Garie Beach

Planning to visit Hawaii for the first time with our 2 yr old in December. Need to know best beaches to visit.?

Hi, my wife & me are planning to visit Hawaii for the first time with our 2 yr old in December for a week. Need to know best beaches to visit and any trip planning ideas would be great. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. If you are going to Oahu; I would recommend Waikiki. It is a nice beach that sand is not super soft; but when we were there in Feb there were little or no waves so your baby will be able to stick his toes in the water. I would also recommend going to the North Shore for a day if you go to Oahu. If the waves are really big you can see some awesome surfing. Have fun! Hawaii is so beautiful!
2. How exciting for you three! I was born and raised in Kailua on the island of O'ahu. Please trust me when I say that I believe Kailua Beach is one of, if not the nicest beaches on O'ahu. Beautiful white sand beaches, gorgeous warm water, and not nearly as crowded as the popular tourist traps of Waikiki or the surf spots of the North Shore. There is a large beach park with parking, several convenience stores nearby, and Kailua Town has all the amenities you'd need (food, gas, coffee, shopping, housing) You will not be disappointed if you visit Kailua beach! In fact, I'd place a hefty bet saying you'll want to return the next day... Here's a photo from Kailua Beach Park. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Paaka_kahakai_kailua.jpg Other noteables: Waikiki Beach - A classic. The one you see in all the movies :) Too many people, but that can be part of its charm. The sand is groomed every night so it stays it's best (white and soft). Mild surf. Food, shopping, surfboard/boat rentals. Close to your hotel? Sunset Beach: Since you're visiting in December, the surf season will be in full force. Waves on the North Shore should be huge and the surfers will be rockin' it which can make for a pretty fun picnic. Parking is difficult. Located furthest from Waikiki. Locals can be weary of pushy/selfish/disrespecting tourist. Beach essentials: Sunscreen. Towels. Water and juice. Something to eat. Be prepared, but don't bring too much. And as with any nature adventure, leave with more than you brought :) I love being a spokesperson for my home state. Please feel free to email me if you'd like some other ideas on what you'd like see and do while you're there. I spent the first 21 years of my life there and know it like the back of my hand. Would love to help! :)
3. if you're going to oahu, i'd suggest hanauma bay, ala moana beach, waikiki, and kailua beach. these are more child friendly beaches.
4. Which island will you be on? In case you're coming to Oahu (where Honolulu and Waikiki are located), there are many nice beaches that are ideal for kids. I wouldn't recommend Waikiki that much. It's ok, but too crowded and there is a nearshore reef, so you have to watch out where you step so that you don't hurt your feet because the reef can be quite sharp. If you want to stay in town (Honolulu), the best beach is Ala Moana Beach Park. It's right next to Ala Moana Shopping Center, about 10 min. by bus from Waikiki. Ala Moana Beach is very safe. It has lifeguards, the ocean bottom is sandy and it's protected from currents and waves (it's like swimming in a big bathtub). Other nice beaches out of town are: 1. Kailua Beach 2. Lanikai Beach 3. Waimanalo Beach I think these 3 are the nicest. To see pictures and reviews of all the beaches on Oahu, see here: http://www.to-hawaii.com/oahu/beaches/ The beaches on the north shore and west shore get some really big waves in the winter months. It's nice to watch, but too dangerous to swim (there are strong currents too).
5. We actually just got back from a family vacation to Hawaii a few days ago. Including the extended family, we had 5 kids with us - ages 9 months, 16 months, 3 years, 3 years, and 6 years. If you're staying on Oahu, chances are that your hotel will be in Honolulu, possibly Waikiki. Waikiki Beach - Very nice beach with mild-moderate waves. Even the moderate surf could be scary for a 2 year old, so you could always head out to the east end of the strip (near Kapahulu Ave, Kapiolani Park, and the zoo), there is a section that is walled off (for lack of a better term) and completely surf-free. We had our kids in there and they had fun floating on rafts, a boogie board, building sand castles, and looking for sea shells (tough to find and admittedly small, but we found some keepers). Kailua Beach - We stayed at my brother-in-law's house in Kailua, so Kailua Beach and Lanikai Beach were both very convenient (the latter moreso). I would suggest Kailua Beach first because there is parking. Beautiful sand, views, and very mild surf made it a great beach for the kids. Lanikai Beach - Just south of Kailua Beach, but no real parking. We were able to walk there. Beautiful sand and, again, very mild surf. Hanauma Bay - This would be the place to go snorkeling, although having only 2 adults and one child would mean you'd have to take turns. If you're not planning to snorkel, not really worth it. If you do want to snorkel, the fish are amazing and the surf mild to almost non-existant. It is a protected marine environment, though, so you'd have to pay $5 per person (children free), view a short 10 minute video, and walk (or ride) down a large hill to get to the beach. North Shore beaches - Worth it to watch the big wave riders, although your child may not appreciate it as much. However, the shops on the North Shore are much better than those on Waikiki. These are more locally-owned places, not the high end or tourist-trap souvenir places lining Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki. Those are all we visited. Hope you enjoy your trip!
6. Waikiki is definately too crowded I agree with Kailua Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park