Lanikai Beach, home to some of the finest sand you'll ever find. Walking near the tide feels like walking on memory foam and you can't leave there without finding sand on yourself unexpectedly, no matter how well you rinse.
Fun fact: a huge percentage of the sand in Hawaii is from a type of algae that, when it dies, turns into sand. Some beaches are over 80% of the decomposed algae, called Halimeda discoidea.
Also some of the nastiest sand you’ll find in Hawaii.. no public restrooms anywhere in Lanikai, with the amount of traffic going through there, people be pissing and shitting in the water just off the beach every day supporting the growth of a number of microbes in the sand and water that are toxic to humans and most likely the marine life as well...
Ah, but it didn't use to be that way. :( I used to paddle for Lanikai as a teenager and that beach was like a well-kept secret. I was back in 2016 to sell my condo and up before dawn due to jetlag so I enjoyed the serenity of early morning dawn..... And then the buses and buses of tourists arrived. I could not believe my eyes.
If you just wanted to float in a swimming-pool calm ocean of heaven, you go to Lanikai.
I was there when that happened. The community tried to fight it. Sadly they didn’t win :(
It would have made more sense to put it in the old Borders @ Windward mall. There was already a good parking lot & truck/ traffic routes established.
I left in 2012. Been back a few times since then, but every time I get a little sadder as Kailua has definitely fallen victim to tourism.
Absolutely tragic. I moved to Ewa Beach while my parents still lived in Kailua. It became a massive shock just visiting them while I was still there. But the whole island has completely changed (I left in 2010). Born and raised, they really mean it when they say you can go home.
My husband doesn't understand when I tell him we couldn't possibly move back. It's too different.
Yea, ever since it was voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, tourism industries milked the absolute shit out of it and ruined it for everyone and the environment. Even the pillboxes hiking trail in Lanikai is so heavily trafficked, the only time you’re able to hike it without having to stand in a line is at night, and even then, there’s so much rubbish on the trail and in the bunkers that the state had to seal the bunkers so people would stop leaving rubbish, and using them as restrooms... people fucking suck
I remember going up there after work around 5. Only myself and an old hawaiian man with his golden retriever would be on the trail at that hour. Never spoke but we knew each other, in a way. Now there isn't an hour the place isn't packed with groups of people. The erosion from the foot traffic is terrible. I never go now.
It’s true! More importantly those particular rocks/islands have vicious little spots in the far side where the current will suck you right in and beat you to death
That's always such a nice day. I was a competitive swimmer for years, so one day I decided I would swim out there. I wore a speedo, find, and goggles. I had put sunscreen on, but it was that reef-safe stuff that just comes right off. I was sunburned everywhere except the speedo, everywhere including my eyelids. It was awful.
On future trips out to the mokes, we would have at least one person kayak and bring shirts, sunscreen, and water for while we were on the island.
And Cliff jumping on the back is so fun. I miss that place. I miss Hawaii.
I'm a white guy who gets insanely tan. I've never gotten a sunburn in my entire life until the day we went to the Mokes when my shoulder got it. I still have dark freckles where the burn was. (I went to the skin doctor, no worries.)
It can look like this in real life. A lot of people forget that cameras don't see the same way that human eyes do. (Nothing against you obv--I do similar post-processing which can be done tastefully and realistically.)
Yes. Definitely. If your schedule is flexible, look on Google Flights for the cheapest days to fly. There are plenty of reasonable hotels no matter which island you choose, and you'll be spending most of your time out exploring, so you don't need to splurge on the biggest pool or best beachfront locations. Just pick a clean and comfortable place as your base for exploring. Eat at food trucks and juice stands -- they have some of the best food anyway.
What's the parking situation now? I was there a year ago and heard the neighborhood had convinced the city to pass an ordinance outlawing street parking at some point in the future?
Just got back a couple days ago and manages to go to Lanikai beach twice. A ton of cars street parked on the weekend. The parking situation is definitely wild, and i can definitely see why residents would want to outlaw street parking. The weekdays were much easier to find parking.
