Things to do nearLanikai

Lanikai sits within the town of Kailua on Oahu's windward coast, a stretch of shoreline long favored by locals for its calm, reef-protected waters and unhurried atmosphere. The neighborhood takes its name from a Hawaiian phrase meaning heavenly sea, and the description holds up on any clear morning when the water shifts from pale jade near the shore to deep sapphire farther out.

The area's most iconic feature is Lanikai Beach, a short crescent of fine white sand that consistently ranks among the most beautiful beaches in the United States. Just offshore, the twin islets of Na Mokulua punctuate the horizon and draw kayakers across the channel most mornings. The paddle is straightforward in calm conditions and the islets offer snorkeling and a small beach on the larger of the two.

Above the neighborhood, the Lanikai Pillbox Trail climbs the ridge to a pair of World War II-era concrete bunkers with sweeping views over the coast and islands below. The hike is short but steep, and the payoff at the top is one of the finest panoramas on Oahu.

Lanikai has no commercial strip of its own, which preserves its residential character and keeps the pace relaxed. Kailua town, a short drive away, supplies coffee shops, restaurants, and a popular farmers market. For anyone seeking natural beauty without the crowds of Honolulu, Lanikai is well worth the trip.