It was nice and simple. No crazy waves. Most parts were shallow and easy to get around. Parking was easy and not too crowded. Bathrooms were good and no lines. read more

Ko Olina - Sunset - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

This is probably the most beautiful resort I've ever seen, and the lagoons are absolutely stunning. There are four of them, and they each have their own character. I could not get over just how lush and gorgeous everything is - I swear, even the rocks looked clean and extra paradise-y. There is also plenty of sand and grass for you to park your beach towel. My husband grew up on Oahu, and he warned me about "the parking situation" at Ko Olina, insisting that we needed to leave bright and early. Apparently, parking is non-existent during some points in the day, but I'm from Seattle, a city where we all pay to park 10 blocks away from where we need to go...I really can't detract a star for this non-existent problem, so 5 it is. I think my husband just wanted to get me out of bed...jerk. Next time we go to Hawaii, I plan on staying here and possibly never leaving. read more

See all

Get here early if you want a cabana! They're worth the price as the sun appears to be more intense here on this side of the island. Also get here early to ensure finding a parking space. read more

Ko Olina - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Came here for a snorkeling tour, and to swim with the fishies and dolphins. Staff are very professional and courteous. Definitely a special mention. The gear is in good condition, and so are the boats. The skipper was very knowledgeable, and knew exactly where to take us to go look at dolphins and sea turtles. Definitely got my money's worth. It is pretty life-changing when you see the sea life suddenly appear and disappear into the abyss like ghosts. Oh yeah, they also have prescription snorkel masks (-1.5, -3, and -5) which made my trip much more enjoyable too. One thing I really appreciated was that the crew warned the group not to touch the dolphins and even told us how to avoid getting in their way. Compare this to a rival company (not sure of their name but their boat was bright yellow) nearby who had their group actually swim and CHASE the pods of dolphins. It was completely ridiculous. Last time I checked, dolphins swim way faster than humans. Not to mention they're being scared away! The food was pretty good too. I had a pulled pork chicken sandwich. Fresh toppings and all. BBQ sauce was a bit salty though. Random trivia - the ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies is moored nearby. Our boat operator took us right by it so we could snap some photos. Pretty neat. Highly recommended. read more

We've stayed here multiple times -- the 3 bedrooms as well as 2 bedrooms. We never want to leave each time. This is truly a Premier Resort. We're proud to be Marriott Timeshare owners. From their pools, lagoons, to their staff and management -- everything was superb. Every room was clean which includes their kitchen, dishes, and everything else. read more

One of my favorite beach places to frequent....Ko'Olina (lagoon 4..I think is the one closest to the hotel) is always a stop when I come back home. Parking is minimal, at best, so I recommend an early start to the day at the beach. If not, you'll find yourself sitting in the car, stalking beach goers who are "all pau" (finished) soaking up the sun and the water. Lagoon 4 is not only closest to the hotel, but also the place right by the chapel. If you're lucky...and people almost always are, you will get to see someone's wedding there, with the bride and groom usually outside on the beach taking pictures. It's always kind of fun to watch them pose and check out the bride's dress. But the real reason why I like it here is because it is almost always quiet, with just the right amount of people. Not too crowded, and not desolate at all. It has the perfect mixture of sand as you walk into the water...but with nice soft grass closer to the showers and bathroom so when you do sun bathe, you aren't caught in a sand wiping fit as the sand creeps onto your towel and starts to stick to you. Being a man-made lagoon and all, the waters aren't as clear as I would like...but hey, you dont have to worry about rocks or seaweed all up on your feet as you wade in the water. I like it hear because it's clean, relaxing, and nice to just lay in the sun and get brown. read more

Ko Olina - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Beautiful lagoons for swimming and a great walking path. Simply paradise! read more

What an amazing and relaxing day. Thank you Charisse and Jayme for taking taking care of us. You exemplify the true meaning of "Aloha" especially to us locals. Mahalo nui loa! Aloha! read more

