Laniakea Beach — Attraction in Oʻahu

Laniakea Beach – Turtle Paradise on the North Shore (With a Few Tips!)

If you’re touring Oahu’s North Shore, Laniakea Beach, also known as Turtle Beach, is one of those places you just can’t skip. It’s one of the best spots on the island to see Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles lounging on the sand or bobbing in the surf—and trust us, it’s a magical sight.

We made the stop as part of our self-guided Circle Island Tour, and while parking was a bit of a mess due to ongoing construction, the local motorists were incredibly kind. Drivers actually stopped to let us cross the highway safely—going in a group definitely helps with visibility and safety. Just pack your patience and be cautious, especially if you’re visiting during peak times.

Once we made it to the beach, we were greeted by the unforgettable sight of green sea turtles basking along the shoreline. Dozens of visitors had gathered, and while most people kept a respectful distance, some got far too close, which was disappointing to see. These turtles are protected, and it’s so important to remember that they are wild animals, not photo props.

That’s why we chose to step back and enjoy the turtles from a quieter area, away from the crowds. Watching them peacefully resting while the waves rolled in—without disturbing them—was far more rewarding than any up-close shot could ever be.

A Friendly Reminder to Fellow Visitors If you visit Laniakea Beach (and you should!), remember: • Keep at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from the turtles at all times • Never touch, feed, or crowd them • Respect the volunteers and posted signs • Use a zoom lens or your phone camera for great photos without getting close • Pick up any trash you see—leave the beach better than you found it

Laniakea is one of the few places on Earth where you can reliably see sea turtles in the wild. It’s a gift—and we all share the responsibility to protect it.

In short: Yes, parking was a bit wild. Yes, it was busy. But seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat made it all worth it. If you’re exploring Oahu, make the stop, be mindful, and let the turtles remind you how incredible and delicate...

I'd read how difficult parking can be and was not planning to stop, but I listened to the universe when I saw the second open space just across the street from the beach. I'm glad I did.

To Kelly's point, traffic is horrendous and it does slow down the drive along the North Shore. To the point of everyone else, anyone who was BORN & RAISED on Oahu should be well aware of the traffic issues, and, if not able to consider those issues when making housing decisions, then at least accept that very real and well-established reality and allow for plenty of time when driving that stretch of Kamehameha Hwy. Hawaii's economy is, for better or worse, dependent on tourism and than necessarily includes all of the less desirable aspects of that industry.

We stopped at a number of North Shore beaches on the same day and Laniakea was legit the only one where we saw turtles that day. So...

Anyhow, the beach, itself, isn't the best to go swimming. The turtles occupy a chunk of the rocky beach right in the middle, and they need and deserve their space. There are places to swim off to the side, but there are better beaches in the area for swimming.

As for turtle watching, it's great. I saw four large turtles enjoying being left alone to play in the surf. I wouldn't spend half the day there, but if the parking situation allows it, it's a good place to watch the turtles for a few to several minutes--from a respectful distance, of course--snap a few pics, and then give up your parking space to the next car-full of tourists looking for a quick...

We went on our vacation in search of beached turtles. Our wish came true! Seven turtles all in one area! They were sleeping and only moved a head on occasion. There is a"turtle babysitter" there to route them off and keep them safe. There must have been 50 people come and go during the two hours that we were there. We waited until dark, hoping to see them go back into the ocean, but they never did. The "babysitter" was very kind and told us any info we wanted to know. They even put signs up that have the turtle's names and details. They do not come up every day and they usually are not all together. Coming up just to bask in the sun and not lay eggs is unique to those Hawaiian turtles. My favorite part of my Oahu vacation as I was also able to sit and chat with old high school friends (they don't limit your volume or anything). Parking along the road was easy to get and there were several surfers. The wants were small while we were there. We went...