Lanikai Beach

Located on the Windward side of Oahu, Lanikai Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The crystal blue water and the extremely fine sand make it the perfect beach to catch some sun and relax. It is also the perfect location to catch the sunrise. Although the beach is only a half-mile long, many visitors and locals gather here to enjoy the scenery and atmosphere.

The two islands offshore are called the Na Mokulua (or “Mokes” for short). Moku Iki is the smaller island to the south and Moku Nui is the larger island. However, both islands are apart of the state seabird sanctuary. On a good day, beachgoers can see numerous kayaks paddling out to Moku Nui.

If you also feel like hiking either before of after the beach, the Lanikai Pillboxes trail is less than a mile away!

Beach Amenities

Lanikai beach has no lifeguard, public restroom, or parking lot. However, it is located just south of Kailua Beach Park where there are picnic tables, a parking lot, and showers.

Parking

There a a few options for parking in the area.

Option 1: Park in the residential area around the beach. This parking fills up very quickly on weekends and holidays. Pay attention to the “No Parking” signs. Parking illegally could land you a ticket. Best advice is to go early before 9:00 AM and avoid weekends as much as possible.

Option 2: Park in the Kailua Beach Park parking lot and walk over to Lanikai. If you would prefer to park in a lot, Kailua Beach has a couple of parking lots you could use. Again, these lots fill up quickly on weekends and holidays, so going early would be your best bet. The walk over to Lanikai Beach takes about 10 minutes and is about a 0.5 mile walk.

Beach Location and Access

Getting to Lanikai Beach is very easy, and it takes only 40 minutes from Waikiki. If coming from town, take the H1 westbound then take the Pali Highway to Kailua. Follow the Google map directions to take you to the parking area.

Once you arrive at the beach, you can find walkways to the ocean spread out along Mokulua Drive. If you want a more secluded location, enter the walkway near Kuailima Dr. Enjoy your day at the beach!

Things to Do at and near Lanikai Beach

Watch the Sunrise

Lanikai Beach is one of the Best locations to watch the sunrise. Depending on what angle you are at, the sun will rise right between the Mokes. It creates a picture perfect moment.

Kayak to the Mokes

Kayaking to the Mokes is a fun activity for many visitors and families. While the smaller island, Moku Iki, is off limits to visitors, you can rent a kayak and paddle out to Moku Nui. Visitors enjoy scenic views and a unique experience.

Check out Kailua Beach

The beach just north of Lanikai Beach is Kailua Beach. There are bathrooms, BBQ pits, volleyball courts, picnic tables, and concession stands. You can also rent kayaks and standup paddle boards near the beach.

Hike Lanikai Pillboxes

Less than a mile away from the beach is the trailhead for the Lanikai Pillboxes hike. The hike is an intermediate hike that leads you to a couple of pillboxes used in WWII. On the pillboxes, you will overlook the the Mokulua islands, Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach, and Waimanalo Bay. You can also catch the sunrise from this hike! Check it out here.