Lanikai Beach or Kaʻōhao Beach is located in Kaʻōhao, a community in the town of Kailua and on the windward coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Although there is a widespread belief that the name Lanikai means "heavenly sea",[1] that is a misconception and a grammatical error, since in the Hawaiian language, the qualifier (lani) comes after the noun (kai). The name Lanikai was invented in the 1920s by the developer Charles Frazier, who owned 300 acres of beachfront property in the area known to Native Hawaiians as Kaʻōhao.[2] This small half-mile strip of beach is consistently ranked among the best beaches in the world.[3] Adjacent to Lanikai Beach is a primarily upper-class residential area and because of this it is accessed through public beach access paths. Although the beach itself is public property, it is not state land and is not a county beach park like many beaches in Hawaii. There is no public parking lot and the area lacks facilities like restrooms, showers or lifeguards.[4] As of July 1, 2014, parking violation fines have increased from $35 to $200 in an effort to keep people from illegally parking in the residential area surrounding the beach accesses. Parking violations are strictly enforced and include, but are not limited to, no parking within four feet of a driveway entrance or apron, blocking the unimproved pedestrian right of way (where a sidewalk would normally be), within 30 feet of a stop sign, within ten feet of a fire hydrant, or on or within 20 feet of a crosswalk. However, there are legal parking areas in downtown Kailua.
During the weekdays, the beach is less crowded compared to the weekends, although it is still very difficult to find parking close to one of the public beach accesses. On weekends, the beach becomes extremely crowded and during vacation seasons such as winter and summer, the beach is almost completely packed every single day. Lanikai is a popular spot for photo shoots as renowned models and photographers frequent the place on nice days. What makes Lanikai Beach popular for photographers is having the two Islands in the background called the Nā Mokulua or "mokes". Kayakers will often row out to land on the larger northern island, but no one is allowed to land on the southern island as it is a bird sanctuary. Water temperatures are generally 75–80 °F (24–26 °C). It has extremely soft powdery clean white sand. Lanikai Beach is regularly voted as one of the best beaches in America and is the only beach in the USA that was voted as one of the best beaches in the world.[5] Snorkeling in Lanikai Beach is a unique experience for visitors as well as locals due to its pristine seas and a variety of marine life.[6]
Due to its position on the Windward or east side of the island, Lanikai is recognized as being a great place to watch the moonrise over the Mokuluas, especially during the full moon. Occasionally during the year the sun will rise directly between the Na Mokulua islands.[7]
^"Secrets of Hawaii- Lanikai and Kailua Beach". portaloha.com. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
^Hiraishi, Ku`uwehi. "Kaʻōhao School Name Change Revives History, But Can it Spark a Movement?". www.hawaiipublicradio.org.
^"Honolulu - Oahu Travel Guide". usnews.com. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
^Lanikai Beaches, Oahu
^"Lanikai Beach - Oahu's BEST beach". HAW411. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
^"Snorkeling in Lanikai Beach: A Guide to the Best Spots". 2023-07-27. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
^"Full Moon at Lanikai, Kailua, Hawaii". photoshelter.com. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
LanikaiBeach or Kaʻōhao Beach is located in Kaʻōhao, a community in the town of Kailua and on the windward coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Although there is a...
LanikaiBeach. In May 2011, a kayak tourist was swept off the rocks and drowned View from LanikaiBeach at daylight View of Moku Iki from the beach of...
Whitehaven Beach in Australia, LanikaiBeach in Hawaii, Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda, Cayo Coco Beach in Cuba, Bávaro in the Dominican Republic, Boulders Beach in...
three days of vigil, Yod was cremated and his ashes put to rest at LanikaiBeach in Hawaii.[citation needed] In 2006, two Source Family members, Isis...
attractions include various beaches around the island such as Ala Moana Beach, Hanauma Bay, Kāneʻohe Bay, Ko Olina Beach Park, Waikiki Beach, among others. Other...
Hawaiʻi beaches sorted by island alphabetically, clockwise around each island, listed by beach name followed by location. Some of the beaches found in...
waterspout associated with a supercell thunderstorm moved ashore on LanikaiBeach, Oahu at 7:10 AM. The tornado, rated an EF-0, tracked inland for 1.5...
base command is also working on sand dune restoration in order to minimize beach erosion. The Nation of Hawaiʻi organization at Puʻuhonua o Waimānalo village...
Hawaii That They Have Always Dreamed Of A Father Brings His Family to Lanikai, the Neighborhood He Called Home in His Youth Free Spirit Flees Wisconsin...
2006. "Florida beaches open after shark attack". CNN.com. June 26, 2005. Retrieved 2006-04-18. Rodgers, Terry (April 26, 2008). "Beach warnings in effect...
Maunawili 2018 50 Natalia Hussey-Burdick Dem Kailua, portion of Kāneʻohe Bay 2022 51 Lisa Marten Dem Waimānalo, Keolu Hills, Lanikai, portion of Kailua 2020...
San Francisco Bay, M. Crawford, May 28, 2013 "Patrol Yacht HMAS Lanikai, ex-USS Lanikai, ex-USS Hermes". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 2009-10-16...
terminal at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The beaches of Lanikai in Kailua, and the flatlands of ʻĀina Haina and Kāhala along with...
rabbit on Southeast Island." In 1927, Captain William Greig Anderson of the Lanikai Fishing Company was fishing for tuna and in the process, discovered beds...
sailed 3000 miles to escape the Japanese". Dailybeast.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018. "Patrol Yacht Hermes/Lanikai". Navsource.org. Retrieved 14 April 2018....
Kailua – Lanikai Travels between Kailua and Lanikai. Interlines with Routes 672, 673 and 674 on select trips. Kailua Town, Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai 6AM–8PM...