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Outdoors Kailua & Lanikai

Lanikai Beach

An outdoor spot in Kailua & Lanikai, free to visit and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Morning Jan 1.

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Lanikai Beach in Kailua & Lanikai
Photo: claralieu · CC BY 2.0 · license

Why go

Narrow strip of white sand in a residential neighborhood, facing the twin Mokulua islets.

It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Kailua & Lanikai, alongside 2 outdoor spots, 1 place to eat and 1 sight. The closest of our other picks is Lanikai Pillbox Trail, 0.3 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Beaches
Neighborhood
Lanikai
Price
Free
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Morning Jan 1

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Kailua & Lanikai. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Lanikai Pillbox Trail

    Short, steep climb up Kaiwa Ridge to old concrete bunkers with views over Lanikai and the islets.

    Outdoors · 0.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Kailua Beach Park

    Long, soft-sand beach with calm water, a park with showers, and kayak rentals to the Mokulua islets.

    Outdoors · 0.8 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Buzz's Original Steakhouse

    Wood-paneled steakhouse across from Kailua Beach since the 1960s, with a salad bar and grilled fish.

    Food · 0.8 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Kalapawai Market

    Green general store at the beach road since 1932, now selling coffee, sandwiches and beach supplies.

    Shopping · 1.0 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Nuuanu Pali Lookout

    Windy lookout at the top of the Pali Highway with a view of the green Koolau cliffs and the windward coast.

    Sight · 5.3 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

    Protected volcanic bay with reef snorkeling and green sea turtles.

    Outdoors · Oahu · 8.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Lanikai Beach is a stop on our Honolulu New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

When to go

Average daily highs in Kailua & Lanikai run from 75°F in February to 81°F in September; March is usually the wettest month. For Lanikai Beach itself, we suggest: Morning Jan 1.

Modelled monthly averages for Kailua & Lanikai from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Kailua & Lanikai weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Lanikai Beach, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
21.39222, -157.71500
Destination
Kailua & Lanikai, Hawaii

Lanikai Beach: quick answers

How much time do you need at Lanikai Beach?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Lanikai Beach. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Lanikai Beach?

Our pick: Morning Jan 1. Insider tip: Use the marked public beach paths between the houses.

Is Lanikai Beach free?

Yes, we list Lanikai Beach as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include Lanikai Beach?

Lanikai Beach appears on Honolulu New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Lanikai Beach to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Kailua & Lanikai.

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Lists & regions

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.