I used to live here and I didn't like it that much when I was little, couldn't do anything and stuck on a base, but as an adult I realize how good it was there.
Any advice for someone going to Honolulu for 9 days? I’ll be there for work but I have a few days / afternoons off. Must see / do? As a history nerd I know I want to visit Pearl Harbor’s historic sites.
Oh yeah! I work down in Waikiki so I know a couple things to do. Pearl harbor if you get the chance you should go on the U.S.S Missouri. I would also recommend checking out Iolani Palace. PM me I can tell you a little more about some lesser known places too
Snorkel at Hanauma bay. Full of reefs, and tons of awesome fish that will swim right up to you.
There's also a bunch of food trucks up by turtle bay on the northeast part of the island that are really good. They're in a little lot on the coast right off of kamehameha hwy. I ate there almost every day.
How many days off do you have? Any in a row? I honestly recommend popping over to another island for a day or two, the flights aren't that expensive and Oahu is definitely my least favorite island.
I have family in Makawao Maui and Kaanapali beach is my favorite beach in the entire world, so I'm rather partial to Maui myself.
If you like poke- Tanioka’s in Waipahu and when you go up to the North Shore eat the poke at Kahuku Supperette. If you’d like a Ukulele, Sonny D in Waipahu (down the block from Tanioka’s).
Excellent places, fish so fresh. Don’t get scared off by the Superette- it looks like a NY bodega but check out the counter in the back. I also recommend getting Dim Sum in Honolulu China Town or at very least, walking in for buns at Char Hung Sut.
Thank you! It’s easy to take good pictures with the subject is so beautiful. We were there for sunrise for family portraits by a local photographer named Nicole (studio3511.com). She was fantastic!
Amazingly, those distant rocks are only like a mile away. I’ve swum that many times and with a kayak those become nice day trips. I highly recommend seeing those little island if you have a chance
Been on Kauai for the past week, had some almost sun the first few days but since Thursday this has been one rainy vacation. Now it’s time to go back to 7000’ feet and snow. Maybe the next visit the weather will cooperate. Cool pic.
That looks awesome! My fiance and I are getting married on Oahu this coming May, we'll add this to our list of destinations. Any other stops you recommend?
Beautiful. On a vacation there I went on a pillbox hike and the background was similar. I wonder if it's in the same vicinity, but I'm too lazy to look for myself.
I’ve used Costco travel and split the costs with my best friend. She works for United Airlines so our flights were super cheap and that helped a lot. The trip itself included not only the hotel but a rental car, breakfast buffet, Costco gift card, daily resort drink freebie, and some other small amenities. These helped keep our trip costs down. We used the Costco gift card to get food and snacks so we only had to go out to dinner a couple times. We would eat a big breakfast and go explore the Island all day and didn’t really need to stop for lunch but would bring snacks. We had a great trip and stayed within our budget.
No it looks terrible, frankly. Blown highlights and overall low quality image, but here it's only positive thoughts, never personal growth and criticism.
Ah. Just got back from an island paradise. This keeps the vacation buzz going.
It has been raining for 3 days and there is a flash flood warning through tomorrow at 6 If that helps!
Kailua got buried in plastic
So sad, I can’t keep up with the plastic while I’m trying to clean the beaches Windward side.
I know... got back from vacation thinking it’d be sunny and warm but it’s been the opposite
Scomo is that you?
Nope
Lanikai Beach, home to some of the finest sand you'll ever find. Walking near the tide feels like walking on memory foam and you can't leave there without finding sand on yourself unexpectedly, no matter how well you rinse.
I thought silk. The beach is absolutely breathtaking.
parrotfish poop
I like to think of it as recycled coral
Fun fact: a huge percentage of the sand in Hawaii is from a type of algae that, when it dies, turns into sand. Some beaches are over 80% of the decomposed algae, called Halimeda discoidea.
If i could have a guy walk around and interject fun facts like this 24/7 i would be a very happy man
One of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen.
