North Shore of Oahu Beaches

Perhaps the best-known beach on the northern shore of Oahu, Sunset Beach is named for the fact that it's definitely one of the best places in all of Hawaii, if not the entire world, to watch the sun go down. The sky lights up with a full spectrum of reds, oranges, and golds as the sun sets each night, casting a unique pattern of colors that changes every single day. Lots of people gather here in the evenings, but it's a lovely beach in the daytime too. Restrooms can be found on site, along with ample parking opportunities, and lifeguards are always on duty here to the popularity of surfing at Sunset Beach.

Laniakea Beach is arguably the number one spot for nature and animal lovers on the northern shore of Oahu. Why? Well, this beach is home to a whole lot of sea turtles, so you're almost sure of spotting some at any time of year. Turtles can be seen both on the shore and out in the shallow waters off the coast, but all visitors are encouraged to let the turtles go about their business without interfering. Getting too close to them could interfere with their natural ecological cycles and may result in a heavy fine.

This beautiful beach is very popular with the local Hawaiian communities. The local harbor is a popular gathering spot to watch the sunset, and the beach itself stretches out over 19 acres of land. Both grassy and sandy areas can be found here, providing the perfect backdrop for happy picnics with friends and family, and the beach itself is perfect for all kinds of activities including surfing, diving, and fishing. Visitors also have easy access to the local town of Hale'iwa for eateries, stores, and other amenities.

The largest of all Oahu north shore beaches, Waimea has more than enough space to handle the huge crowds that can congregate here throughout the year. It's a very popular surfing spot, with some truly impressive waves reaching heights of 30 feet or more on rough days. Due to the popularity of this beach, you might need to walk around a little to find a good spot to set up your beach towels and umbrellas, but once you find that spot, you'll be rewarded with some truly unparalleled views.

Also known as Lost Beach, because it appeared in the TV show of the same name, Papa'iloa Beach is another of the top surfing spots along the northern shore of Oahu. The waves in this area even earned the nickname 'Himalayas' due to the heights they can reach. This is also a good spot for wildlife lovers, with sea turtles sometimes being spotted along the shore. The rocky spots around this beach make it unsuitable for swimming, but if you're an experienced diver or spear fisherman, you'll find plenty to love at Lost Beach.

The thing that really separates Three Tables Beach from other Oahu beaches is the scenery. The beach earned its name due to the three rock tables that formed here, resulting in some very special rock formations that you won't find anywhere else. This is a very sandy, cozy little beach that can be a lot of fun to explore and walk around. Swimming is great here as the coast slopes gently out into the water, and snorkeling is quite popular at this Hawaii beach as well.

Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands but is generally regarded as the primary island of the state, being home to over 60% of the state's population and also housing the state capital of Honolulu.