ALOHA!
Lanikai Beach is one of the most famous beaches on Oahu (and Hawaii!) but it’s important to know a few things before you go.
It doesn’t have the conveniences of many of the other popular Oahu beaches, and those conveniences that it doesn’t have includes beach facilities and… parking.
You can drive to Lanikai Beach, and Lanikai Beach is free (and so is the parking), but there is no designated parking lot for Lanikai Beach.
This means that going to Lanikai Beach can require some effort, and parking may not be easy.
ð You will drive around the neighborhood near Lanikai Beach in search of street parking.
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Lanikai Beach parking is street parking in a small neighborhood.
So it can also feel like you’re going to a local beach!
When you’re looking for street parking near Lanikai Beach, you’ll want to take care to look out for any “no parking” areas.
If you’re doing the Lanikai pillbox hike, it’s basically the same situation for parking. You will be looking for street parking in the Lanikai neighborhood.
ð There are a lot of “no parking” signs near Lanikai Beach. Look for them!
ð While you may need to put forth some effort to look for Lanikai Beach parking, you will forget all about your parking frustrations as soon as you get to Lanikai Beach! Or maybe parking will be easy for you!
There are also days that you can’t do any street parking at all.
On the weekends, there are parking restrictions, and parking is not allowed near the streets of Lanikai Beach.
If you go during the week and can’t find parking near Lanikai Beach, or if the weekend is the only time you can go, there is the “alternate” Lanikai Beach parking area, which is actually a Kailua Beach parking lot.
Kailua Beach is another popular Oahu beach, and you’ll pass by it as you’re driving to Lanikai Beach.
Kailua Beach has a proper parking lot (2 actually), and it also has proper beach facilities (bathroom, lifeguard, etc).
There are people who use a Kailua Beach parking lot, and then walk from Kailua Beach to Lanikai Beach.
Depending on how slow you are with all the beach gear you’re carrying ðĪŠ it might take you 15 to 20 minutes to walk from a Kailua Beach parking lot to Lanikai Beach.
ð For alternate Lanikai Beach parking, you can use the Kailua Beach parking lot. ðī
ð Your drive to Lanikai Beach will come with ocean views! This is also the path you’ll walk if you park at Kailua Beach and then walk to Lanikai Beach. You can also see the Mokulua Islands off in the distance if you look carefully off to the right!
More below about what driving to Lanikai Beach is like!
ðī
What is driving to Lanikai Beach like?
Well, on this particular day, I actually went to Lanikai Beach by bus.
But I was walking the streets of Lanikai so I can show you what the neighborhood is like!
It was also a Saturday, which means there were minimal cars parked on the street.
The cars that were parked on the street were either cars of the residents… or someone who was not paying attention to the no parking signs and got themselves a parking ticket…?! ðĪŠ
So to get started, you can find Lanikai Beach on google maps and that will get you to the area.
Once you are near, first you will pass by a Kailua Beach parking lot.
This is your back-up plan if you can’t find any street parking near Lanikai Beach! (Or, you can skip Lanikai Beach and go to Kailua Beach instead.)
This is also where you’ll find the public bathroom nearest to Lanikai Beach.
If you want to go to Lanikai Beach on the weekend, this is the best parking lot. (map) It might be full though, in which case you’ll have to wait for a parking spot to open up.
Or, you can try the other parking lot to see if there are open spots. (map) That will add on a few minutes of walking across the grassy area of Kailua Beach Park. (There is a paved path that goes through.)
Even if it’s the weekend, if you are curious, you can still drive through the Lanikai neighborhood, you just can’t park.
You can also just loop around to see where you’ll be walking.
If you are going to Lanikai Beach during the week, you can keep driving!
ð You will pass by a Kailua Beach parking lot on your drive to Lanikai Beach. This is the alternate parking for Lanikai Beach.
ð You will be driving to Lanikai Beach with ocean views! There is a sidewalk next to the road. If you use the Kailua Beach parking lot, you will use this sidewalk to walk to Lanikai Beach.
ð Whether you drive or walk, you will pass by the Lanikai Monument… and since you will be at the top of a hill, you will also get your first glimpse of the famous twin islands aka the Mokulua Islands aka the Mokes!
Once you’ve reached the top of the hill, you will then start to drive back down towards sea level… and to Lanikai Beach!
And then you will basically just follow the road and drive around the streets of Lanikai!
First you may want to look for where a Lanikai Beach access is, and then start your search for street parking.
ð No parking on the shoulder.
ð Look around for the parking signs!
ð The Lanikai bike path is marked. No parking on the bike path.
And hopefully you are able to find parking near Lanikai Beach!
Then you can start walking towards the public access!
Once you are at Lanikai Beach, you will forget all about your frustrations of looking for parking!!
And that’s a bit about what the streets near Lanikai Beach look like!
I most recently walked the Lanikai streets in February 2023! Your experience may vary!
Lanikai Beach is on the east side of Oahu where you can find many more beautiful views!
See more:
PLUS: Things to do in Waikiki (for VIEWS!)
HAPPY DRIVING TO LANIKAI BEACH!
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