The Five Best Beaches on Oahu
1. Yokahama Beach
This absolutely beautiful beach is nestled on the northwestern corner of the island and is without question the best spot on the island to watch the sunset, especially during the summer months. The beach features beautiful white sand, and reasonably calm waters for Hawaii, and is often frequented by the resident monk seals (which is the State’s animal). The beach is not usually crowded, which enriches the experience. This part of the island is extremely hot, so I’d only recommend visiting this beach if you have the proper equipment: hats, sunscreen, beach umbrella, and lots of drinks. Yokohama Beach is about 90 minutes’ drive from Waikiki, so plan accordingly if you intend to make this journey. Each time we have visited this beach, it has been worth it.
2. Hanauma Bay
Hanauama Bay is likely the best place on the island (off the shoreline) to go snorkeling. Much of the shoreline coral reef around the island of Oahu is dying and it’s pretty difficult to find thriving snorkeling spots on the island, unlike the Big Island or Maui. Hanauma Bay is one of the exceptions and is a protected reserve. The beach itself is fairly small and secluded — indeed, you need a pass to visit on any given day and only a limited number are given out every day. The beach is located on the south side of the island. I’d recommend going to get your pass really early in the morning, between 7:00 and 7:30 AM, and then returning to the beach during your designated window. When you’re at the beach, take full advantage and do as much snorkeling as you can. You’ll see lots of different species of fish and you may even see some turtles. Take extra care not to step on the coral and wear reef-safe sunscreen.
3. Lanikai Beach
This beach is routinely featured as one of the top 10 beaches in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Located on the east side of Oahu, this is one of the prettiest beaches on the island, featuring incredibly fine white sand and reasonably calm waters. From the beach, you can look out into the ocean and see the two Moku islands, all of which are reachable by kayak and paddle board. If you’re an early riser, there’s no better place to watch the sunrise; in fact, it is probably one of the best places to photograph the sunrise (and yourself with the sunrise if you so wish). It can get pretty crowded at this beach, so I would not recommend showing up after 2:00 PM.
4. Sunset Beach
To the North Shore, we go! Sunset Beach is my favorite beach on the north shore. It’s vast and gorgeous, and, in my humble opinion, the perfect location for a beach picnic. It’s also a pretty stellar location for a beach gathering with your homies — have some music playing and some drinks flowing. This beach is also home to the iconic slanted palm tree, which makes for one iconic photograph. A few things to note: use GPS to locate this beach; there are other beaches on the north shore that often get mistaken for Sunset Beach. Parking for this beach is on the side of the road, though there is additional support parking. On a busy day, be prepared to walk a decent distance to get to the beach. Finally, this beach is right by the coveted Sunrise Shack on the North Shore, soooo, if you need a snack while you’re taking in those rays, feel free to pop by.
5. Magic Island Lagoon
This is probably the beach I’ve frequented most in the entire time I’ve been on the island. Part of that is proximity (this beach is pretty close to home), but it is also one of the prettiest beaches on the island and one of the island’s favorites for wedding photoshoots. It’s very family-friendly, with practically still waters in the lagoon, and also offers some decent snorkeling. The water is crystal clear and the Honolulu skyline backdrop makes for a picturesque vibe. The adjacent Ala Moana beach is also a hotspot for cookouts, and who doesn’t love a good cookout? You can also see the sunset from this beach, and during the winter, that early sunset hits different.
There you have it! And for clarification, in case this thought crossed your mind when you were reading the post, these beaches do not necessarily correspond to the beaches I think you’d get the best photos at on Oahu. I’ll probably do a separate post on that! Mahalo.
