Lanikai Beach
Kailua, HI

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.
Powder soft sand and turquoise water in a quiet residential neighborhood, the only real catch is there's no public lot, so you're parking on a local street.
How we score beachesThere is no public parking lot here. Plan to park on a nearby residential street and be respectful of the neighborhood.
Dogs are allowed on leash on the sand at Lanikai Beach.
The windward side stays warm and swimmable year round, with water rarely dipping out of the high 70s. Winter months bring more frequent trade wind showers, usually short and passing, while summer stays drier and calmer.
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