Intro
Oahu is the most populated Hawaiian island out of the over 100 islands that is recognized by the state of Hawaii. With Honolulu being the capital city, it’s no surprise that Oahu is bursting with so many restaurants, shopping and activities to do. But the main attraction? The beaches! For many who visit Oahu and stay near Honolulu, the closest beaches tend to lean more on the east side of the island.
As you plan your trip to Oahu, you may be wondering what east side beaches are the best beaches to spend the day at. Well I’m here to tell you that there is no perfect beach. When you go to a beach, there will naturally be things about it that you like and do not like. Whether it’s too rocky, too busy or windy, there will always be something that we want to improve. But that is kind of the beauty of a place like Oahu. It’s so much fun to spend a day hopping around to different beaches and just exploring. The possibilities are endless! Here I will break down and talk about just some of Oahu’s east side beaches I visited and then I will give you some information on how to find beaches on your own.
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Table of contents
Favorite East Side Oahu Beaches
Waikiki/Kuhio Beach
This is a very touristy beach to visit. But if you’re staying in downtown Honolulu in the Waikiki area then this beach is likely very close to you! I was technically on Kuhio Beach which is just a ways down from Waikiki. Some people might consider them the same thing. A beach is a beach but I’m just trying to give you all the knowledge I know.
Upon visiting this beach, I was taken aback by two massive Hawaiian monk seals that were resting on the shore. There were cones and rope around the seals to keep people away and while I was there, everyone obeyed. It was a treat to be able to see them relaxing on the beach without a care in the world. Then as I was about to get into the water, I noticed not one or two, but three sea turtles! I couldn’t believe it. I was honestly a little nervous being in the water with them nearby because I didn’t want to run into them. But I was able to maintain a safe distance. It’s important to note that sea turtles are state and federally protected so you want to always keep your distance and respect their home.
Overall, this was a fantastic beach to be at for my first beach ever in Oahu and I was very grateful for the wildlife encounters. This beach is great if you don’t mind crowds, want to feel like you’re surrounded by an urban setting and don’t mind seeing some wildlife.
Lanikai Beach
The reason I took a trip to Oahu in the first place was my close friend’s mom was getting married. And the beach that they chose to get married on was Lanikai Beach. It was a beautiful ceremony and you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop than that of the ocean. Lanikai Beach is a very popular beach on the east side that can easily meet your swimming, snorkeling and tanning needs. However, this beach has very limited parking. The beach entrance is in a neighborhood so like many beaches, you want to get there early in the morning or later in the evening.
Fort Derussy Beach
This beach is located right in downtown Honolulu. I was able to walk to this beach from my Airbnb and if you’re staying anywhere nearby, it makes for a perfect walkable beach. Reviews of the beach say there is some parking nearby though if you are staying outside of Honolulu and really want to check it out. This is another great beach if you’re looking to be more centered in the city life that Honolulu has to offer. It’s super easy to spend a day here and then simply walk to any restaurant for dinner afterwards. It is also busy from the people staying in the hotels nearby but if you’re walking there, then at least you can arrive at any time without worries of parking!
Grays Beach
Gray’s Beach is another beach in downtown Honolulu that’s practically right next to Fort Derussy Beach. You will expect a very similar vibe- it is busy with the guests from nearby hotels and is right in the hustle and bustle of the city. But it is a great beach for swimming and for enjoying the sunset.
Cromwell’s Beach
This beach I stumbled upon while trying to find beaches that were close to our stay but a ways away from the city. Cromwell’s Beach is located in a neighborhood with street parking available throughout as long as you don’t mind a short walk. This beach felt like a great escape from a lot of tourists. Although be aware that when you first approach the beach, it is very small. While I didn’t venture over, it appeared that there was more to the beach available by walking against a very slippery and steep wall against a few houses. The small beach that you walk to is also very rocky. But there is a small sandy spot that you can walk to. There were some waves when I was there but nothing that made me feel I was in danger.
Kailua Beach Park
Of all of Oahu’s east side beaches, Kailua Beach Park was by far my favorite beach. This beach is very very sandy so you do not have to worry about stepping or cutting your foot on any rocks like I did. Many times. It does get busy in the afternoon so you want to keep that in mind if you plan to visit. I got lucky with finding a parking spot but other places like Waimea Bay Beach, you can circle for hours and not get a spot. While the parking lot was busy, Kailua Beach didn’t feel too crowded. There was plenty of space for my partner and I to put our things down. Not to mention that the water was incredibly blue, warm and did I mention that it’s super sandy?
