ALOHA!
So you’re thinking that you want to spend part of your time in Hawaii at a beach that’s been named one of the best beaches in the world!
That’s Lanikai Beach.
So, how to get to Lanikai Beach from Waikiki?
One way is to take the long slow way.
That’s to get to Lanikai Beach by bus.
The other more convenient way would be driving, if you have a rental car for part of your time on Oahu.
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
How long is the drive from Waikiki to Lanikai Beach?
It will depend on where exactly in Waikiki you’re coming from, but at a minimum, the drive to Lanikai Beach will likely take 45 minutes.
Sometimes traffic around Kailua and Lanikai can get congested, and that can add time to your drive too.
If you know where you’re staying in Waikiki or Honolulu, you can input that information to get a better idea of how much time you can expect the drive to take.
Is there a parking lot near Lanikai Beach?
There is no parking lot near Lanikai Beach.
The streets surrounding the beach area are residential streets.
So you’ll be looking for street parking in a residential neighborhood.
Sometimes it can be difficult to find parking.
And you don’t just want to park anywhere that you see an open space.
Pay attention to “no parking” signs and parking restrictions near Lanikai Beach
In the case of parking at Lanikai Beach, you want to look out for signs, and you want to make sure to obey signs and rules!
Generally speaking, this includes not parking on the same side of the road as the bike lanes.
These rules do get enforced, and you don’t want your vacation to be ruined when you return to your car to find a ticket on the windshield!
That would be a buzzkill after a good day at the beach!
So even if you see other cars ignoring the signs, it might be best not to follow the lead of others.
There may be further parking restrictions around holidays, and especially holiday weekends.
This may include complete parking bans on residential streets around the beach.
So keep this in mind if your Hawaii vacation falls during a holiday.
Look for the beach path to get to Lanikai Beach
But, if you are able to find street parking, take it as a good sign!
It means that you’re about to have the best day ever at Lanikai Beach. 😉
Once you find a spot to park, find a path that will lead you to the beach!
There are several paths that you can take.
Alternate Lanikai Beach parking
There is another option if street parking around Lanikai Beach isn’t working out for you.
That is to park at Kailua Beach Park, and then walk over to Lanikai Beach.
You might consider parking at Kailua Beach anyway without even trying Lanikai streets.
Unlike Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach has beach facilities.
So after a long drive from Waikiki, you might like the idea of heading to the bathroom before your day at Lanikai Beach!
And, it’s a nice walk from Kailua Beach to Lanikai Beach, with a view overlooking Kailua Bay.
It’ll be about a 15-20 minute walk.
BRING WATER!
Hawaii can get hot. And a day at Lanikai Beach means that you’ll be out in the hot sun. Maybe sweating a lot.
For any outdoor activities in Hawaii, even if it’s less than an hour, it’s always a very good idea to take water to make sure you stay well-hydrated and SAFE!
And since you’ll be out in the heat on Lanikai Beach, this means that you should really consider bringing along water!
This is a popular water bottle in Hawaii. It is a bit heavy (and expensive) but it keeps cold drinks cold!
Here are some travel-friendly water bottles.
And here are some small backpacks to take a look at to pack along those extra snacks. Because snacks are also a good idea when you’re out and about in Hawaii.
Or here is a beach bag that can help when you’ve got several beach days in a row! Since it’s a mesh bag, it can help to get the drying process started more quickly.
more: what to wear in hawaii – what to wear snorkeling
More things to do near Lanikai Beach
And if you’re looking to add an activity to the same day you’re going to Lanikai Beach, have a look at things to do on the east side of Oahu!
HAPPY LANIKAI BEACH PLANNING!
what to pack for hawaii >> what to wear in hawaii >> what to wear snorkeling – what to wear hiking – what to wear to a luau
things to do in oahu | map >> waikiki – east oahu – north shore – central oahu
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling