Best Beaches in Honolulu

Located in Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is a beautiful and extremely popular beach  with light brown sand and nearby palm trees. This beach is located in the popular touristy neighborhood of Waikiki. The beach’s name in Hawaiian means "spouting water" - the beach received this name because in the past multiple springs and rivers used to flow around this beach – as another fun fact Waikiki Beach was used by Hawaiian nobility for surfing. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the United State and was named the 4th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” It is important to note that Waikiki Beach is a part of a larger beach area that stetches for almost two miles that is also called Waikiki Beach – in addition to Waikiki Beach, this larger beach area is composed of seven other beaches including Duke Kahanamoku Beach (also called Kahanamoku Beach and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach Park), Fort DeRussy Beach (also known asFort DeRussy Beach Park, Gray’s Beach (also known as Grays Beach, Halekulani Beach, Kawehewehe, and Grey’s Beach), Royal Hawaiian Beach (also known as Waikiki Beach Center and Royal Moana Beach), Kuhio Beach (also known as "The Ponds", Kuhio Ponds, and Kūhiō Beach), Queen’s Beach (also known as Queen Kapiolani Beach , Queen’s Surf Beach, and Kapiolani Beach Park), and Kaimana Beach (also known as also known as Kaimana Beach Park, Kaimana’s Beach, Waikiki at San Souci Beach, Sans Souci Beach, and San Souci Beach).

Waikiki Beach is constantly threatened by erosion – some of Waikiki Beach’s parts have been significantly reduced in size due to erosion. There are multiple rocky jetties and seawalls near Waikiki Beach – the beach’s southwestern portion particularly has many rocky seawalls near it. Although most of the portions of Waikiki Beach have lifeguards, there are some portions that do not have lifeguard deployment – these portions are located near 2055 Kalia Road, in front a hotel named the Halekulani Hotel, and adjacent to another hotel named Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.  In addition to lifeguards,

Located less than three miles away from the famous Waikiki District in Honolulu, Makalei Beach Park carries the Hawaiian name for “Peacock”, perfectly representing its lush turquoise waters. Getting to this beach requires a ten minute hike down Diamondhead Road, where you can observe the diverse fauna of O’ahu before arriving at this small and secluded beach surrounded by residential properties. This beach park sports clean tables and benches, making it the perfect place for a lunch picnic on the sand. It also accommodates dogs and has a small bathroom facility, which adds to its family-friendly atmosphere.

The highlight of this beach is its crystal clear turquoise waters. Its gentle nature invites snorkelers and divers to explore the nearby coral reefs and welcomes beginner surfers to try out the waves. According to locals, there is a family of monk seals that loves to wade in the waters! If you want to enjoy the soft white sand, be sure to avoid high tide, as the water fills all the way up to shore. Even so, there is an elevated grass area with plenty of shaded areas that are always available for those looking for a place to sit.

If you get hungry, you can take a short ten-minute walk to Michel’s at the Colony Surf, a classic French restaurant that offers extensive fine seafood dining and is known for their lobster bisque. If you want a more affordable bite, check out the BBQ options at Barefoot Beach Cafe, which is known for its vibrant atmosphere highlighted by live music on weekends. Don’t miss out on South Shore Grill, a family-owned restaurant that boasts the best fish tacos in Honolulu.

If you need a place to stay, check out the Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head, located half a mile from Makalei. This four-star hotel boasts ocean views and offers amenities such as wine-tasting events and bike rentals, providing options for everyone in the family. If you are looking for a more affordable room, the Waikiki Grand Hotel is just a five minute drive from the beach. This casual hotel offers free Wifi, an outdoor pool, and a night club that attracts locals and tourists alike. Lastly, the Pacific Monarch Hotel is a fifteen minute drive from the beach and is located in the heart of the Waikiki District. This all-suite hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool and is right next to the Honolulu Zoo, which serves as an excellent day-trip site for families with young children.

Located along the south-eastern shoreline of the island of Oahu, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a preserve that has a scenic bay named Hanauma Bay - this bay has a long unnamed and popular crescent-shaped light-brown sand beach along its shores. This unnamed beach is also known as Hanauma Bay Beach and is situated within a 30,000 year-old volcanic crater called the Hanauma. Many palm trees are present around this scenic beach. Hanauma Bay was earlier a recreational beach park. However, the huge influx of tourists to this popular beach caused significant damage to the local marine landscape and fragile marine biodiversity, prompting local authorities to turn this park into a preserve and take and apply stricter rules for tourist regulation. The meaning of the Hawaiian name of this bay (Hanauma) is widely interpreted as "curved bay" in English. Hanauma Bay was earlier used by Ancient Hawaiian nobles for recreational purposes. In addition, Hanauma Bay was also used by Ancient Hawaiians as a stop-over and launch point for canoes due to its calm water. Ancient fishing tools have also been found around Hanauma Bay by archaeologists. The beach in Hanauma Bay is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  Hanauma Bay has also featured in many films and television shows including Tora! Tora! Tora!, Hawaii Five-O, and Blue Hawaii. 

Kahala Beach is the Hawaiian paradise that you’ve always dreamed of. You might expect that this tropical oasis is often crowded, as its bright blue waters and golden sands are particularly inviting and the beaches of Oahu are among the most sought-after destinations in the world. Yet, Kahala Beach defies all norms. This isolated, tranquil beach is an uncrowded, sandy beach that’s lined with swaying palm trees, and is only a 20-minute drive from the center of Waikiki.

Getting to Kahala Beach is easy - the multiple access paths to the beach are located along Kahala Avenue, near its intersections with Elepaio Street, Kala Place, Hunakai Street, and Koloa Street.  It is also important to note that Kahala Beach’s access path near the intersection between Kahala Avenue and Kala Place also has two lion statues near it.  There are free street parking spaces along some of the roads which intersect Kahala Avenue - one of these roads which have street parking spaces is the Kala Place.  It is important to note that the access paths for Kahala Beach near Elepaio Street and Kala Place lead to portions of the beach which are narrow with very little sand.

Once you’ve reached the beach, the lagoon-like water filled with vibrant coral and sea life makes for an ideal snorkeling hotspot. You’ll often see sailboats and kitesurfers along the waters as well. Sometimes there are even a few destination weddings right on the sand! If you venture west along the beach, you’ll pass the Waialae Country Club and its beautiful 18-hole ocean-view golf course, nestled among gated $10-$20 million homes. Situated beyond the club, you’ll find Wai’alea Beach Park, which has an expansive lawn and a stream that runs out to the ocean; you’ll also find a public bathroom and a shower. If you’re looking for accommodations here, Kahala Hotel and Resort is a great place to stay – it has a dolphin pool, spa and fitness center, complimentary water sports equipment, and great beach access. The hotel also offers and array of dining options – including Arancino at The Kahala, Hoku's Restaurant, the Seaside Grill, and the Kahala Hotel Beach Side Buffet. We also love the Plumeria Beach House, a casual, open-air restaurant near the lobby of the hotel. Whether you’re staying for a day, a week, or a month, you’re going to love your time at Kahala Beach.

Located in the eastern part of Waikiki, Duke Kahanamoku Beach – also known as Kahanamoku Beach, Duke’s Beach, and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach Park – is a wide beach with light brown sand, multiple nearby breakwaters, a nearby reef, and a pier named the Hilton Pier.  Duke Kahanamoku Beach is at the western end of a larger beach area named Waikiki Beach – Duke Kahanamoku Beach is also one of Waikiki Beach’s widest portions.  Duke Kahanamoku Beach is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert known as Mr. Beach.