Oahu is pretty windy, or at least it was when I visited so there were some waves at Kailua. But they were not very big and it was honestly a lot of fun to jump into them and have them carry me to shore. I could do all of this while still being able to stand. I think this beach is great for kids, even small ones because it’s fairly easy for them to have fun in the water without having to go super far and not have to worry about stepping on any rocks.
The bottom line is that any beach you pick is a great beach! Having access to the vast Pacific Ocean is such a treat. Each beach that you visit will have things that you like and things that you do not like. And you don’t have to settle for just visiting one beach. I went to 2-3 in a day and it was really fun because I got to see more of the island while also exploring a different beach.
Other Popular East Side Oahu Beaches
Hanauma Bay
This beach I didn’t actually visit but I wanted to mention it for those who are considering a visit. Hanauma Bay State Park looked so wonderful and I really wanted to visit. I think it’s important that you read more about the park and why it’s important to preserve. All beaches are, for sure, but this area has had to resort to some stricter measures to reduce the number of visitors due to over tourism of the area.
Essentially, a new online reservation program has been put in place to limit the number of tourists visiting the area. But the bay is now closed on Mondays and Tuesday according to their website. And unlike all of the other beaches I’ll be mentioning, for Hanauma you have to pay to get into. It costs $25 per person (except for locals, military and children 12 and under) as well as a $3 parking fee. However, your online reservation does not guarantee parking. Overall, it seems like a great experience and if it’s on your bucket of things to experience while in Oahu, then go for it. But if you’re being more budget conscious, then just know that other beaches are completely free to get into that will offer the same things as Hanauma.
How to Find East Side Beaches?
I am not joking when I say this: Google Maps. Yes, finding beaches is seriously not hard. When you pull up Google Maps, take some time to move around and see what is close to you. It’s really part of the adventure in Oahu and Hawaii in general to just see where the wind takes you. Find a beach and go visit. Stay for a bit. If it’s too crowded or it just wasn’t what you were looking for, then you go on to find another beach! Remember, Hawaii does not have any private beaches. Every beach that you stumble across is public. That being said, beaches are a natural space which deserve nothing but respect. These beaches are not your personal playground. Pack out and throw away all of your trash and leave each beach better than you found it.
Activities and Experiences
Like with any trip, you can always elevate your beach trips by bringing some snorkel gear, a boogie board, surfboard or even taking a guided tour on the water.
Snorkeling
You can technically snorkel at any beach and the potential for seeing some wildlife can happen anywhere. The most success I had with seeing wildlife was seeing sea turtles at Waikiki. I didn’t even have to snorkel at that point. There were also monk seals tanning on the beach near where I was swimming. But the most visibility I had was honestly going offshore and visiting Turtle Canyon.
If you’re interested in reading more about snorkeling in Oahu, check out my Guide To Snorkeling In Oahu!
Turtle Canyon
Turtle Canyon is a protected nature preserve area off the coast of Oahu that you can only access by boat.
I used this tour vendor, Living Ocean Tours, when I visited and would highly recommend it. They are very family friendly which makes this tour perfect for young children. The staff will divide the groups in half, allowing anyone who has snorkeled before to go in first. Staff will then do a snorkeling demonstration for those new to snorkeling. Staff members are also with you in the water the entire time so you will feel very safe.
They are also there to ensure that guests are obeying federal law which is keeping at least a 10 feet distance from the sea turtles.
After you snorkel, they provide complimentary snacks and drinks. There is also a restroom on board the boat so you don’t have to use the ocean. The crew did a really great job looking after everyone on board. Many people got seasick, including my fiancé, and they had enough barf bags for everyone and carbonated beverages to make everyone feel comfortable.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: You can read more about Turtle Canyon on their official website here. They recommend the same tour vendor as I do.
BOOK YOUR TOUR: If you’re ready to see some sea turtles in the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, then click HERE to book your Turtle Canyon Snorkel Tour on Tripadvisor OR book down below on Viator (they’re a Tripadvisor company).
Surfing
I’m going to be honest here when I say that I am not a surfer. I like the idea of surfing and I am fascinated by watching others, but it is simply not for me. Although I would be open to maybe taking a lesson one day.
While I am not an expert, I found some great pages on Oahu surfing that might help you kick off your search:
Beaches For Surfing
- Best Surfing Locations in Oahu – Hawaii Guide
- Top 5 Beginner Surf Spots on Oahu – Hawaii Natural Therapy
Surfboard Rentals
Hiking
If you want to earn your swim time, then consider working up a sweat by getting a good hike in before taking a dip.
One very popular hike I did and enjoyed was Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail. It is a 2 mile hike roundtrip within the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline. Due to the lack of shade on this paved trail, you will surely be happy to get into the ocean afterwards. This hike offers amazing views of the ocean and coastline. There is some neat history to it as well. Between 1959-1964, there were plans in place to take the beloved Kaiwi shoreline and turn it into a resort. By the 1980’s, the local community sought to stop development and to have to rezoned for preservation. Thanks to their advocacy, we can enjoy the rugged beauty of this shoreline today.
