the West Side
Ko Olina Lagoons
Four man-made lagoons on the dry west side, each one ringed by rock so the water barely moves.
Why go
The calmest saltwater on the island, and the easiest place to put a small child in the sea.
The catch
The lagoons sit inside a private resort, but public access and free public parking are a condition of the resort's permit, open sunrise to sunset, first come first served. Lagoon 4 has the biggest lot at around 100 stalls; 1 to 3 hold under 20 cars each and fill early at weekends. There are no lifeguards, and the loungers on the sand belong to the hotels - attendants do check for wristbands.
- How long
- Half day
- With children
- Yes
- Effort
- Easy
- Cost
- Free, including parking
- Parking
- Limited
Before you go
- Opening hours: sunrise-sunset
- Lifeguard: None
- No lifeguard
Getting there
Driving times on real roads, from the same data the trip planner routes on — not straight-line distance.
| From Waikīkī | 47 min | 29.5 miles |
|---|---|---|
| From HNL airport | 49 min | 26.1 miles |
| From Mākaha | 31 min | 12.5 miles |
Add traffic. These are free-flowing times, and the H1 through town at eight in the morning is not free-flowing.
See it on the map Build a trip around it
What else is close
Nearest by road, which is not the same as nearest on a map — and not the same as sharing a region either.
- Wet'n'Wild Hawaii11 min awayThe island water park, out at Kapolei on the dry side.
- Hawaii's Plantation Village20 min awayA reconstructed plantation camp in Waipahu, with houses built in the styles each group brought.
- Kuilioloa Heiau24 min awayA heiau on the point at the end of Pokai Bay, out over the water on three sides.
- USS Bowfin and the Submarine Museum28 min awayA Second World War submarine you can walk through, moored beside the Pearl Harbor visitor centre.
- Pearl Harbor28 min awayThe memorial site for the 1941 attack that brought the US into WWII.
- Aloha Stadium Swap Meet30 min awayA large open-air market in the ring road around Aloha Stadium.