A few weeks ago we drove to Ko Olina on a Sunday afternoon to spend some time at Lagoon Three. The water was nice and warm and we enjoyed some time swimming. The lagoon is shallow around the edges and the water is calm and protected – perfect for little swimmers. It would be a great place to swim laps too but I wasn’t feeling that ambitious so I just hung out near the shore with my kids.
Do it yourself on Oahu
Directions: To get to Ko Olina, go west on the H-1 freeway. You will pass Pearl Harbor, the junction with the H-2, the water park and Kapolei. Take the Ko Olina exit and go left at the top of the off ramp. This is a gated community but the beaches are open to the public. At the guard house let them know you are heading to the lagoons. The turns for the lagoons will be on your right and marked with signs.
Parking: The parking lot for the third lagoon is fairly small and fills us quickly, especially on weekends. If you find the lot full and don’t want to wait for a spot, head down the road to the marina. I have heard they have paid parking there that is reasonable. I should check into this myself on my next visit. The marina is closest to lagoon 4 but it would only be a short walk on the paved sidewalk behind the lagoons to get back to lagoon 3.
Ammenities: There are restrooms and outdoor showers right next to the beach. Unfortunately these were closed/out of order when we were there so we walked to lagoon 2 for showers and to the nearby resort located on lagoon 3 for restrooms.
Other: These lagoons are man-made and some people dislike them because of that but I think they’re a fun spot and great for young children.
More info: Read about Lagoon One at Ko’Olina here and Lagoon Four at Ko’Olina here.
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We have a young son, and Ko'Olina is our favorite beach on the island because it is so calm. We ate at the restaurant in lagoon 3 at sunset right after we arrived on Oahu, and it just seemed like the perfect intro to Hawaii. Truly like a postcard!
I've just started following your blog, and I'm excited to find out about new places on the island to visit! Thanks for all the work you put into the blog!
Yes, what a great intro to Hawaii that must have been! I walked by the restaurant and it definitely has a great view.
Glad you're enjoying the blog. Thanks for reading!
We love going to Ko`olina!
Although I haven't been back since the medical waste incident…LOL!