It is most definitely worth the visit and this hike has a separate trail that veers off towards the ocean so you can enjoy a well deserved swim afterwards.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: To learn more about Makapu’u Lighthouse trail, you can visit the official website here.
You can also read more about the trail here on AllTrails.
Eco-Tours
If you are looking to take a tour, whether it’s snorkeling, kayaking, wildlife sightseeing or just cruising on a boat, it is important that you be cautious with a few things.
- Avoid any tours that mention a “guarantee” of seeing animal sightings. The reality is that nature does not work this way so tour vendors who are marketing this may be practicing unethical animal welfare guidelines.
- Be wary of large group sizes and large boats. The bigger the boat, the more of a risk for coral reef damage and harm to wildlife.
- Check with the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii to look for tour vendors with their certification.
- Do additional research before booking. Look at reviews written by other people. Read more about the type of tour you are looking to do and see what other resources have to say about the ethics of doing that type of tour.
Visitor Etiquette
Respecting The Land (‘āina) & Ocean (moana)
Despite colonization, Hawaiian culture and language still thrive which is one of many reasons why it stands out from the mainland of the United States. It is common to feel like you have entered a new country and this is why. Hawaiian culture has a very deep relationship with the land and sea. So when you visit, you too want to learn and understand the connection. Maybe you will discover some of it yourself after a couple beach trips. Regardless, be culturally mindful of where you are and what Oahu still means to Native Hawaiians and the locals who love their home dearly.
How To Be A Responsible Traveler
Following cultural sensitivity and local respect, here are some things you can and should be doing to be a more responsible traveler when visiting Oahu:
- Arrive with an open heart and an open mind
- Don’t dismiss warning signs near beaches, trails and sacred landmarks
- Prioritize supporting local businesses
- Staying on marked trails
- Do not smoke on beaches
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: You can read more on how to be a responsible traveler here.
Wildlife
Marine Animal Encounters
Having glorious beach days and epic swimming comes with a risk that we don’t always think about: wildlife encounters. While some animals might be seen as exciting, others might be very scary. So I’m going to go through just some of the most common marine animals in Oahu, help you identify them and what you can do if you are to encounter one.
Green Sea Turtle
One of the most wonderful animals you can encounter while out swimming or snorkeling. Sea turtles are considered to be docile and not aggressive towards humans. However, they are listed as an endangered species and are federally protected. Which means that it is prohibited to touch, harm or harass a sea turtle. You are also federally required to keep a 10 feet distance from them at all times whether they are in the water or on the beach.
Hawaiian Monk Seal
Considered as the “dog that runs through rough seas,” Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered. However, you may be able to see them lounging around the beach taking a nice tan (I saw two at Waikiki). They are not considered aggressive towards humans unless provoked or feel they need to protect their young.
Jellyfish
Ahh jellyfish. They are interesting and unique to look at, but boy do they pack a sting. In Oahu, the most common jellyfish you will see are box, Portuguese Man O War’s, and moon jellyfish. While I personally have not been stung by one (yet), the best preventive measures you can take are to check with the lifeguard, be aware of any signage, and when in doubt, come prepared. The best way to treat jellyfish stings is by pouring vinegar on the sting. Please do not pee on your sting…
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: You can read more about how to be prepared for a jellyfish sting HERE on the Maui Ocean Center’s website.
Sharks
There are over 40 species of sharks that occupy Hawaiian waters. Some of these include galapagos, blacktip reef, gray reef, tiger, hammerhead sharks and many more. I know people get super freaked out by sharks and I get it. I definitely don’t want one to catch me by surprise either. But shark attacks are rare. Don’t let fear and media prevent you from enjoying swimming and snorkeling. Call me crazy but I actually did a snorkel tour with sharks and had an amazing time. It sounds insane but it was actually very calming. But here are some tips on how you can reduce the risk:
- Refrain from swimming at dawn or dusk
- Do not swim where people are out fishing
- Avoid swimming near sandbars or steep drop offs
If you’re interested in learning more about sharks, you can check out his identification guide here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: To learn more about marine life on Hawaii, you can check out the Maui Ocean Center here.
Conclusion
Whether you are planning to map out every east side beach you visit so that you have a structured itinerary or you just search as you go with the flow, there are more than enough beaches on Oahu that have something for everyone. I wish you safe and happy travels. Mahalo and make sure to check out my other articles about Oahu to help with your future planning!
Additional Information:
Steps to Take for Eco Friendly Travel to Hawaii
