Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach is widely regarded as one of the world's most beautiful beaches — a 0.8 km strip of powder-white sand tucked between the quiet residential neighbourhood of Lanikai and the Pacific Ocean on the Windward coast of Oahu. The water is a vivid succession of turquoise, lime green and deep blue shades, exceptional even by Hawaiian standards, protected from Pacific swells by the offshore reef and framed by the twin Mokulua Islands — the flat black volcanic Na Mokulua — sitting about a kilometre offshore. The result is a scene of almost surreal natural perfection.

Because Lanikai sits within a sleepy residential neighbourhood and has no dedicated public parking lot (visitors must use side-street parking and walk through narrow beach access lanes), it never approaches the density of crowds at Waikiki or even Kailua Beach right next door. Arriving before 7am — ideally to catch the sunrise behind the Mokulua Islands — rewards early risers with the beach almost entirely to themselves. Lanikai is the quintessential sunrise beach on Oahu; the golden light on the twin islands and the turquoise water is among Hawaii's most photographed vistas.

The Mokulua Islands are a sea bird sanctuary managed by the State of Hawaii, accessible by kayak from the beach. Paddling out takes 20–30 minutes and landing is permitted at Moku Nui (the larger island), where a short walk reveals a protected cove on the far side, frequented by Hawaiian green sea turtles. The offshore reef between the beach and the islands offers excellent snorkeling, with a wide range of reef fish visible from the surface.