Ko Olina - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

See all

Ko Olina is a series of man-made lagoons and is located in the private resort of Ko Olina which is home to the JW Ihilani Resort and the Mariott Grand Vacations timeshare. The lagoons are a little harder to get to since it is on a private resort, but nothing to difficult. Parking can be VERY difficult, so be prepared to wait a bit. The parking lot at the last lagoon by the marina is the biggest and your easiest bet to get a stall, but the other two lagoons that are open to the public tend to be quieter. The waters are beautiful and the sands lovely. Rocks protect the lagoons so the waves never get out of control and its easy to swim in. There isn't much around, despite the fact its apart of the resort...so bring some food, a towel, and a nice book or some fun! Oh...the bathrooms nearby are extremely clean and you'd be hard pressed to find a cleaner public bathroom at a beach anywhere on the island! read more

Where can you make a country girl feel right at home by floating in an inner tube while she can get her tan on? The grass hut cover ups for those that want to lay on the beach and not tan? Pretty sure that's an oxymoron where I grew up. But it does well work for the kids. (If you get there early enough to snag one. This place is definitely a vacation spot, but if you go during the week there isn't hardly anyone there. It's very quiet and you can just enjoy the peacefulness of the ocean. There are 4 lagoons to choose from. Lagoon 3 seems to be more like a salt water pool then the other ones. Very good for your kids when they aren't great swimmers. My daughter is usually "madder than a wet hen" if we stick her in the ocean in an inter tube. All though she makes us put her in it. Ah toddlerhood! At least I've found this lagoon where she's happy and it sure makes me a happier mama. I love that you feel at least a protectiveness of having security when you come into Ko Olina. Make sure you stay to the right of the guard shack if your not a hotel guest. They do have very limited parking for free. Otherwise it's $10 to park. Which for the blissfulness of a vacation on my own island? That's the cheapest vacation I can ever go on. There are several businesses through there to where you can either grab dinner, a bottle of wine or water, or ice cream. I found the cutest ice cream shop there called Two scoops. And I'm sold on their Pistachio Mochi. You just have to try it. So if you want a vacation that seems like a vacation and not as many tourists bumping into you every 2 feet. *cough... Waikiki Then come to Ko Olina. You won't be disappointed! read more

Ko'olina Beach is my favorite beach. I have of course been to other beaches on the island because I live here in Hawaii, but I go to Ko'olina Beach much often. The fact that it is closer to where I live than any other beach is a factor, but there are many other factors as well. For one, if you are looking for a nice, fun, and relaxing time with your family, friends, or even significant other then this is the beach to go to. As others have said, there are its pros and cons, but to me it's all worth it. First of all, there are 4 lagoons. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3. My favorite lagoon happens to be lagoon 2. Lagoon 1B has more rocks on the bottom. A con about Ko'olina beach is that there are a few amount of parking. The last lagoon is the one which has the most parking out of the other lagoon parking. What we do is park at the last lagoon and then we walk it to the other lagoons. There are trees and green grass that you can sit on. We usually find a tree with shade to put our stuff by and which is close to the beach as well. If you are staying at the hotels you can sit on those long chairs, or in the 1B lagoon there are umbrellas. I am not sure if you can use those umbrellas even if you aren't staying in the hotel. Since the lagoons are mostly blocked off by the rocks, there are no strong waves here, but a nice current. This is a nice place for your kids to go to... but make sure they do not go into the deep, because it does get deep. At certain times the beach is crowded, and at others it is not. It usually is crowded when there is no school. Of course it can't get too crowded as much as it does at other beaches because of the limited parking. You can also watch the nice sunset at this beach. So be sure to visit on a cloudless day. ;) Other than that, this beach is beautiful and a nice place to go to chill and relax. May I also add that the waters are nice and clean as well. read more

We stumbled upon the Ko'olina lagoons years ago and I was convinced that I had found my dream wedding location. Small intimate lagoons with calm wading waters--not to mention the phenomenal sunsets you can catch in any one of the lagoons. :) I fell in the love with the community so much that when my cousin relocated to Hawai'i last year with her hubby, Ko'olina was the first place I recommended her to check out. And yes, that brat is now living in a fabulous condo in the community with the lagoons at her every disposal. :) And yes, I've already taken advantage of it by staying there twice in under 12 months :) Ko'olina is definitely a lounging beach so don't expect to catch any surf or body boarding here. But if you're looking for some relaxation and beauty on this side of the island, c'mon over! read more

