Kailua Beach Park
Kailua, HI
Kailua Beach Park stretches for nearly two miles of powder white sand along the windward side of Oahu, the water so consistently turquoise it looks retouched even in person. Trade winds keep the air moving, and kiteboarders and paddlers thread past each other most afternoons. Locals split the bay into sections, and everyone has an opinion about which one is theirs.
Repeatedly ranked among the best beaches in the country for a reason, soft sand and clear water for almost two miles, though the lots are small enough that a summer weekend can mean circling for a spot.
How we score beachesAsk a Kailua local where to go and you'll get three different answers depending on what they're after that day: the main park for space, Kalama for the quieter northern stretch, or Castles for the surf. Wander a little and find your own favorite.
Two small lots serve the main park off Kailua Road, open 5am to 10pm, plus a lot at Kalama Beach Park off Kalaheo Avenue. Both fill by mid morning on weekends, and nearby residential street parking is closely posted and watched.
Flat, sandy paths lead from every lot straight onto wide open sand, no stairs or steep grades anywhere along this stretch.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the wet sand below the high tide line at Kailua Beach Park, but not up on the dry sand where people spread out.
The windward trade winds blow steadiest in summer, exactly what draws the kiteboarders and windsurfers. Winter brings more frequent showers and choppier water, though it rarely gets genuinely cold.
This isn't one entrance, it's a stretch with a few. Here's where locals actually meet up.
Kailua Beach Park
The main entrance at the south end of the bay, with the biggest lot, restrooms, and the widest stretch of open sand for spreading out.
Parking: Two lots off Kailua Road open at 5am and often fill by mid morning on weekends.
Access: A short, flat walk from the lot onto wide sand.
Local tip: Rent a kayak or paddleboard from the stand near the lot if you want to paddle toward the Mokulua islets.
Get directions →Kalama Beach Park
A smaller, quieter park at the north end of the bay that locals favor over the busier main lot, with a grassy area shaded by trees right behind the sand.
Parking: A small lot sits directly off Kalaheo Avenue between Hauoli and Kapaa Streets.
Access: Flat grass and sand, an easy walk in from the lot.
Local tip: Go in the late afternoon once the main park has filled up. This end stays noticeably calmer.
Get directions →Castles
The surf break at the far north end of the bay, named for the old beachfront estates nearby, with a longboard friendly wave that breaks over a mostly sandy bottom.
Parking: No lot here, just residential street parking near the intersection of North Kalaheo Avenue and Kailuana Place, so park legally and be mindful of the neighborhood.
Local tip: This is a surfer's access point more than a sunbather's. There's no grass or shade, just a path down to the break.
Get directions →More Hawaii beaches
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, HI · Hawaii
The beach that put Hawaii surfing on the map, with gentle, forgiving waves for beginners, Diamond Head crater as a backdrop, and a reef that keeps the water calm most of the year.
Lanikai Beach
Kailua, HI · Hawaii
A quiet, residential-neighborhood beach on Oahu's windward side, with powder-soft sand, turquoise water, and two small offshore islets (the Mokulua) as a paddling destination.
Poipu Beach
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A sheltered, sunny south-shore beach on Kauai split into a calm swimming lagoon and a livelier surf side, with a good chance of spotting Hawaiian monk seals resting on the sand.