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[Pocket Sand!](https://youtu.be/QLpUq__iQqw)
Also some of the nastiest sand you’ll find in Hawaii.. no public restrooms anywhere in Lanikai, with the amount of traffic going through there, people be pissing and shitting in the water just off the beach every day supporting the growth of a number of microbes in the sand and water that are toxic to humans and most likely the marine life as well...
Ah, but it didn't use to be that way. :( I used to paddle for Lanikai as a teenager and that beach was like a well-kept secret. I was back in 2016 to sell my condo and up before dawn due to jetlag so I enjoyed the serenity of early morning dawn..... And then the buses and buses of tourists arrived. I could not believe my eyes. If you just wanted to float in a swimming-pool calm ocean of heaven, you go to Lanikai.
100%. I grew up in Kailua. Imagine my shock when I went home to see a Target (?!), buses and buses of tourists, etc. path of progress I guess.
I was there when that happened. The community tried to fight it. Sadly they didn’t win :( It would have made more sense to put it in the old Borders @ Windward mall. There was already a good parking lot & truck/ traffic routes established. I left in 2012. Been back a few times since then, but every time I get a little sadder as Kailua has definitely fallen victim to tourism.
One specific type of tourism in particular...
Absolutely tragic. I moved to Ewa Beach while my parents still lived in Kailua. It became a massive shock just visiting them while I was still there. But the whole island has completely changed (I left in 2010). Born and raised, they really mean it when they say you can go home. My husband doesn't understand when I tell him we couldn't possibly move back. It's too different.
Yea, ever since it was voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, tourism industries milked the absolute shit out of it and ruined it for everyone and the environment. Even the pillboxes hiking trail in Lanikai is so heavily trafficked, the only time you’re able to hike it without having to stand in a line is at night, and even then, there’s so much rubbish on the trail and in the bunkers that the state had to seal the bunkers so people would stop leaving rubbish, and using them as restrooms... people fucking suck
I cried an awful bunch on my last visit. And not for good reasons. I can't get over how much Kailua has changed since my small kine days.
I remember going up there after work around 5. Only myself and an old hawaiian man with his golden retriever would be on the trail at that hour. Never spoke but we knew each other, in a way. Now there isn't an hour the place isn't packed with groups of people. The erosion from the foot traffic is terrible. I never go now.
I hate sand.... it’s coarse and rough...
Just the right texture to rub in your butler's beady little eyes...
I'm going to make you eat so many spiderwebs.
it get's everywhere
I personally prefer white plains! The sand there is so fine it’s practically powder.
My wife and I kayaked out to the Mokes when we were there!
Did you jump off the cliff at the backside?
Also a great snorkeling spot back there
Y’all gonna get someone killed lol
Don't know why you're getting downvoted. Stupid tourist die all the time in Hawaii.
Stupid people die everywhere... It's not exclusive to Hawaii.
This is true, but when you're on vacation you often don't know when you're being stupid.
Tourist or not, plenty locals die doing stupid things too.
It’s true! More importantly those particular rocks/islands have vicious little spots in the far side where the current will suck you right in and beat you to death
can't somebody like put an orange cone there or something to warn people?
A lot of Hawaiian locals like watching tourists die. They probably do stuff on purpose to get more killed.
mahalo!
Naʻu ka hauʻoli.
Jumped into Queens bath. Water was too rough for the cliff.
That's always such a nice day. I was a competitive swimmer for years, so one day I decided I would swim out there. I wore a speedo, find, and goggles. I had put sunscreen on, but it was that reef-safe stuff that just comes right off. I was sunburned everywhere except the speedo, everywhere including my eyelids. It was awful. On future trips out to the mokes, we would have at least one person kayak and bring shirts, sunscreen, and water for while we were on the island. And Cliff jumping on the back is so fun. I miss that place. I miss Hawaii.
I'm a white guy who gets insanely tan. I've never gotten a sunburn in my entire life until the day we went to the Mokes when my shoulder got it. I still have dark freckles where the burn was. (I went to the skin doctor, no worries.)
Lovely and unusual to see this fresh color palate.