I think I end up at these lagoons every time I visit Oahu. The weather seems like it's always good here, no matter what time of year. The sun is out, the breeze is light, just a perfect place to lay out and enjoy the day. Yes these are man made lagoons so maybe "natural" is not the best description but don't knock it 'til you try it! It's clean, the sand is soft under your feet and the water is so calm you can't help but wade out there. It can get busy but if you get there early enough, parking isn't bad at all. Um, early meaning before 10am! (One day, we got there around 8:30am and found parking near Lagoon 2. The next time, we got there at 10:30am and barely found parking near Lagoon 4.) We got hungry and ate at the breakfast buffet in the Ihilani Resort. And were out over $50. Dang. Then we made our way to Lagoon 1 and literally beached ourselves. We saw fellow sun worshippers and families who knew how to do it right. They brought coolers and a bucket from KFC. Smart! read more

Absolutely gorgeous. Whether you are visiting or a resident of Hawaii, a trip out to Ko'Olina will make your day! The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort is located here, along with the anticipated Disney Aulani Resort, scheduled to open in the fall! The Paradise Cove Luau is great for visitors wanting to experience a luau in Hawaii. There is also a marina boat harbor located within this resort. The Ko'Olina Golf Club at the resort is great for the golfers. While I do not play golf myself, while driving around the resort, I was able to get multiple views of the course and it looks stunning! This resort is not as developed as say... Wailea or Kaanapali on Maui or Waikoloa on the Big Island. Besides the Ihilani Resort, most of the other accommodations are either timeshares, villas or condos (for residents). The beaches and lagoons at Ko'Olina are beautiful. Great if you are looking for a calm and pristine beach area. I believe that it is one of the prettiest beaches on Oahu in a safe, well maintained area. The reason I give Ko'Olina Resort 4 stars instead of 5 is because of its shopping area. Note: I call it a shopping area and not a mall, shopping center or plaza. It is really bare and sad looking! Over half the space is still vacant or under construction. I am guessing they still have a lot of work to do and restaurants to open before this becomes more like a shopping center... Maybe by the time Disney Aulani opens? read more

I love the Ko Olina Resort!! I would recommend all locals to take a stay-cation here! From the moment you arrive at this resort, you immediately feel a sense of relaxation. All of the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. There are 4 lagoons to enjoy and a medium sized pool. The rooms are roomy (ha ha!) and come with separate shower and tub. I love when hotels have a separate tub! It feels cleaner to me for some reason... The bathrooms are huge and so are the bedrooms. The TV was a little small but you really shouldn't be spending your time in the room if you stay at a resort like this! I recommend walking over to the spa and getting a massage or treatment done. You won't regret it! My only complaint is the high price of parking here. You would think if you were staying at the hotel they would give you some sort of discount. It was $35 a day! I took away a star for that. read more

The resort, beaches and golf course here is amazing. It's nice and quite because it's far from the city of Honolulu but if you live in the continental US, it'll only take you 20-25 minutes to drive into Honolulu should you stay here. This is one of the nicest places that's not too crowded on that side of the island heading toward Waianae. This check in was to watch the Lotte LPGA tour. It's the first LPGA tour I've attended but it was fun. Met some nice local people and ate at the snake shop while having a few beers. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday afternoon. Parking was easy and they had shuttles to take us to the entrance of the event. Even if you're not staying here, go visit the area, it's beautiful and a great place to spend the day. read more

Whenever we go here, we try to catch the sunset. The four lagoons are pretty nice, and you can usually find my friends and I in #3 or #4. I think sometimes in #1 or #2 you can see Japanese couples getting married. We went here on a whim just because we wanted to go. The water is clear and pretty cold at the time we went (about ~4:30). Today the sky was "clear" but vog was all over the place so it made the horizon quite hazy. It was still fun though, just playing in the sand and swimming around. Very chill and relaxed and by this time, most people weren't stuffing up the over crowded parking lots. Sunsets: I like watching the sunset here read more

Ko Olina - Volcanic Fog shrouding the horizon at sunset - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

