Best Dog Beaches in Hawaii

Located in the northern part of Oahu, Hanakailio Beach - also called Hanaka‘ilio Beach - is a remote beach with light brown sand, some rocky portions, and a nearby small forest.  This beach is situated on the shores of Hanakailio Bay.  The rocky portions of Hanakailio Beach are composed of limestone. 

Located in the north-western part of the Oahu shoreline, Makua Beach - also known as Mākua Beach, Pray For Sets Beach, and Pray For Sex Beach - is a large beach with light brown sand and some rocky portions, along with a few nearby trees.  This beach is a part of a state park named Ka'ena Point State Park.  The area near Makua Beach has towering mountains - these mountains are a part of the Waianae Mountain Range.  The beach gets its alternative name (Pray For Sex Beach) from a “Pray 4 Sex” graffiti that is painted on a rock near the beach’s parking lot.  “Pray 4 Sex” is a popular word-play on the high surfing activity in the water here - surfers here often “pray for sets” of good waves before entering the water here.  Over time, the phrase “pray for sets” was distorted into “pray 4 sex.”  Makua Beach was featured in the 1966 Gene Hackman, Julie Andrews, and Max Von Sydow movie Hawaii. The United States Armed Forces regularly conducts training sessions in the Makua Valley behind Makua Beach. 

Located in the small town of Waianae, Manner’s Beach has a long and narrow beige-colored sand beach situated south of Black Rocks Beach Park.  Manner’s Beach is adjacent to a marine conservation area that is home to many animals including tiny fish, black-and-yellow triggerfish, eels, and turtles making it popular for swimming and fishing during the summer season.

Located near the residential community of Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou Beach Park - also known as Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park - is a popular recreational park with a long and narrow beach with light brown sand and many nearby palm trees. This beach is known as Kuliouou Beach and Kuli’ou’ou Beach. Kuliouou Beach Park’s name means “sounding knee” in Hawaiian - this name is likely interpreted as a reference to piniu, which is a small Hawaiian drum that is tied to the knee and is used during local hula ceremonies. 

Located in the town of Kailua, Lanikai Beach - also known as Kaʻōhao Beach - is a spectacular white sand beach on the island of Oahu. While many people claim that the beach’s name means "heavenly sea" in Hawaiian, it is an incorrect translation. It is often said that the beach's main name (Lanikai Beach) was invented by a real estate developer named Charles Frazier and the area around this beach was earlier known as Kaʻōhao to Native Hawaiians. This approximately half mile-long beach has an amazing backdrop of palm trees and oceanfront mountains. Lanikai Beach has been named one of the Top 100 beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Located in Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood, Fort DeRussy Beach is a wide 1,800-foot-long beach with light brown sand. This beach is a part of a waterfront recreational park named Fort DeRussy Beach Park and is also considered a part of a larger and very popular beach named Waikiki Beach. Fort DeRussy Beach comprises a quarter of Waikiki Beach, and the sand in the south-eastern part of the beach is finer than the sand in its other parts.  

Fort DeRussy Beach Park has also been awarded the Fodor’s Choice award by the Fodor’s travel guide, and the park is usually open to the public between 5 am and 10 pm.

Located in the northwestern part of Oahu, Aweoweo Beach Park - also called Aweoweo Beach Park - is a recreational park which has a beach with light brown sand, a sloping incline, a nearby reef, and many nearby trees and shrubs.  The shoreline around Aweoweo Beach Park is slightly rocky, and there’s a large drainage pipe here. 

Located in the small town of Waimanalo, Kaupo Beach Park has a long, narrow, and rocky beige-colored sand beach situated in front of the Sea Life Park Hawaii.  Kaupo in Hawaiian means ‘night landing’ and the park was named after a fishing village making it a great fising spot.  Kaupo Beach Park is also known as Baby Makapu’u, Kumu Cove, and Cockroach Bay – and is popular among surfers, divers, and snorkelers. The beach at Kaupo Beach Park is onshore from two small islands – Rabbit Island and Kaohika’ipu which are seabird sanctuaries and you must have a permit to visit here. 

Located in the town of Mokulēia, Mokuleia Beach Park - also called Mokule'ia Beach Park - is a recreational park that has a long and narrow beach with light brown sand and many nearby trees, shrubs, grass, and a nearby reef.  This beach is also called Mokuleia Beach and a portion of this beach is named Army Beach, and it is located near an airfield namedKawaihapai Airfield which was formerly named Dillingham Airfield.  As an interesting fact, this park was the filming location for a portion of the TV series Lost.  The name of the park - Mokuleia - means “district of abundance” in Hawaiian. 

Located in Honolulu, Gray’s Beach - also known as Grays Beach, Halekulani Beach, Kawehewehe, and Grey’s Beach - is an extremely narrow light-brown sand beach with nearby trees.  This beach is located in front of an upscale hotel called the  Halekulani Hotel.  Gray’s Beach is a part of a larger beach area named Waikiki Beach.  This beach has been severely reduced in size due to constant erosion by ocean water.  A sea wall located near the beach has further accelerated this decline.  This beach received its name (Gray’s Beach) because a boarding house named Gray’s-by-the-Sea was present near the beach in the early 20th century - this house was run by a woman named Mrs. LaVancha Gray.  The beach’s Hawaiian name (Kawehewehe) means “removal” - this beach received this name because the water near it was thought to have supernatural healing powers.  In the past many sick members of the Hawaiian nobility came to bathe in the water here - apart from bathing, they would also offer a seaweed lei to the water here as a way of seeking forgiveness for past sins.  This ritual was known as a cure for many illnesses.  The water near Gray’s Beach also has a coral reef and a sand-filled aquatic channel. 

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 small town of Waialua, Puuiki Beach Park has a long and narrow beach situated south of Kahawai Beach Support Park.  Spread across 40 acres, Puuiki Beach Park is adjacent to a marine conservation area and is home to many animals including tiny fish, black-and-yellow eels, and turtles. This makes it a very popular swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and fishing destination during the summer season. 

Located in the town of Hana, Red Sand Beach - also known as Kaihalulu Beach and Secret Beach - is a unique and exquisite crescent-shaped beach with red sand and rocky portions. This beach is situated at the base of steep forested hillsides and a volcanic cinder cone named Ka'uiki Head is also present near the beach. Offshore rock formations are also present in the water near the beach, along with an offshore reef. The beach is gradually expanding in size as the nearby volcanic cinder cone undergoes erosion constantly - the eroded rocky parts of the cinder cone undergo further weathering to become sand and eventually get deposited on the beach. The sand in Red Sand Beach gets its red color due to the considerably high amount of iron oxide present in it - this iron oxide comes from the eroded rocky portions of the volcanic cinder cone. Red Sand Beach has also been listed in an article by HAWAII Magazine titled "Black, Red, Green: Where to Find Hawaii’s Phenomenal Colored Sand Beaches." The beach’s Hawaiian name (Kaihalulu Beach) comes from the Hawaiian phrase "kai halulu" which means "roaring sea" in the Hawaiian language. The area near the beach has an ancient Japanese cemetery. An old Hawaiian fortress-temple called a heiau was also present on the hill above the beach and the area near the beach was also the birthplace of Queen Kaʻahumanu, who was a powerful civil leader during the early 19th century. 

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 near Honolulu, Kaalawai Beach - also called Cromwell’s Beach, Ka’alawai Beach, and Cromwell’s - is a narrow beach with light brown sand, some rocky portions, a nearby seawall, a nearby coral reef, and many nearby palm trees and shrubs in the island of Oahu. The beach is situated near an upscale residential area. The name of the beach - Kaalawai - means “the watery rock” in Hawaiian - the beach received this name because underwater freshwater deposits occasionally bubble up to the ocean surface around the reefs near the beach. This beach received its alternative name - Cromwell’s Beach - because the area around it was earlier a yacht dock for American diplomat and United States Senatorial candidate James H.R. Crowell, who was the husband of renowned American socialite and philanthropist Doris Duke - Duke earlier owned an estate near the beach, which was called the “Shangri La.” Duke’s house is currently the site of a museum named The Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design.