A west side day
STOP 1 OF 10
Ko Olina lagoons
West side · Free to visit
Swim in a lagoon first, while the parking is easy.
2–4 hours · Free (limited public parking)
EThe editors
A west side day
Lagoons, a pillbox, poke from a supermarket and the end of the road at Kaʻena.
10 placesA full dayRead the guide ↓
- 1. Ko Olina lagoonsSwim in a lagoon first, while the parking is easy.West sideFree to visit2–4 hoursFree (limited public parking)
2. Electric Beach (Kahe Point)Strong swimmers: turtles and big fish by the outflow.West sideFree to visit1–2 hoursFree
3. Nānākuli Beach ParkA local family beach, calm in summer.West sideFree to visit1–2 hoursFree
4. Māʻili PillboxA short, steep climb to a WWII pillbox over the coast.West sideFree to visit1.5 hoursFree
5. Tamura’s, WaiʻanaePoke by the pound for a beach lunch.West sideFood & drink20 minPoke by the pound
6. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole statue, WaiʻanaeIz, ukulele in hand, outside the Waiʻanae community center.West sideFree to visit10 minFree
7. Mākaha Beach ParkMākaha’s famous surf; swim only when it’s flat.West sideFree to visit1–2 hoursFree
8. Yokohama BayThe last beach before the road ends.West sideFree to visit2 hoursFree
9. Kaʻena Point TrailWalk out to the island’s tip: albatross, seals and no shade.West sideFree to visit3–4 hoursFree
10. Mina’s Fish HouseDinner at Ko Olina on the way back, booked.West sideFood & drink1.5–2 hoursMains $40+
The guide
How to do it: A west side day
The Waiʻanae coast is the least visited side of Oʻahu and the most local. The road runs past lagoons, surf beaches and green valleys to the end of the pavement at Kaʻena.
It’s dry, sunny and hot; go early, swim when it’s calm, and leave the beaches as you found them.
- The order to do it in
- Ko Olina lagoons first, then up the coast: Electric Beach, Nānākuli, the Māʻili Pillbox, lunch from Tamura’s, Mākaha, and Yokohama Bay. Walk to Kaʻena Point if you have the legs, then dinner back at Ko Olina.
- When to go
- Summer for swimming. In winter Mākaha has big surf to watch.
- Getting there
- A car. About 45 minutes from Waikīkī to Ko Olina, an hour and a half to Yokohama Bay.
- What to bring
- Lots of water, snacks, and a full tank; there are few services past Waiʻanae.
- What it costs
- Free beaches; food at your own pace; Mina’s is a splurge.
Worth knowing
- Lock the car and leave nothing visible at beach lots.
- Kaʻena’s road access changed after recent storm damage; check the state park page before you go.
Started from the pins on Love Big Island’s leeward coast day (the map). Places, notes and the guide checked and written by us; prices and opening times change, so check before you go.