When I was stationed in Hawaii I moved from Kaneohe to Ewa Beach to be closer to work. I missed being in Kaneohe but the best part of being on the Leeward side was Ko'Olina! My husband and I went here all the time for just a chill day. We did stay at the Marriott Vacation Club a couple of times (great military rates!) and we loved hanging by the pool, getting drinks at the bar and looking at the beautiful scenery or going down to the lagoon. Oh and drinks or dinner at Monkey Pod! My favorite spot. Roy's is also really good and beats going all the way to the one in Hawaii Kai. I don't miss living in Hawaii too much except for moments like being at Ko'Olina :) less crowded and touristy than Waikiki. read more

I came here as a visitor and hung out at Lagoon 3. It's not in the tourist area, and quite a drive out. It's a beautiful resort that I would think caters to ages 40+. There's nothing local about the scene either. I would recommend the resort for families as well, as there are activities and events that cater to all ages. The Lagoons are perfect for snorkeling, and allowing little ones to enjoy the small waves. The only downside is they make you rent the cabanas on the beach and it's not like you would conveniently have a beach umbrella with you. read more

Ko Olina - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

I stayed here for one of my birthdays. It was a staycation. I felt like I was on the outer island. The room and the view was nice. It was pricey but worth it. The lagoon was nice. I liked the peacefulness of the view and the sunsets were gorgeous. I would definitely recommend people to stay here if you got the money to spend. read more

See all

We stayed at the Ko'Olina Beach and Tennis club condos in August. There is a welcome valet showing you where to park when you arrive. The price of valet parking and self parking is the same. It was worth it for us to use the valet parking especially hauling boxes food, luggage and getting yourself to your condo. All the valets are very friendly, professional and were ok with me have them haul up 5 big boxes of food from Coscto. "No worries we do this all the time with the families," said one of the valet. Rather than tipping the valet each time we got into our car during our 1 week stay, we just gave them a big tip at the end of our stay. It made it much easier. They condo we stayed at was a 2 bedroom suite, 2 bathrooms with kitchen, dishwasher, and washer and dryer. They come in each day and do a "tidy up", empty the trash, make your bed and vacuum. Kitchen was handy to cook meals and snacks and entertain. We used the washer and dryer for a midweek wash to cut down on the number of clothes we packed. You can even request a rice cooker for your condo. There is a free shuttle that will take you the following: 1) Marriot Ihilani Hotel-check out the free early morning weekly fish feeding at the beach, see the fish in the tank ,2) Aulani-check out how Disney does it, visit the stingray exhibit, walk along the lazy river, 3) the public Marina & 3) golf course (Roy's Restaurant). The shuttle does not go to the marketplace. We enjoyed the beaches, and the different pools. Some were for quiet reflection, some were for water sports and there was lots of shade. I would love to come back here again. read more

Nice place to relax. It is surrounded by nature and takes you away from the city life. There is the new shopping center that opened up here. It has a new abc store, Starbucks, some eateries, and free parking. read more

Beautiful beach even with a hotel right there. Rocks break all the waves coming into the lagoons so it's not rough. Great for kids to play and let loose. No lifeguards so keep an eye on your keikis. Really cool to watch the japanese tourist get married. Clean water, especially early morning. Can go running. Beautiful sunsets and you can check out the sharks and stingrays at the hotel. read more

I believe, in my opinion is the best lagoon compared to the other 4 lagoons. I say this because it's true! Lol The 1st and 2 lagoon is congested with tourist and the 4th lagoon is congested with locals. This lagoon has a lot of shadey grassy areas to chose from if your not into sitting in the sand. Not crowded at all and seems much more well maintained too! I gave 4stars this lagoon is home to the 4 seasons hotel, there's a few areas that is specifically closed for their hotel guest. read more

