As the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu boasts nearly 230 miles of stunning coastline. Oahu is also the most populated of the islands with nearly one million residents, which means that, unfortunately, many of the best beaches on the island are often crowded. Luckily, if you know where to look, you can still find hidden beaches in Hawaii that are perfect for when you want to get away and truly soak in the beauty of our island paradise — without all of the crowds.

Today, we have put together a list of 10 incredible, secluded, and hidden beaches across this fine island — from the north shore’s Mokuleia to the west side’s Makua Beach — to showcase some of the best beaches in Hawaii. This stellar itinerary is 130 miles, and at four and a half hours of drive time, is perfect for spreading over your next two-day weekend. (If you live in Honolulu, we suggest hitting the west side beaches in one day and the east side beaches in another. The Honolulu beaches can be done either day, depending on what’s more convenient for you. Of course, you can always visit all 10 beaches in one day if you’re an overachiever.)

Screenshot/Google Maps
1. Mokuleia Beach
68-945 Farrington Hwy, Waialua, HI 96791, USA
Barb Mayer/Flickr
Located on the remote northwestern shore of Oahu, just past Haleiwa, is this secluded Hawaii beach — the nearest store and restrooms are more than ten miles away. The bright blue water is almost always choppy, and green sea turtles tend to hang out on the shore during the summer. In fact, this beach is so secluded that it was used in filming the first season of Lost.
2. Kuilima Cove
57-35 Kuilima Dr, Kahuku, HI 96731, USA
tdlucas5000/Flickr
Located within Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's north shore is this amazing little cove perfect for novice snorkelers to practice their skills in the summer months. Here, you will find tropical fish, a little coral, the occasional sea turtle — and some stunning views! Kuilima Cove is truly a picturesque paradise!
3. Kahana Bay Beach Park
51-52 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaaawa, HI 96730, USA
Megan Shute/OnlyInYourState
Though Kahana Bay Beach Park is found off the highway, the remote location on Oahu's northern windward coast makes this a secluded spot perfect for a beach day. Surrounded by the stunning Ko'olau Mountains, this stretch of sand is backed by ironwood trees and you will find an ancient Hawaiian fishpond on the south side of the bay. On the overcast day that I stopped by Kahana, I was one of only a handful of people on the large sandy beach.
4. Kaiona Beach Park
Kalaniana?ole Highway, Kalaniana?ole Hwy, Waimanalo, HI, USA
clarkmaxwell/Flickr
A small 4-acre park at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains near the southern tip of Oahu, Kaiona is often overlooked for the neighboring Waimanalo and Bellows beaches to the north and Makapu'u to the south. The sparkling turquoise waters of this beach are certainly entrancing and it's no surprise the beach is named Kaiona, a word that translates from Hawaiian to "attractive sea." It's easy to see why many say Kaiona is the beach with the clearest water in Hawaii.

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Paid Content Best Western
The 'Road to Hana' is an adventure. Many parts of this winding road narrow to just one lane as it goes through one of the truly last undeveloped tropical areas of the island of Maui, Hawaii. You can see the road winding around the sea cliffs of this picture, as the powerful ocean waves create a misty spray.

Hana Highway Practically Runs Through All Of Maui And It's A Beautiful Drive
5. Alan Davis Beach Park
Honolulu, HI, USA
Steak E./Yelp
Only accessible via a short walk along the Kaiwi Shoreline Trail — found near the Makapu'u Lighthouse trailhead — Alan Davis Beach is a popular cliff jumping spot, as well as a secluded area to hang out and enjoy a perfect Hawaiian afternoon.
6. Hunakai Beach
Honolulu, HI, USA
Tammie C./Yelp
Also called Kahala Beach, this stretch of sand in Hawaii Kai is simply perfect: the sunsets are unforgettable, the sand is ideal for sunbathing and the water is perfect for swimming. Backed by fancy mansions and huge homes, this Hawaii beach is still accessible to the public — just look for public access points along Hunakai Street.
7. Point Panic Beach Park
102 Ohe St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
Located within Kaka'ako Waterfront Park just west of the Kewalo Basin is this epic and secluded bodyboarding spot. Though you won't find a sandy stretch of shoreline here, this is easily one of the most overlooked spots in Honolulu — unless you're a surfer, of course.
8. Nimitz Beach
Coral Sea Road, Coral Sea Rd, Kapolei, HI, USA
Paul C./Yelp
Now it's onto the island's leeward coast! Nimitz Beach, found in Kapolei near the Coast Guard Air Station at Barbers Point provides a welcome respite from the typical Hawaiian beach landscape. The beach is rocky, though there are sections of fine white sand along the shore perfect for getting into the water if you don't have water shoes.
9. Tracks Beach Park
92-201 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei, HI 96707, USA
Hannah V./Yelp
Just north of the famous Electric Beach — an epic snorkeling spot — is Tracks Beach Park. A pair of old train tracks run parallel to the beach, thus the name, and the clear blue water and perfectly white sand are heavenly for sunbathers, surfers, and bodyboarders. It is also a popular picnic and barbeque spot, and the coastal lagoons are ideal for curious keiki.
10. Makua Beach
Farrington Highway, Farrington Hwy, Waianae, HI, USA
Jacqueline R./Yelp
Located just south of Kaena Point on Oahu’s leeward coast is this beautiful stretch of white sand with excellent swimming, bodyboarding, and surfing conditions. The west side of the island is often overlooked by tourists, but the hot, dry climate makes it the perfect beach to visit when it’s overcast on the Windward coast — and the ideal spot to watch the sunset at the end of a long day. This is certainly one of the best hidden beaches in Hawaii.

Which of these stunning little-known sandy beaches in Hawaii is your favorite? For another epic road trip on Oahu, check out this phenomenal waterfall itinerary.

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More to Explore

Best Beaches In Hawaii

| June 06, 2019

What are the prettiest beaches in Hawaii? 

The Hawaiian Islands are home to 750 miles of stunning coastline, and countless incredible beaches in a variety of colors backed by towering, verdant mountains and palm trees swaying in the breeze. We'd like to think that every beach in the Aloha State is as pretty as a postcard, but some of the most consistently recognized stretches of sand include Kailua and Lanikai beaches on Oahu, Ka'anapali Beach on Maui, Punalu'u Beach on Hawaii Island, and Poipu Beach on Kauai.

What are the best beach towns in Hawaii?

From tiny towns with less than 500 residents to booming communities of more than 40,000 residents, we absolutely adore the charming beachside towns that have formed near some of the world’s greatest beaches here in Hawaii. Full of life, culture, and laid-back vibes, we endlessly enjoy exploring Haleiwa, an Oahu town that serves as the gateway to the famous north shore, but we also have an affinity for Paia, a Maui gem that's seen as the start of the notorious Hana Highway.

What beaches have the clearest water in Hawaii?

While we are happy to visit any of our islands’ incredible beaches, there are some beaches with warm crystalline, turquoise waters that are a cut above the rest. The beaches that feature crystal-clear waters in Hawaii are often idyllic for snorkeling and include places like Hanalei Bay, nestled along Kauai's northern shore, and Kealakekua Bay, found along Hawaii Island's western coast. Other gems include most beaches along the southeastern coast of Oahu (Waimanalo and Bellows, to name a few) and Maui's southwestern coast.

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