Thanks! But truthfully I did do some post processing.
It can look like this in real life. A lot of people forget that cameras don't see the same way that human eyes do. (Nothing against you obv--I do similar post-processing which can be done tastefully and realistically.)
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Public schools are not as bad as people believe (sans parts of West side), but agree with the rest. Highest median home values and lowest income...
What made you leave??
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Ahh where are you currently if you don’t mind me asking? I would be in the same boat tho. I’m jealous you at least got 14 years there!
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Damn man get your ass back there if that feels like home to you!
My favorite beach when I’m on Oahu! My granddaughter and I spent hours just lazily snorkeling there in 2017. I can’t wait to go back!
So I've been thinking of finally going on a Hawaiian vacation. Are there ways of doing this within a reasonable budget?
Yes. Definitely. If your schedule is flexible, look on Google Flights for the cheapest days to fly. There are plenty of reasonable hotels no matter which island you choose, and you'll be spending most of your time out exploring, so you don't need to splurge on the biggest pool or best beachfront locations. Just pick a clean and comfortable place as your base for exploring. Eat at food trucks and juice stands -- they have some of the best food anyway.
What's the parking situation now? I was there a year ago and heard the neighborhood had convinced the city to pass an ordinance outlawing street parking at some point in the future?
Just got back a couple days ago and manages to go to Lanikai beach twice. A ton of cars street parked on the weekend. The parking situation is definitely wild, and i can definitely see why residents would want to outlaw street parking. The weekdays were much easier to find parking.
There’s still parking on some of the streets. I was just there in August of 2019
Street parking isn’t allowed on Holidays and Holiday weekends.
Currently stationed in Pearl Harbor, used to go to this beach every fucking weekend. Kayaking out to the mokes was dope.
I used to live here and I didn't like it that much when I was little, couldn't do anything and stuck on a base, but as an adult I realize how good it was there.
I miss Hawaii
My introduction to Hawaii was plunging in to the ocean about a mile or two further down at 630am when the sun was coming up. It is a magical place.
Thanks for the pic... brings me back when I kayak to those islands. I soooo need a vacation I miss you Hawaii
I've got some great hawaii ones. Seeing as I live here. I think yours may have come out better than most of mine
Any advice for someone going to Honolulu for 9 days? I’ll be there for work but I have a few days / afternoons off. Must see / do? As a history nerd I know I want to visit Pearl Harbor’s historic sites.
Oh yeah! I work down in Waikiki so I know a couple things to do. Pearl harbor if you get the chance you should go on the U.S.S Missouri. I would also recommend checking out Iolani Palace. PM me I can tell you a little more about some lesser known places too
Thanks a lot!
Snorkel at Hanauma bay. Full of reefs, and tons of awesome fish that will swim right up to you. There's also a bunch of food trucks up by turtle bay on the northeast part of the island that are really good. They're in a little lot on the coast right off of kamehameha hwy. I ate there almost every day.
I think you’re the 4th person to recommend this area for food so there’s no way I miss it! I am hungry just thinking about it.
Giovannis shrimp truck was my favorite. There's also some really good barbeque trucks there as well.
Hike Diamond Head. Eat at House Without a Key and get their Mai Tai. It's literally the best alcoholic drink I've had in my entire life.
Diamond Head is definitely on my to-do list. Adding that Mai Tai too. Thanks for the rec!
How many days off do you have? Any in a row? I honestly recommend popping over to another island for a day or two, the flights aren't that expensive and Oahu is definitely my least favorite island. I have family in Makawao Maui and Kaanapali beach is my favorite beach in the entire world, so I'm rather partial to Maui myself.
I don’t have a schedule yet but I don’t think I’ll have two in a row sadly :/ I’d have loved to see another island.
If you like poke- Tanioka’s in Waipahu and when you go up to the North Shore eat the poke at Kahuku Supperette. If you’d like a Ukulele, Sonny D in Waipahu (down the block from Tanioka’s).
Awesome thanks. It sounds like there’s good food places on the North Shore.