Ko'olina beach is a very beautiful beach on the south west of Oahu. Rather than a beach, it's a set of mainly four man-made lagoons. I think Ko'olina beach is a public beach, but it's located within private properties, and you'd have to get through Ko'olina's main gates to reach there. When you reach the main gate, you'll have to tell the person what you're doing there. It's best just to say you're going to go to a restaurant and maybe check out the beach. They give you a piece of paper where you can park at a gated parking lot. I heard that it gets pretty busy during certain times of the day, especially on the weekend, and the parking was very limited. Luckily, I was able to secure a spot as I went during the early evening. The lagoons are very beautiful and kept very clean, probably because it is privately managed by the resorts. This is about as close of a feeling you can get to feeling like you're in paradise in Hawaii. Even though I've lived in Hawaii most of my life coming here still feels like paradise. Palm tree, wide ocean, calm winds, beautiful sands, green grass, sunset view. I didn't go into the water, but it's shallow enough so it's good for the kids. Going before sunset is also very romantic and most recommended for a date. I was able to watch the sunset hoping to see the green flash, but the clouds that sat right above the horizon blocked the view. Going from the lagoon of one end to the fourth at the other end is quite a walk. The beach closes when the sun sets and becomes dark. I think you can still stay around at the beach during that time, but the public restrooms will all be locked up. Ko'olina beach is definitely worth the drive if you're coming in from Honolulu. read more

Ko'Olina is a beautiful place to visit. I visited last month and I was amazed by how the lagoons looked. There are 4 or 5 different lagoons and most of them connected to a beach resort. The last lagoon is the public lagoon and there's a lot more parking here. The water was calm and it was clean. Since I went here during winter, it was not packed. I can't even imagine this place in the summer - it must be packed with kids since the water is calm. I'll definitely be back here next winter. read more

Ko'Olina! One of the coolest places on Oahu! In the middle of the west side of the island, it SHOULD be a dry, desert wasteland! Instead its lush and beautiful with a small lake (pond?) right when you enter. This resort contains my favorite restaurant chain, Roy's. And out of all of the Roy's that I've gone to, this location is my favorite. Also of note is that the Queen Anne's Revenge is parked at the Marina (as the Black Pearl used to be). If you park at Lagoon 4, you can easily walk there for photo ops! The man made Lagoons are themselves, excellent reasons to come to Ko'Olina. Although I should mention that the parking lots at each lagoon fill up FAST! Get there early, be prepared to wait for a spot, or be prepared to pay to park at the Marina by Lagoon 4. There is a golf course and several resorts (including the Disney resort that is being built), but I can't comment on any of those. There is what appears to be a train track at the main gate to Ko'Olina, but I doubt that it is currently used for anything. Its noteworthy for being the only train track that I've seen on island. My only problem with Ko'Olina is that every time I start to approach the guard shack, I instinctively reach for my military ID. I might as well show them my Costco card for all that the guards care! read more

Great swimming for toddlers and babies! We were at lagoon 4 which had quite a few people but was by no means crowded...this was on a Saturday afternoon so we expected it. The girls (and myself) loved splashing around in the calm, protected water. The sand was quite hot by the time we got out there so watch out for little feet! We got here kinda late so we sucked it up and paid $10 for parking. Not too bad. read more

No doubt this is a beautiful beach but, it does have its pros and con's. Personally I feel that the beaches on the Windward side of the island are a lot nicer. This beach is always crowded and parking is a pain. I recently visited around lunch time and boy was it a mistake. I went to all of the lagoons only to find that each parking lot was full. I finally ended up waiting for a stall at my favorite lagoon which is #3 by the sales office. I also learned something new today that they do not allow beach umbrella's here. Talk about discrimination to the fair and delicate white people who want to take precaution to protect their sensitive skin. The beach is usually full of visitors but, if you're only going to relax, eat lunch and read a book then don't worry. If you're one of those who are totally local then this beach is NOT for you. read more

Beautiful scenery. Amazing view!!! We waited for the beautiful sunset and it it sets right around 6:50pm. It's beautiful. Not crowded at all. There are four different lagoons and each have a beautiful view of the sunset. read more

Ko Olina - Beautiful sunset at the ko olina resort - Resorts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Can't say how perfect this is for the new snorkeler. This was perfect for learning how to navigate with fins and a snorkel. 10ft Deep in some places but mostly not and the water is pretty see through. Definitely good for kids or family fun. Take a radio, towels and chairs and have a good day. Lots of small fish and even saw a Puffer Fish (we think). We parked in the Marina for 10 a day but beware the machine does not take credit cards so take cash. Go early!!!!!! read more

