Ko Olina, a resort community on the island of Oahu, is one of our favorite places to visit in Hawaii. Sometimes Oahu gets overlooked by travelers seeking a calm, picturesque, or outdoorsy Hawaiian vacation. They assume that all of Oahu is hustling and bustling like Waikiki. That’s just not the case. Oahu has beautiful, white sand beaches, tranquil lagoons, big wave surf, lush greenery, massive cascading cliffs, marine life, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets just like on any other Hawaiian island.
Ko Olina is only 25 miles from downtown Honolulu, 17 miles from the airport (HNL), but it has a completely unique vibe. This resort town is especially remarkable in part due to its three natural and four man-made lagoons. Ko Olina is a master-planned community in the city of Kapolei, with four luxury resorts, six gated communities, full service marina, two commercial centers, an award-winning golf course, and four wedding chapels. All of this is within 642 acres of paradise!
In this blog, we’ll go over what to do in Ko Olina, the best time to visit, restaurants, activities, marine life, and things to do within an hour’s drive of Ko Olina.
LAGOONS
When the community of Ko Olina was first developed in the 1980’s, four lagoons were excavated as part of the 2-mile coastal development plan. The lagoons average 5-6 feet deep and are relatively calm due to breakwaters (rock formations) at the entrances of each lagoon.
The lagoons are perfect for the young and old alike. The waves sort of ripple in rather than knock you over. This is great, unless you want to ride the waves and show off your hang-ten skills. You can bring your boogie board, but you might get bored quickly. (See what I did there?!) Your inflatable tube might be a better fit. The water is perfect for splashing and floating if you have less confident swimmers or overprotective parents in your party. I know this as I once was one and took our kids to these lagoons dozens of times.
The beach is great for building sand castles, burying secret treasure, working on your tan, and having a drink with a pink umbrella delivered to you. Thanks Cabana John!
I always see people snorkeling in the lagoons, but I’m skeptical. I’ve seen some small fish, and occasionally a turtle, but otherwise, it’s pretty much just a great place to practice snorkeling techniques and build up your confidence.
Since these are man-made lagoons, they don’t have natural tide pools and marine life like you’ll find at the nearby natural lagoons that we’ll talk about next. Unfortunately, you might find jellyfish. There are warning signs posted that people always ignore, but they are out there just like at any other beach.
Some of the resorts provide stand-up paddle boards and kayaks, and if that’s not enough physical exertion, you can sign up for workout classes on the beach. I always feel guilty doing my slow morning walk and carrying my Diet Coke (Yes, don’t judge! I drink Diet Coke in the morning too!) when I see all the sweaty people participating in group exercises who are practically doing one arm pull ups on the palm trees while juggling coconuts. That is until I remember I’m on vacation and keep walking.
While the lagoons are public property, they do have some very specific rules. The one I see security enforcing the most is the use of shade umbrellas and tents. They are not allowed. Dogs, alcohol, vaping, and loud music are also restricted. Nude sunbathing is encouraged. Just kidding, just seeing if you’re paying attention to the rules!
Each lagoon has both grass and sand. While there is some shade, the trees haven’t grown much yet. There are bathrooms, outdoor showers, and drinking fountains at all the lagoons. There are no lifeguards at any of the lagoons.
Ko Olina has 6 public parking lots. If you are driving to Ko Olina for the day, arrive early. The lots only have 18-20 spots each, with the exception of Lagoon 4 which has 100 spots. They all fill up quickly! If you arrive later in the day, expect a line of cars to be waiting at each lot.
Basically all of Ko Olina’s lagoons face west, so you can expect a spectacular sunset wherever you find yourself in the evening. One more reason why the west side is the best side!
Ko Olina Lagoon 1 (Kohola Lagoon) – Aulani & Four Seasons
Ko Olina Lagoon 2 (Honu Lagoon) – Beach Villas
Ko Olina Lagoon 3 (Nai’a Lagoon) – Marriott’s Beach Club
Ko Olina Lagoon 4 (Ulua Lagoon)
NATURAL LAGOONS
Many Ko Olina visitors don’t realize that in addition to the four man-made lagoons, there are also three natural lagoons. The water is crystal clear and full of marine life. Lava rocks and tide pools encompass the little beaches, providing calm water that sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals love. There is great snorkeling at these lagoons.
They are a bit tricky to find, but well worth the search. To access these lagoons, you still need to park in one of the 6 public parking lots, but then, you’ll need to veer off the paved walking path and walk 6 miles in the snow, uphill… OK, enough silliness! And to think that I haven’t even had a single Mai Tai today! Where was I? Right, getting to the natural lagoons. For those directions check out my posts regarding the Secret Beach, Double Secret Beach, and Paradise Cove Beach, and I’ll practically walk you right there.
In regard to all beaches and bodies of water, I would like to remind you to be safe. The ocean and wild animals are unpredictable and circumstances change often. Always use your best judgment and common sense.
WEATHER
Ko Olina is on the leeward (west) side of the island, so it has a drier climate and less rainfall than the other parts of Oahu. Oahu basically has two seasons; winter and summer. Winter (October – April) temps average 65-78 ℉ (18-26 ℃) and Summer (May – October) they average between 69-83 ℉ (21-28 ℃). For me, it’s perfect because I love mild temperatures with a slight breeze. Oh, and the beach water is almost always a welcoming 74-81℉ (23-27 ℃).
