Family Guide: The Best Beaches on Oahu

 On Oahu, you have 112 miles of beautiful, perfect beach to choose from. But how do you know which ones to go to? All of them have their own unique selling points, and some are better than others depending on your priorities - but as a family, how do you decide which one you want to spend the day on with your kids? 

We have lived on Oahu for 4 years now, and done all of the trial and error, attempted "let's try a new beach" days, and finessed our list of priorities when it comes to what kind of beach we want to be on. We have our personal list of favorites (Which I will lay out below), but you should be able to make your own list based on a few priorities that I will outline now.

DISTANCE

How far is it from where you live/are staying? Oahu is a small island, but depending on where you are, some beaches can take around an hour to get to! For example, if you are in Honolulu and trying to get to Secret Beach at Kuala, it's going to take you 45 minutes on a good day, an hour or more with traffic. Some people don't mind the drive. We usually don't care how long it takes. But keep in mind the sandy, wet, sunburnt kids in the backseat for that whole time, and you might find that is more important to you than you thought!

WATER TYPE

Wait, you mean the water is different at different beaches?! Yes! On the North Shore, you typically get large waves and strong currents, which can be dangerous for children or weak swimmers. If you want something calm and gentle for small children, you'll likely prefer a lagoon, like Magic Island or Ko'Olina. Another thing about the water to keep in mind that most people don't think about, is quality. If it's been raining recently, there's a good chance the beach you are headed to might have a brown water warning. Always check before you go! Almost every beach has a park website or a Facebook page where they will post any advisories. You can also check the surf online, or even watch a live feed. 

WILDLIFE

Oh hey there little jellyfish! Seeing wildlife in their natural habitats is always amazing, but sometimes there are things you want to know before you go - like the fact that jellyfish swarm around full moon, some areas of beach may be closed off due to sea turtles nesting, and of course, shark sightings. Sometimes you just don't know until you go, so always be aware of beach signs that the lifeguards put out, and check local Facebook pages for information! For example, we typically avoid Bellows beach around full moon, because thousands of jellyfish swarm that area around then, and the North shore can get pretty packed with tourists trying to see Sea turtles during nesting season (Please do not approach the turtles!).

BEACH TYPE & PARKING

Do you prefer a rocky shore where the waves crash? A nice sandy expanse, good for sand castles? Tide pools? A designated parking lot, or parking on the side of the road? These are all things to consider - especially when you have kids. Some beaches parking lots tend to overflow very quickly, and it can feel impossible to get a spot (Like Ala Moana, Waimea bay, Sunset Beach or Ko'Olina), whereas others there isn't ANY parking, and you have to fight lines of cars to try and get a spot on the side of the road, which you then have to cross to get to the beach (like Turtle Beach). 

CROWDS & SAFETY

Some beaches are extremely crowded with tourists, like Waikiki, Waimea bay, and Hanauma bay. If you don't want anyone around you, or want to take nice photos without tons of people in them, I would avoid the tourist beaches. Safety also comes to mind. Oahu is "Paradise", yes, but Honolulu is a big city full of crime like any other, and there are some beaches on Oahu that may be great beaches, but aren't always safe. For example, Electric beach has some of the best snorkeling, but is also a spot where people are targeted for theft. Parking on the side of the road for some beaches is great, until your car is broken into or stolen (which is sadly very common here). Know before you go. Do your research on the beach you want to go to. 

OUR TOP PICKS FOR A FAMILY DAY!

Ko'Olina is one of the best places to bring kids! The water is calm, warm, and the snorkeling is pretty good too. There is grass and shade you can set up in if you aren't too fond of sand, or you can choose a spot on beach, right at the water. The parking is LIMITED. When you pass through the entrance gate to Ko'Olina, you will see signs showing how many spots are available, or if the lot is full. Go on a weekday early in the morning to get a spot - but if you can't get a free spot, you can park for $10 at the marina right next to Lagoon 4. We prefer Lagoon 4 specifically for this reason, but also it's the only lagoon that isn't part of a resort. 

BASE ACCESS REQUIRED. Bellows is one of our absolute favorite beaches. Now, there are two parts to Bellows. Theres the public side where anyone can get to, and there's the military side, where you must have a DOD ID card to get to. The public side is just as stunning, but it is only open on the weekends because the base uses it for training exercises. However, if you have base access, you can keep driving, go on base, and park at the pavilion any time of the week, enjoying that side of the beach. Bellows is a wavy beach, so bring those boogie boards! Watch out for those Man-O-War swarms around the full moon, though! Camping and cabins are available too.

BASE ACCESS REQUIRED. Now this one is not open to the public unless you know someone with base access. Sorry! But as half the island is military, it is a popular haunt for many military families. If you are stationed and living on JBPHH, it's a a five minute drive from housing, which makes it a very convenient beach. The waves are calm, and parking is only an issue on holidays. 

Most people who visit Haleiwa Beach Park, only see that one small part of the beach, right on the town. They'll maybe take a surfing lesson, rent a paddle board, or head to the marina for a boat tour. However, if you walk through the woods to the right of the parking lot, you will come to beautiful tide pools, a swing, and then the rest of the beach, where the locals hang out. The waves are calm (watch out for rocks, though!), and the likeliness of seeing a sea turtle is high. This is the only beach we have consistently seen sea turtles either swimming or basking. Just remember, do not go near the turtles! It is a criminal offense to touch them, with fines of up $2000, and/or 30 days in jail.

 You've heard of Makapu'u Lighthouse, and the tide pools around it, but those tide pools can be dangerous for kids and adults alike. These are NOT those same tide pools. You are going to pass the lighthouse, and drive until you see the entrance sign for Sealife park. The parking lot for Baby Makapu'u is across from it. Theres a whole stretch of beach to choose from, or you can hang out in the rocky pools and float or look for critters. I do recommend swim shoes because it's rocky, but the water is calm and beautiful - great for the kids!

We have other beaches that we've enjoyed as well, but when it comes to the ones we always seem to end up at because we KNOW it'll be a good beach day - these never disappoint!