Is Lanikai Beach public?

Yes, Lanikai Beach is public. You reach the sand through public walkways between houses on Mokulua Drive. The houses and yards remain private. Your access path won't always reach a wide stretch of sand; erosion has narrowed parts of the shore.

Where do you park for Lanikai Beach?

Kailua Beach Park is the fallback when Lanikai street parking is restricted. From its Alala Road lot, your walk is 0.75 to 1 mile or 1.2 to 1.6 km depending on the entrance. Holiday bans can cover Saturday through Monday or include extra weekdays; temporary signs set the days. Kailua's parking lots close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Are there lifeguards or restrooms at Lanikai Beach?

No, Lanikai has neither lifeguards nor public restrooms. Your nearest public restrooms and showers are at Kailua Beach Park. Its towers 8 and 8B are staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You need to return there for those facilities; its lifeguards don't supervise swimming at Lanikai.

Can you kayak to the Mokulua Islands from Lanikai?

Yes, when conditions allow and Moku Nui's beach is open. You may land only below its high-water mark; Moku Iki is off-limits and both islands close from sunset to sunrise. Guided trips and rented kayaks need landing permits, with no commercial landings on Sundays. NOAA recommends at least 50 feet from monk seals and 150 feet from mothers with pups; wildlife closures can prevent landing.

How do you get to Lanikai Beach from Waikiki?

By car, Lanikai is 17.6 miles from Kuhio Beach in Waikiki. You can cross to the windward side over the Pali Highway or H-3 before continuing through Kailua. By TheBus, take the W Line to Ala Moana Center, then Route 67 to Kailua/Hahani and Route 671 to Lanikai. Your adult HOLO prices stop at $7.50 for the day; the card costs $2.00.

Is Lanikai Beach good for swimming?

Its reef shelters shallow water, but you won't have lifeguards watching your swim. Choose Kailua Beach Park for a lifeguarded swim and ask its lifeguards about conditions before entering. Strong onshore winds can bring Portuguese man-of-war toward the beach. You shouldn't enter where they've been sighted, even if you only see dead ones on the sand.

Things to do in Oahu › Oahu beaches › Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach

Mokulua views and calm water

Updated October 30, 2026 Parking: Honolulu DTS; islands: DLNR; lifeguards: Ocean Safety; prices: TheBus

Lanikai Beach lies south of Kailua on Oahu's windward coast. The sand faces the twin Mokulua islands. You reach it through public walkways between houses on Mokulua Drive. A reef shelters the shallow water when the weather settles. There aren't any lifeguards or restrooms. Street parking is limited, with bans on designated holiday weekends and other restrictions marked on signs.

The Mokulua islands from the sand at Lanikai

Map

Where Lanikai Beach is

21.3917° N, 157.7148° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

How to get there

From Waikiki by car Kuhio Beach in Waikiki is 17.6 miles or 28.3 km from Lanikai by road. You can reach Kailua over the Pali Highway or H-3 before continuing past Kailua Beach Park. Follow the one-way loop into Aalapapa Drive and out along Mokulua Drive.
By bus From Waikiki, take the W Line to Ala Moana Center and Route 67 to Kailua/Hahani. Route 671 runs daily through Kailua Beach Park into Lanikai. Adult HOLO price is $3.00 for 2 hours with transfers; cash costs $3.25 per boarding without transfers.
By kayak from Kailua Kayak rentals are near Kailua Beach Park. The Mokulua route from Kailua Beach is 2.5 miles or 4 km each way, with Lanikai a possible stop. Your launch depends on the wind and your paddling experience.
With a tour The kayak list compares guided trips with independent rentals. Your booking page needs to name the destination and meeting point. Choose an option with Waikiki pickup if you need a ride from your hotel.

At a glance

Lanikai Beach at a glance

Water	shallow water sheltered by an offshore reef. The bay still gets wind and currents. You don't have a lifeguard here to assess your swim spot.
Lifeguards	none at Lanikai. Kailua Beach Park has towers 8 and 8B, staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Those towers don't cover your swim at Lanikai.
Shade	little natural shade. Bring portable shade for your spot on the sand and the walk back to the car.
Parking	no beach lot; parking in bike lanes isn't allowed. On designated holiday weekends, bans run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. across Mokulua and Aalapapa Drives. Their shoulders and connecting streets are included; temporary signs show which days apply.
On the shore	no restrooms or showers. Food and kayak rentals are back in Kailua. Your nearest public restrooms and showers are at Kailua Beach Park, before the walk into Lanikai.
Access	public sand reached through narrow paths between private homes. Mokulua Drive has access near Haokea Drive and Onekea Drive. Your beach access doesn't include the neighboring yards.
Hazards	wind and currents can make the offshore paddle hard. Erosion has left some southern entrances facing rock and water. Land only on Moku Nui's beach below the high-water mark when open; Moku Iki is off-limits.

Before you go

Kailua Beach Park is the fallback when Lanikai's streets close to parking. Water and portable shade need to come with you. Island landings stay on Moku Nui's beach below the high-water mark, clear of nesting areas.

The beach

What Lanikai Beach is like

White sand faces the Mokulua islands across Lanikai's reef. Moku Nui is the larger northern island. Moku Iki lies to its south. Both are part of a seabird sanctuary. You can see them from the sand. You don't need a kayak or a crossing. There aren't any beach facilities. Your food and water need to last the whole visit.

Public paths run between homes along Mokulua Drive. Your beach access doesn't let you park in a driveway. Some southern paths reach an eroded shore beside seawalls. The city plans permanent no-parking signs on Mokulua Drive first. Aalapapa Drive will follow. There's no set date for the work. Use Kailua Beach Park when you can't find a legal street space for your car.

Wind can roughen the water beyond the sheltered shallows. The islands close from sunset to sunrise. The Lanikai Pillbox trail climbs Kaiwa Ridge from Kaelepulu Drive. You can see the islands from its observation stations. It's open from sunup to sundown. The steep path gets slippery and receives little maintenance. Commercial tours aren't allowed on that trail. You'll need to hike on your own and arrange your transport.

Tours

Tours near Lanikai Beach

Kayak, paddleboard and Kaneohe sandbar tours 12 tours · from $39.99

The kayak list includes Kailua outings and Kaneohe sandbar trips. Choose a trip that names Moku Nui and includes its landing permit if you want to land.

Hiking tours and Diamond Head shuttles 13 tours · from $35

The hiking list covers other Oahu trails and Diamond Head shuttles. Commercial tours aren't allowed on the Lanikai Pillbox trail. You'll need to hike it on your own.

Circle island tours 14 tours · from $75

Circle island tours cover several stops around Oahu. Your trip needs to name Lanikai Beach and give you time on the sand. A Kailua stop alone doesn't promise either.

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