During the winter, rainfall averages 2-4 inches a month, with January usually winning the record for the wettest month. Ironically, January is our favorite time to visit Ko Olina, and we are not rain enthusiasts! It’s amazing how significant the rainfall differences can be within short distances. The rain comes and goes very quickly. There are often pesky northeasterly trade winds that you’ll either love or loathe, but they are part of most any island weather.
RESORT ACCOMODATIONS
- Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
- Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
- Beach Villas at Ko Olina
- Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club
THINGS TO DO IN KO OLINA
The name Ko Olina means “Place of Joy,” and I believe everyone can find something to do there that brings them joy. Here are a few examples:
- 18 hole championship golf course, Ko Olina Golf Club which hosted the LPGA LOTTE Championship 2012-2019 (free shuttle, lessons/clinics, tournament play, rentals, driving range, etc.)
- Full service marina with sunset cruises, whale watching trips, glass bottom boat tours, snorkel tours, sport fishing, and boat charters
- Island Country Market shopping & other retail
- 4.7 mile walking/running trail
- Stand-up paddle boards & kayaks
- Disney character breakfast (You don’t need to be a hotel guest, but reservations are highly recommended!)
- Four wedding chapels
- Hawaiian Railway
- Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute
- Photography
- New Luau for 2026 at the Ko Olina Marina
KO OLINA LUAUS
- Fia Fia Polynesian Dinner Show (Marriott)
- Paradise Cove Luau (Closed for re-building)
- KA WAÁ (Aulani)
- Four Season’s Immersive Luau Experience
- New show at Ko Olina Marina
FACT: There are lots of other luaus outside of Ko Olina. Chief’s Luau is very popular and always fun.
RESTAURANTS IN KO OLINA
Monkeypod, 808 Craft House, Roy’s, Black Sheep Cream Co., Eggs ’n Things, Farm to Barn Cafe & Juicery, Mekiko Cantina, Island Country Market, Starbucks, Tropic Poke (As well as other resort and golf course restaurants you should try too!)
Ko Olina’s shopping center has public parking for retail and restaurant customers. Parking is available daily from 5 am – 11 pm and is currently around $2.50 per hour, with a three hour maximum but they do have dynamic pricing so it could be more or less. Also, THEY DO GIVE TICKETS THERE IF YOU DO NOT PAY!
THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE OF KO OLINA
Ko Olina is within the city of Kapolei. Kapolei is a city known as the “second city” on Oahu that includes many big city features, including Costco, Target, Walmart, Safeway, Whole Foods, Home Depot, major retail stores, movie theaters, post offices, and more.
If you want to explore the other parts of the island, then I recommend renting a car. There are lots of things within an hour’s drive, which I’ll mention here. However, the entire island is only a 112 mile drive (44 miles long and 30 miles wide), so, depending on if you drive like CJ (slow) or myself (regular), you can do the Oahu circle drive in 4-6 hours.
ACTIVITIES WITHIN AN HOUR OF KO OLINA:
- North Shore
- Iolani Palace
- Waimea Valley
- Wet ’n’ Wild Waterpark
- Ko Hana Rum Distillery
- Turtle Beach & Turtle Bay
- Dole Pineapple Plantation
- North Shore Surf Competitions
- Hawaiian Railway (Ewa Beach)
- Pearl Harbor & Arizona Memorial
- Waimea Bay Rock Jumping (North Shore)
- Spitting Cave Cliff Diving (southeast coast)
- Kapolei Shopping Center : Ka Makana Alii
LAGOON SPECIFICS
Ko Olina Lagoon 1 (Kohola = Hawaiian for whale)
The Four Seasons Resort and Aulani Disney Resort are both located on Lagoon 1, causing it to be the busiest of all four lagoons. Luckily, it is said to be the largest of the lagoons, but they all look pretty much the same to me. Lagoon 1 is adjacent to the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute. Parking lots 1A and 1B are the closest. If those lots are full, do not park at the shopping center across the street. You will be ticketed and/or towed. I speak from experience!
Ko Olina Lagoon 2 (Honu = turtle)
Beach Villas is an oceanfront condominium resort that includes both vacation rentals and residences. On their website they tout that they encourage a “get-along attitude” within the communal living space, and I think they do just that. Lagoon 2 always seems somewhat quiet compared to the others.
Ko Olina Lagoon 3 (Nai’a = dolphin)
Marriott’s Beach Club is a hotel and timeshare that occupies Lagoon 3. This Lagoon is especially nice if you want the option of grabbing a bite to eat or a fancy drink, with a pink umbrella of course, while you’re at the lagoon. Longboards is a casual restaurant, practically on the beach, and it’s open to the public. We’ve eaten there many times, and it always hits the spot.
Ko Olina Lagoon 4 (Ulua = fish)
If you ARE NOT staying at one of the resort properties, Lagoon 4 might be your best bet. Since this lagoon is adjacent to a large parking lot instead of a resort, it usually has fewer people and easier parking. There is also a large, grassy area, which is nice because sometimes you are just tired of having sand in your shorts. Lagoon 4 is also closest to the marina if you want to grab a light snack or drink. A heads up, though: I’m not sure about the operating hours of the marina market. It seems to be closed as often as it is open. Don’t plan on it being available, and it will be a nice perk if it’s open.
We love Ko Olina! We have a wonderful trip every time. We’ve vacationed there as a couple, with young kids, with grandparents, with other couples, and with our college aged kids (and their friends too). Our dog, Elvis, definitely feels left out. One day maybe he can take the trip with us. That would be a fun blog!
I hope you’ll visit Oahu, Ko Olina especially, and love it as much as we do. Message me, and let me know your favorite Ko Olina stories and what I need to check out next time I’m there!