at $2.50 per ticket (kids one-half - nether 5s free, concessional fares etc), which allows 2 additional transfers amongst some restrictions. The $60 (calendar) monthly transcend was goodness value for me - I took over lx trips inward close sixteen days (less than a buck a ride). Even accounting for occupation of transfer stubs I would receive got had to purchase good over xxx tickets. And the CONVENIENCE of non having to discovery the correct alter etc is worth it alone.
The website is terrific - amongst schedules, route maps, trip planners together with much more.
IF YOU SEE MISTAKES OR HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE POST BELOW.
BUT IF YOU HAVE Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 QUESTION, PLEASE ASK information technology IN THE FORUM - I CHECK THE FORUM MOST DAYS WHEREAS I WILL ONLY RETURN TO THIS PAGE OCCASIONALLLY.
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