Oahu Beaches
There’s no doubt that when visiting Oahu, you’ll be spending plenty of time on the beach. However, it may not be immediately clear that there are several different beach locations to choose from, depending on what kind of experience you’re craving.
Busy Beaches: Oahu’s most populous beach is Waikiki Beach, primarily due to its close proximity to the city’s major resorts and hotels. Often the resorts’ pool areas are directly on the beach, making it unclear if you’re in your hotel or in nature. This beach is fun for people watching; the big crowds make for a party atmosphere and lots of flirting and mingling. Those who get bored of lying out on the sand can take a catamaran ride at any of the stations scattered throughout the beach. Even beginning swimmers can feel comfortable in the ocean, due to its calm surf and warm, shallow water.
The Ala Moana Beach Park on the South Shore is another popular, yet less hectic, beach destination. The beach features extensive picnic areas, perfect for kids and larger parties, and is surrounded by a large park for those times you’d like to get out of the sand. The beach leads into Magic Island beach, which provides similarly calm waves, good for swimming and for kids.
Quiet Beaches: Those with access to the northern part of Oahu should check out Malaekahana Beach. The beautiful stretch of beach is populated with droopy ironwood trees and is surrounded by dunes. The beach is so unpopulated that there isn’t even a lifeguard around. Once at the beach, venture out to Goat Island, an offshore island populated by lush greenery and seabirds.
Lanikai Beach is a stretch of sand on the Windward Coast. Although few tourists venture to this beach, locals love it for its clear, blue water and lush offshore islands. The water is calm enough for swimming and snorkeling, and the sun is nice and hot during the summer hours, before the Koolau Mountains block it in the afternoon.
Surfing Beaches: Sunset Beach is a popular surf destination, with crowds flocking to it in the winter months for its international surf competitions. During those times, the crowd gets intense. During the summer months this beach is not as crowded due to the smaller surf, but there’s still plenty of swimming and snorkeling going on. Those with a thing for cute surfers should be sure to hang out at Sunset Beach, but while you’re there be sure to take what the beach is named for — its beautiful sunsets.
Ehukai Beach Park is one of the most popular and challenging surf spots on the North Shore. In the wintertime the waves get huge, and surfers travel far and wide to tackle them. Beginning surfers are advised to avoid the large winter waves, as the sharp reef and strong undercurrent can be dangerous to those who don’t know what they’re doing. If you’re there during the summer months, you’ll notice a much smaller crowd and smaller waves to match.
Those truly looking for a challenge usually head to Waimea Bay Beach on the North Shore, which features some of the scariest, most dangerous surfing waves. Waves at Waimea have reached 30 feet, a great feat even for the most experienced surfers. During the summer, daredevils like to climb “da big rock,” a popular free-jump spot that’s guaranteed to earn you some bragging rights. Another interesting tidbit: the television show “Lost” is partially filmed on Waimea.