As you explore West Side Oahu, set your sights on a visit to Ko Olina Beach Park for oceanside adventures galore. To find this beach park, just navigate over to the Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in West Side Oahu. Then, continue down the road to the parking lot next to the Aqua Marina. There’s usually plenty of parking onsite, so you should be able to find a spot right away. Just be sure to lock up your vehicle before jetting off to the water’s edge – and don’t leave any belongings in sight.
After that, walk to the south end of the parking lot to find the grassy lawn and cove beyond. There’s a path around the lawn in case you want to take a long walk, but bicycles, skateboards, and whatnot are not allowed. Although it seems like a great place to throw a Frisbee around with friends, flying discs, kites, and even balls are prohibited as well. Despite that, there’s still plenty of stuff to do, especially if you go over to the water’s edge.
At the protected cove, you can swim and snorkel around without worrying about the waves knocking you around. Prefer to jump the waves and enjoy all the ocean has to offer? Just turn around to explore the beach beyond the cove. There are no lifeguards on duty, so you’ll have to enter the water at your own risk.
When enjoying the calm cove waters, you’ll want to avoid going out too far since boats go to and from the marina next door all day long. Fortunately, it’s still quite easy to have a blast while sticking by the shore. Swimming is the name of the game, for sure, especially since the absence of waves lets you float along at your leisure.
If you want to snorkel around, you’ll see tons of marine creatures in your midst, including crustaceans, tropical fish, and even the occasional sea turtles. The clean water usually offers a phenomenal view, although big boats can kick up a bit of silt from time to time. Bring an underwater camera if you want to capture the scene to share with the world. Otherwise, simply enjoy the view and try to identify the creatures that you encounter.
In between all your preferred activities, you can head over to the nearby resorts for a great meal and refreshments to match. Along the way, you’ll find four beautiful lagoons offering even more fun in the sun. Use the maps at each lagoon to see all the restaurants and snack shops nearby. If you prefer, you can bring a cooler full of picnic supplies and simply spread out a blanket on the lawn before digging into the full spread.
If you do end up at the nearby resorts, take a minute to check out the lagoons on your way back to the cove. You don’t have to be a resort guest to play in the sand and surf, but the chairs are for guest use only. In the evening hours, the light-up paddleboards often come out in full force, creating a mystical scene out on the water.
Whenever you need to freshen up, you can find the public bathrooms near the parking lot for the beach park. When dining at the nearby resorts, it’s possible to use their facilities instead, but they’re not fond of beachgoers simply coming through to just use the bathrooms.
How To Get There:
To get to Ko Olina Beach Park is pretty easy — all you need to do is put it into your GPS: here or by putting in the address (92-100 Waipahe Pl, Kapolei, HI 96707). For parking, there is plenty of public parking nearby at the resorts or lagoons.
Insider Tips:
-You cannot bring shade tents or umbrellas. So, wear a big sunhat and sunglasses to shield yourself from the bright sunshine during your visit.
-Despite all the resorts nearby, there are no equipment rental stands. So, you’ll need to grab your snorkel gear, paddleboards, and the like before coming by.
-The area near the cove is rocky, so wear water shoes to avoid stepping on sharp rocks.