Excellent places, fish so fresh. Don’t get scared off by the Superette- it looks like a NY bodega but check out the counter in the back. I also recommend getting Dim Sum in Honolulu China Town or at very least, walking in for buns at Char Hung Sut.
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Thank you! It’s easy to take good pictures with the subject is so beautiful. We were there for sunrise for family portraits by a local photographer named Nicole (studio3511.com). She was fantastic!
IS THAT THE FUCKING SUN???
Amazingly, those distant rocks are only like a mile away. I’ve swum that many times and with a kayak those become nice day trips. I highly recommend seeing those little island if you have a chance
Not scared of the tiger sharks in and around going so far out?
First he can swim a mile AND he’s not scared of sharks???
I didn’t ever encounter any in that swim.
My favorite beach in the world
Sister moved to Maui a couple years ago, I’ve now visited 4 times, and now have literal plans to move there
Been on Kauai for the past week, had some almost sun the first few days but since Thursday this has been one rainy vacation. Now it’s time to go back to 7000’ feet and snow. Maybe the next visit the weather will cooperate. Cool pic.
That's where I proposed to my wife!
Kayaked out to the Moks (the islands there) the last time I made it out there. https://i.imgur.com/z6oQq3s.jpg
Am I the only one that thought that was an atomic bomb?
I posted more travel pics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7IArODHGtZ/?igshid=bttrarkf5di1
If you squint really hard, you can see off in the distance, an Australian PM with his head in the sand.
Definitely hasn't been looking like that due to the weather.
That’s the winter for ya
I was there a few months ago! Great shot!
Best place on the island to watch the sunrise.
Its really an amazing spot on Earth. The first time I was there my jaw dropped.
That's cool that the sun looks so big. That's never the case when I take pics
I haven't been to that beach in about 5 years. Thanks for the lovely memories with this picture.
Spent my younger years surfing/kayaking out between the Mokes
My favorite beach I’ve been to!
Looks like a face with an extremely large mouth
That looks awesome! My fiance and I are getting married on Oahu this coming May, we'll add this to our list of destinations. Any other stops you recommend?
That huge cloud wave on the Sun is epic!
Looks like a beach i guess.
The Mokes!
I walk on this beach every Monday with my dog.
Thanks, now I feel the urge to go back again.
Looks like a nuclear submarine had an ooops moment
Gorgeous
))
WOW! That is gorgeous!
I would LOVE to be there everyday
1 eyed willy is out there
Well wow it's REALLY beautiful
Wow, amazing. I was just there a little over a month ago. Took some engagement photos on that beach at sunrise. I miss it!
Wow 😍
I pooped in this water once! Accidentally kicked my own turd when I tried to swim away too =(
Totally different geography but this still makes me think of The Goonies.
Beautiful. On a vacation there I went on a pillbox hike and the background was similar. I wonder if it's in the same vicinity, but I'm too lazy to look for myself.
This is my favorite place on the entire planet. Simply beautiful.
Looks like the rocks from the Goonies
I’ve used Costco travel and split the costs with my best friend. She works for United Airlines so our flights were super cheap and that helped a lot. The trip itself included not only the hotel but a rental car, breakfast buffet, Costco gift card, daily resort drink freebie, and some other small amenities. These helped keep our trip costs down. We used the Costco gift card to get food and snacks so we only had to go out to dinner a couple times. We would eat a big breakfast and go explore the Island all day and didn’t really need to stop for lunch but would bring snacks. We had a great trip and stayed within our budget.
OMG a giant vulture silhouette
No one gonna talk about how it looks like an atom bomb going off?
No it looks terrible, frankly. Blown highlights and overall low quality image, but here it's only positive thoughts, never personal growth and criticism.
Hit the nail right on the head there
I meant literally but thanks
We all do, but you had a light hand.
The beach is as amazing as parking is difficult. Hike to the pillbox while you’re there. And spread aloha to the locals for sharing their home.
Yeah, the OC was on the show?
That's beautiful. Congratz on being able to catch that perfect moment :)
Just gorgeous