I really liked how they provided people with chairs on the beach and cabanas. There was a restaurant nearby, which meant food and drinks. I just disliked how the water in this lagoon was cloudy and didn't look as clean as the others. read more

Not so sure that this is where the review belongs, but here goes. We went here (to number 2 or B) on a driving day, last year. The parking lots are tiny. We settled on the second one because there were more spaces available. It was gorgeous- white sand beach. It wasn't quite such a sunny bright day and there was a slight breeze, still warm though. Before you get the idea, that it was tranquil, think again. There was construction (but not sure if it was over at JW Marriott Ihilani, Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club, Ko'Olina Beach Resort, Beach Villas at Ko'Olina or the Aulani Disney resort) so it was quite loud, with equipment. But we did still manage to get some sun and swimming- calm waters. I chose a spot with some shade for me, but still had some sun for my hubby (see, I get tan in fifteen minutes). Plus we wanted some space from all the families with little children (loud). There were a mix of locals and tourists alike. There were quite a bit of people (guests) walking by on the trails. There's a washing station nearby. Also, there is a public bathroom too. We want to see the other man-made lagoons too, someday- heard that they are all different, in some way. read more

The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is that it's so freakin out of the way for me. Other than that, it's my new favorite beach setting on the island. I love the lagoon setting. There are a series of lagoons. I think 4 total, so if one area is crowded, you can move on down to the next one. It is really great for families with little ones. My 15-month old daughter had a great time floating in her ring and also playing in the sand. It's a very calm setting and the water is pretty clear. Parking is tight so if you do plan to go, try to go early and snag your spot. read more

5 star Best place we have ever lived! Clean, exceptionally well maintained landscaping and grounds, several restaurants all within easy walking distances, star quality golf course, many clean and wide beaches, top quality marina, and security controlled entrance are some of the hallmarks that make the place easy to call "home". read more

(This is a review of the beach/s, not so much the Resort.) Although no lifeguards are on duty, the man-made lagoons are safe enough to bring the whole family to. I mean, if you or your kid can't swim, consider wearing a pair of those arm floaty things. My 5 year old nephew wears it and he seems to get along fine. But I digress. Green grass to picnic on, palm trees that provide some shade, overall smooth sand (not as fine as Kailua), clean bathrooms. Thumbs up. Thumbs down on parking, though. Or you can opt to pay $10 for all day parking at the Marina. read more

This must be heaven on earth at least until the new Disney resort will open. It is the perfect getaway during the week for a day at the beach - lounging on the sandy area, play in the water and relax. The hotel bar near by provides food, water, bathrooms and a shower area for all your needs. Parking is currently not free as the free lot is used for construction, so you better be prepared to drop $35 for parking in the hotel garage. But you can order something at the bar for at least $35 and get it validated! Oh don't forget to walk over to the little garden area and look at the fish pond with rays and all sorts of colorful fellows! read more

This place is absolutely beautiful. There is free parking open to the public. It is one of four lagoons in this area. They are all absolutely amazing so you will love any of them. They're surrounded by resorts so there are lawn chairs and umbrellas available. You can rent equipment there. It is absolutely immaculate and you can access all four lagoons via trail. Amazing golf course across the street and market/coffee:ice cream shop nearby! Will be back for sure! read more

My favorite part of the island. There are lots of restaurants and bar to choose from. A luau place. Place to relax, go for a jog and just have some fun. read more

Ko Olina lagoons are perfect to bring young children to. We have brought my daughter to them since she was 10 months old. It is perfect when the water is clear and you can snorkel and sometimes swim with a turtle. They are very clean, too. For these reasons I would give them a 5, however... As previous posters have stated, the parking situation is a joke. In Hawaii, all beaches should be accessible to the public. Ko Olina insultingly created a small amount of parking spaces that the public is allowed to use. There is ample space to create more parking, however Ko Olina instead chooses to build more resorts and wedding chapels and ignores the needs if the local public. I guess we'll have to dish out a million to buy a time share at Ko Olina. That way well be able to enjoy it when we want to. Nice. read more