Oʻahu region
East Oʻahu (Hawaiʻi Kai, Hanauma Bay & Waimānalo)
Hanauma Bay, sea cliffs and Waimānalo sand
The dry, rocky southeast corner past Diamond Head: Hawaiʻi Kai’s marina, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, the Kaiwi coast, Makapuʻu Point and its lighthouse trail, then the long sweep of Waimānalo’s beaches below the Koʻolau cliffs.
Photo: Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Go if…
You’re happy to day-trip here from Waikīkī along the scenic Kalanianaʻole Highway; the payoff is some of Oʻahu’s best snorkeling and coastline.
The trade-off
There are no real hotel options here, and Honolulu restricts vacation rentals outside resort zones, so most visitors base in Waikīkī. Makapuʻu and Sandy Beach have powerful shorebreak, and Hanauma Bay needs a reservation and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Book from here
Tours leaving from East Oahu
Things to do
Our picks in East Oahu
Swimming BeachesEast Oahu
Waimānalo Bay Beach Park
It has Lanikai’s water color with room to spread out, real parking and a lifeguard, and it rarely feels crowded on a weekday.
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Snorkel SpotsEast Oahu
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
It’s the easiest place on Oʻahu to float over a healthy reef with schools of fish, and the strict rules are the reason it looks this good.
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Secluded BeachesEast Oahu
Makapuʻu Beach Park
The setting is wild and gorgeous, especially at sunrise, and it pairs naturally with the Makapuʻu Point lighthouse trail nearby.
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Lookouts & Scenic PointsEast Oahu
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
It’s a paved trail with a big coastal payoff, and from November through May you have a real shot at seeing humpbacks from the top.
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