Nanakuli Beach

Located in the southwestern part of Oahu, Nanakuli Beach – also sometimes called Kalanianaole Beach and also called Sublands by locals – is an approximately 500 feet-long curve-shaped beach with light brown sand and a few rocky parts.  The beach is a part of a recreational park named Kalanianaole Beach Park.  A portion of Nanakuli Beach is also called Zablan Beach – this portion is located near the beach’s southern end.

A stream named Nanakuli Stream also sometimes flows through the beach.  Once this stream passes the beach, it flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Nanakuli Beach usually has lifeguards between 9 am to 5:30 pm.  In addition, it also has many other amenities including restrooms, showers, picnic tables, a playground, and nearby grassy areas.  Dogs on leash are allowed in portions of the beach that are below the high-tide line.

Nanakuli Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, camping, picnicking, swimming, tidepooling, surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, jet-skiing, water-skiing, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife watching.

Nanakuli Beach is a popular site for water activities during summers and scuba diving, kayaking, and bodyboarding are particularly popular activities here.  The water near the southern part of this beach is relatively safer for water activities as compared to the northern part.  Some adventurous visitors also climb on rocks at the northern and southern ends of this beach and then dive into the water.

If you are planning to swim, surf, snorkel, kayak, or bodysurf near Nanakuli Beach, we recommend being careful because the water here can have unpredictable rip currents and dangerous waves.  The water here is particularly turbulent and unsafe for water activities in winters. In addition, sharks and jellyfish also live near this beach. 

If you like camping, this beach also offers a fun oceanfront tent camping experience – if you want to camp here, you can visit the City and County of Honolulu’s camping reservations website for more information regarding the campsite amenities, the campsite charges, and the rules for booking a campsite permit.

Nanakuli Beach does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Nanakuli Beach is easy – from Hawaii Route 93, you need to turn towards the oceanfront side of Nanakuli Avenue to reach Nanakuli Beach.  There is a free parking lot near the beach – we recommend being careful while parking here and avoiding leaving any valuables in your parked car because burglaries have been known to occur here.  We recommend visiting this beach during weekdays because it can get crowded during weekends.

We also recommend bringing sunscreen while visiting Nanakuli Beach because the beach – like other places in this part of the Oahu shoreline – can get extremely sunlit and receive a lot of harsh sun rays.

The name of the beach – Nanakuli – has multiple meanings in the local Hawaiian language – the beach’s name has been translated to a variety of English phrases including “to look deaf” and “to look at the knee.”  In addition, Kalanianaole Beach Park - within which Nanakuli Beach is located - received its current name in 2016 and it was named after Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Pikoi, who was a prince of the Kingdom of Hawaii.  In addition, a portion of Nanakuli Beach is also named Zablan Beach because a local family named the Zablans earlier lived near it.

There are many attractions near Nanakuli Beach within a 20-minute drive.  Puu O Hulu Trail – also called the Maili Pillbox Hike and Pink Pillbox Hike – is a hiking trail that offers an amazing way to explore the rugged Oahu landscape – this hiking trail also leads to multiple World War Two-era concrete bunkers that are locally called “Pillboxes.”  Mermaid Cave is a famous wet cave that is partially filled with water – you can safely visit this cave at low tide and it is an interesting place for exploration.  Kamokila Community Park is a recreational park that has many amenities including a large grassy area, basketball courts, walking paths, baseball field, benches, walking paths, a playground, a tennis court, and restrooms.  Hawaii’s Plantation Village is an outdoor museum that offers information on Hawaii’s historic plantations – this restored plantation village has many vintage buildings and it also offers an interesting insight into the lives of migrants who worked here.  The village also has a collection of native Hawaiian and non-native plant species.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Wet ‘n’ Wild is a popular water park that has many fun rides for visitors of all ages – this water park is the only one of its kind in Hawaii and it has also been listed as one of the best family attractions by the Honolulu magazine.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Nanakuli Beach.  Countryside Cafe (Waianae Location) serves amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including sandwiches, seafood, pancakes, and Asian-style dishes.  The Beach House by 604 is a waterfront restaurant that offers fusion cuisine with mainland American and local Hawaiian culinary influences including seafood, pastas, pizza, pork dishes, burgers, and sandwiches.  Coquito’s Latin Cuisine offers many amazing Latin American-inspired dishes including Argentinian steak, mofongo, and Cuban dishes.  Hannara Restaurant is known for serving a variety of delicious Hawaiian, Korean, and mainland American dishes including loco moco, kalua pork, saimin, burgers, and barbecued chicken.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Barbecue Kaioffers delicious sandwiches, lunch platters, steaks, poultry dishes, Asian dishes, and seafood. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Nanakuli Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a private beach area, a fitness center, kids’ clubs, and a spa.  The 4.5-Star Aulani – also called Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa – is another upscale hotel that offers many amenities including multiple pools, a spa, and 10 bars and restaurants – the hotel also offers kids’ entertainment performances, movie nights, and pool parties and breakfasts with Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club which offers many amenities including three pools, seven hot tubs, a private beach area, a sauna, a spa, a fitness center, two restaurants, and a bar.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hampton Inn & Suites Oahu/Kapolei that offers many amenities including a fitness room, a pool, a coin-operated laundry, complimentary breakfast, and weekday breakfast bags.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Residence Inn by Marriott Oahu Kapolei offers many amenities including a restaurant, a convenience store, a pool, and a barbecue area.