9 Best Beaches to Ride to on Hawaii’s O’ahu Island

Let’s be real here—there’s no such thing as a bad beach on O’ahu. Some of them, however, are better for motorcyclists than others.

That might be because they’re easily accessible by motorcycle, offer nearby attractions that speak to riders, or are out of the way enough to avoid the hordes of tourists. In any case, they let you motor your way to a fantastic tropical vacation.

Here are the nine best beaches on Hawaii’s O’ahu Island that no visiting motorcyclist should miss.

Waikiki Beach

Let’s get the big one out of the way first. Waikiki Beach is the most popular beach on Oahu and one of the most popular beaches, period.

Although that means it’s always busy, Waikiki Beach is popular for a reason. This is what you picture when you think of a “beach”—stretches of white sand, palm trees, gentle waves, and blue water stretching to the horizon.

Waikiki is also close to a whole slew of hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. The Waikiki area makes for a great home base for your O’ahu rides if you want to return to a place with every Hawaiian attraction within a stone’s throw.

Ka’a’awa Beach

If you’d rather admire picturesque beach scenes from the shore instead of plunging into the water, ride on to Ka’a’awa Beach. Located on O’ahu’s eastern shore, Ka’a’awa is among the island’s most gorgeous strips of sand.

This beach is surrounded by stark, sheer cliffs rising on all sides. They make for some dramatic photographs, especially if you have a photo drone that can take up into the air.

As I mentioned, though, you might want to look elsewhere if you want to get into the ocean. You can swim from Ka’a’awa’s narrow beach, but there are no reefs or rocks to break the waves, which results in rough and murky waters.

That doesn’t mean you can’t engage in other beach activities. Ka’a’awa is a popular spot for fishing and picnics, so pack a rod or some tasty snacks in your panniers.

Shark’s Cove

Don’t worry—despite the name, there are no sharks at Shark’s Cove. That said, the waters at this part of the Pupukea Beach Park teem with all other manners of sea life.

Make sure you have goggles and a snorkel in your saddlebag before heading to Shark’s Cove. The volcanic rocks and heads of coral offer ideal hiding spots for fish and crustaceans, and you can even spot sea turtles in the water.

It’s no wonder this place is renowned as one of the greatest shore diving spots on the planet.

Even if you don’t feel like diving, you can wade in the shallow tide pool during low tide to keep your feet a breather from marinating in your riding boots. I would recommend getting some water shoes, though, as the black rock shards can be pretty sharp.

Kuilima Cove/Turtle Beach

If you want to see marine life but Shark’s Cove is too rocky for you, Kuilima Cove might be more up your alley. The sands surrounding this tranquil cove aren’t called Turtle Beach for nothing.

A bunch of sea turtles regularly hang out in the shallow waters just off the shore, making it easy to see them. Turtle Beach is a fantastic location for beginner snorkelers or anyone looking for a calm, relaxed dive.

Located on O’ahu’s north shore a small way away from the major Kamehameha Hwy circling the island, the Kuilima Cove/Turtle Beach area is often a bit less crowded than the major beaches to the south. You can still easily get there on your motorcycle as a paved road leads to a parking lot near the beach.

Since it is on the northern shore, Turtle Beach experiences heavy waves in the winter months. Just in case you happen to be a surfing motorcyclist.

Velzyland Beach

There’s no such thing as a “hidden” beach on O’ahu. If you’d like to avoid the most massive crowds, though, Velzyland Beach is an oft-overlooked gem on the island’s northern shores.

Located near a residential area, most people assume Velzyland Beach is private property—but it isn’t. Don’t spread that secret around too much, since it keeps this pretty (if a bit rough-watered) beach calm and quiet.

Across the road from Velzyland is another good reason for motorcyclists to visit this beach, namely the Kahuku Motocross Park. Jump and rip through the trails before plunging straight into the ocean to wash off the dust.

I should warn you, though, that local surfers can be a bit possessive about this area since it allows them to hit the waves away from the tourist masses. Velzyland is a public beach so you have every right to be there, but remember to be respectful and give everyone their space.

Waimanalo Bay Beach Park

Waimanalo Bay Beach Park may also offer you a moment of solitude, if only for the virtue of all the free real estate. This sandy haven, consisting of multiple individual beaches, stretches on for five miles on O’ahu’s eastern—or windward—coast.

A unique feature of Waimanalo is the strip of ironwood trees between the parking lot and the sand. Not only do they filter some of the traffic noise, but they can also provide some welcome shade.

Otherwise, Waimanalo Beach offers miles of beautiful sand, majestic surrounding cliffs, and a cool view over the water to the Manana Island Seabird Sanctuary. If you’re planning to ride your bike to a beach where you can spend the day, make it Waimanalo.

That said, you might as well spend the night, too, while you’re at it. You can get a camping permit for the Beach Park, so pitch your tent and fall asleep to the sounds of the waves.

Ko Olina Beach Park

Riders looking for a truly one-of-a-kind Hawaiian beach should point their front wheels to Ko Olina Beach Park. What makes this place unique is that it’s not a single beach at all.

Instead, Ko Olina consists of four separate lagoons, separated from the ocean by a stone wavebreak. That ensures a calm and peaceful dip into the lagoons’ shallow, warm waters.

You can also walk across the rocky areas separating the lagoon to see small tide pools with scuttling crabs and other creatures. There’s also some kind of a (fairly pricey) resort at each lagoon if you’d like to stay here.

Ko Olina is a small ways away from Honolulu, so it’s a bit quieter in this area.

Makapu’u Beach

Makapu’u Beach is a small beach on the windward side of O’ahu. It’s close to both the larger Wainaloa Beach and the Sea Life Park—which is good because they siphon in most visitors, allowing you to enjoy the beach in relative peace.

Makapu’u is a pretty sandy batch to boot. It sits right at the foot of high cliffs of black volcanic stone, forming a pleasant sanctuary.

Speaking of the cliffs, you should do the easy, paved hike up to their top to see the view from the Makapu’u Lookout Point. Should you want to stretch your saddle-worn legs even more, there’s also a short unpaved trail to the Makapu’u Lighthouse at the top.

Finally, Makapu’u is probably the best spot on O’ahu for bodysurfing and bodyboarding. The waves can be rough, though, so you should have a good deal of surfing experience.

Nanakuli Beach

Nanakuli Beach is a rather tiny beach on the western O’ahu coast. It’s quite popular among locals but fewer tourists are aware of it, so it makes for a great quiet hideaway to take a break from the saddle.

But it’s the nearby Mermaid Cave that makes a visit to Nanakuli unforgettable. Just a short hike away, you can find a stunningly gorgeous tidal cave that mermaids would totally hide in if they existed.

You can even swim in the caves, but I must ask you to be careful. Wear water shoes as the cave’s volcanic rocks are very sharp, have a friend with you in case you need help climbing out of the water, and be aware of the strong waves and currents in the cave. Finally, get out before the high tide—you can’t breathe in a water-filled cave.

The cave is still well worth your time. And if you time your visit right, you can then admire a breathtaking sunset on Nanakuli Beach before riding off to dream about mermaids.