Grab your shades, swimsuit and sunscreen. It’s time for a trip to the beach! Oahu is the main island in Hawaii and driving to its beautiful beaches is the first reason to go there.
Yes, what could be better than a leisurely coastal drive when the sun smiles in the rearview mirror and the incredible view opens outside the window? Especially since it’s so easy to organize if you rent a car.
So, pick up a Honolulu car rental under 25 and get ready for a great beach weekend! As the capital of Hawaii, Honolulu is the best starting point for your island road journey. With a rental car, you can easily find many picturesque beaches where it’s so nice to soak up the gentle sun and relax in the warm water. But which one to choose and where to go first? We bring you some outstanding places to drive to in Oahu!
Waikiki Beach
The legendary Waikiki Beach is probably the major sight of the Hawaiian archipelago. It offers a wide selection of water sports, including surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, boating, and other activities. In addition, the Waikiki coast is famous for its high class surf schools and numerous equipment rentals. So everything you need for water activities is always at hand.
If you come with children, they will have a great time in special play areas. At the same time, you can relax with the whole family in one of the local restaurants.
The only disadvantage of the beach is that it’s almost always crowded, so we recommend getting there early in the morning or in the afternoon.
Kahanamoku Beach
If you like comfortable beach conditions, then Kahanamoku will fully suit you. You can find it in the southern part of the island in an artificial lagoon. Why is its name Kahanamoku? It was named after Olympic champion swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, who won first place in the 1912 Olympics.
According to many, Kahanamoku Beach is an ideal place for family vacations. Adults can enjoy canoeing, sailing, kayaking, or diving. At the same time, children will enjoy swimming in calm waters as the reefs protect the beach from big waves.
If you don’t want to swim, then you can just admire the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, while walking with the whole family along the coast. The length of the beach is more than 1.5 miles, so it won’t be difficult to find a comfortable place to relax there. Also, the Kahanamoku coastline offers an extensive selection of restaurants and bars that are perfect to dine during the day and have fun in the evening.
Kailua Beach
Oahu provides many great beaches, and Kailua Beach is one of them. Fishing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, and kiteboarding are all at your disposal there. Kailua is a beautiful beach with dazzling white sand. Its water is amazing and looks like blue milk. However, it’s actually clean. Also, the beach offers stunning views of Diamond Head Crater.
If you want to diversify your beach holiday, then take a kayak and go to the Popoia Island located about 400 meters from the coast. Yes, and don’t forget to bring your shoes, as you can only walk on the sharp, rocky edge of this islet. This is all because of the nesting birds that cover almost all of its territory.
Lanikai Beach
Lanikai means ‘heavenly sea’ in Hawaiian, and if you visit this place, you will understand why it was called so. This beach is one of the ten most picturesque beaches on the planet. With miles of soft white sand and clear blue waters, this beach is truly as beautiful as its name suggests. Unfortunately, there are no toilets, showers, and even special parking lots for cars. However, the white sand and calm turquoise water fully compensate for these shortcomings.
Lanikai occupies the windward part of Oahu and therefore there are no big waves. All this provides ideal conditions for swimming and diving.
By the way, if you look away from the clear turquoise water and crystal white soft sand, you will see two islands in the distance. You can rent a kayak and go to one of them for complete privacy.
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is a nature reserve located in the crater of an extinct volcano. With over a million visitors a year, it’s one of the most popular local tourist destinations. First of all, the bay is famous for its diverse and amazingly beautiful underwater world. More than 450 species of exotic tropical fish and green sea turtles live there. In addition, it has excellent protection against strong currents and large waves, thus providing ideal conditions for snorkeling. If necessary, you can even rent the appropriate equipment nearby.
On the other hand, fine golden sand and calm waters make the magnificent beach one of the best and most popular family-friendly destinations. A smooth entrance to the sea and a comfortable water temperature all year round are its additional advantages.
Fort DeRussy Beach Park
Located half an hour’s drive from Waikiki, Fort DeRussy Beach Park is one of the best places to swim and sunbathe on Oahu’s south coast. It offers you over 1 mile of clean and well maintained coastline with soft white sand, small waves, a BBQ area, and a wide range of beach activities.
So, you can play beach volleyball and then go surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, or scuba diving. By the way, there are many shops with beach accessories, and if you want to have a snack, visit one of the numerous local cafes.
Well, Oahu provides great beach opportunities. Thus, it would be nice to enjoy the island’s coastal drive to find the most wonderful places around. A road trip like this will give you a thrilling experience and turn your beach holiday into an exciting adventure!
