Laniakea Beach

We drove around on the north shore and ended up at this wonderful place where we saw tortoises. They were crossing over the beach into the water. There were a couple of on sight guides and helpers to make sure that tortoises were protected and we're able to reach the water safely. It was an incredible sight to see and our family loved seeing them go across and to the water. Totally recommend doing this with your family.

Very chilled beach. Many people come to see the turtles resting at the beach. It's pretty awesome and relaxing. Parking is limited, and you may encounter the "Turtle Traffic " as well due to the popularity. It is better to plan accordingly.

Too sandy for snorkeling but a nice place to relax and swim. The pillbox trail isn’t far so we did that first and got a nice panoramic view of the beach.

We arrived around 11:15, on a low tide, sunny day. and were honored to see 2 of the turtles 🐢 basking. parking is limited across the street. recommend going on a weekday, not too crowded. the water is clear, lots of rocks

Stunning beach with clear waters and sea turtles! Knowledgeable and friendly staff are there to ensure turtle safety!

Good place to see turtles on the beach and swimming. Decent visibility and lots of fish in the rocks on the right end of the beach

Amazing beach, please respect the honu though. Parking can be tough and not a good spot to swim, but surfing yes!

Love this beach! We always stay further down where it’s a bit quieter—perfect for tanning and swimming. That said, there really needs to be a stronger police or security presence. Way too many people get too close to the turtles or try to feed them, even with clear signs posted at the entrance. It’s frustrating to see people ignore the rules and put the wildlife at risk. People will normally yell at the individuals getting too close to the turtles, so that’s a plus.

Respect the honu 6 turtles and 1 baby turtle Harder waves , great for surfers Make sure to watch out for sharp rocks

We started our drive around the island at the North Shore and made Laniakea Beach, Turtle Beach, our first stop. There is a parking lot directly across the street that can get very busy. At 11 a.m., there were still a couple of parking spots available. There are a few more areas to park outside of this lot, but you'll have a bit of a walk. We specifically stopped here to see the turtles, and although they were not on the beach the hour we went, we saw many turtles swimming at the shoreline, baby turtles included. If you walk a bit, you'll see more of a sandy beach area that may be better for laying out or getting into the water. A quick stop for us that was cool to see!

the beach for turtles! not too crowded, highly rec over waikiki or beaches by resort. workers are very protective of the wildlife.

We stopped by here in September 2024 for a good 30-45 min to visit the sea turtles! There were plenty in the water but none on the beach sand when we were there, it was amazing! Parking lot available across the street but very crowded. There was a ranger at the shallow part of the beach, watching out for people to ensure they didn't get too close to the turtles because supposedly they can bite.

Referred to as Turtle Beach, is a must-visit destination. Famous for its sea turtles but when we were there around 5pm, we didn't see any. Stunning views of ocean but certain areas, your not allow to swim. The beach itself is beautiful, but the rocky areas and tide pools add to the natural charm, providing interesting spots to explore marine. Parking is across the street but sometimes you can't find one since it's a tourist attraction.

Back in April I volunteered my Uber services to a friend of a friend who came to Hawaii to participate in 2023 Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. She usually also spends a few days in Oahu, and I was asked to take her around. While we were going through her checklist of places to go, after having lunch she wanted to see turtles (aka Honus). I didn't really know exactly which beach to go, so I texted a few friends and Auntie (aka Nadine C.) came to the rescue by replying to me first with Laniakea Beach (LB). Located in Haleiwa on Kam Hwy along the coastline, I followed the GPS, and it guided me to LB. A pretty much dead giveaway was the congested traffic, tourists walking along the highway, and crowds of people surrounding a certain area. To play it safe, I parallel parked along the highway as I found an open space. We didn't have to walk much until we made our way down to LB where there were 2 noticeable crowds. We decided to opt for the less congested circle where lo and behold, there was a Honu (green sea turtle) sunbathing. We immediately brought out our cellphones to document the moment. The Honu is a symbol of wisdom and good luck - - for sure because this is my very first time to witness a live Hawaiian Honu when the main goal was to look for them. The Honu was resting on the sand and nature preservationists placed a red rope around with a sign asking for people to respect the Honu's space by keeping distance at a minimum of 10 feet away. While observing the Honu in awe, 2 more Honus came ashore to sunbathe. We were so lucky to be blessed to witness Mother Nature like this. It was a weekday morning and there were quite a few tourists at about 130pm. Most of the crowd respected and gave the Honus space but sadly I witness a few instances where unsupervised children crossed the red rope line. On the signs, there were also a pair of QR codes where you can make a monetary donation or Adopt a Honu. It was a gorgeous clear and sunny day with trade winds. The weather was perfect to play tour guide. We probably spent about 30min at LB before we decided it was time to go. More and more tourists showed up and wanted to avoid being a part of a large crowd. Overall, a very pleasant first experience where I learned something and will keep this in mind when I have friends or family from out-of-town visiting. But the question is: "Will I be lucky to witness Honus during my next visit to LB?" We shall see.

As we continued north on Hwy 83 from Haleiwa, my friend suggested that we stop at Laniakea Beach to view the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. There was a dedicated dirt parking lot on the east side of the highway. We pulled in but wow, the winter rain had caused the surface to be pockmarked with potholes. Some of them were crater size and could do major damage to a wheel well if you drove too quickly over them. These honu congregate along this beach to munch on the sea greenery in the surf and bask on the sand. At our visit, none were visible on land, however some were frolicking in the choppy waters. I wish I was able to capture a better photo of some of them swimming. Apparently at certain times of the year, red ropes are put up to keep visitors from approaching too close to these endangered creatures. We have a similar problem with people trying to get up close to the sea lions at Children's Pool Beach in La Jolla Cove. :( Be careful as you are standing along the shore. The seaweed can make the footing slippery. All it takes is a well-timed wave, and you will end up on your arse.

Beautiful beach to watch sea turtles, they were just breathtaking. Amazing to see the turtles up close and enjoying the water and sand. We got lucky and found a parking spot in the parking lot across the street from the beach and it's free. There is also parking on the side of the road. There is a cross walk to cross over to the beach side from the parking lot. We had a fabulous time walking on the sand and getting our feet wet. I recommend bringing extra shoes and towel to dust off all the sand before getting back into your car. I wish I would have brought extra clothes for my daughter to get wet, she really wanted to go a bit deeper in the water. We will definitely visit again in the future.

With or without the turtles this beach is awesome! it's got a great view and parking is relatively convenient. Honestly love any place to stop along the north shore.

Such a GORGEOUS and BEAUTIFUL PLACE!!! Cruising around the Island and made sure we stopped by right before sunset to experience the amazing view!!! What a gift! We stood there frozen in time absorbing all the beauty. We also were blessed to watch the turtles on shore at a distance. Just a reminder for visitors... please respect nature. Do NOT try to approach the turtles. Do NOT disturb them and please keep your distance. Mahalo.

To kick off 2023, I had to pick a special spot! Laniakea Beach fits the bill perfectly. It is honu paradise. I call that pretty special. "Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer"...which is great for us, but our precious wildlife is who has to pay the price. I'm dumbfounded that this even needs to be uttered, but DO NOT TOUCH THE SEA TURTLES, for the love of all that is holy! And I'm completely flabbergasted that I have to say this next part: DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, SIT YOUR TODDLER ON ONE!! 100% idiot behavior. There are supposed conservationists there to keep watch, but the ones assigned on this particular day just quietly stood back and watched meekly. Ugh. You better bet your bottom dollar that I had to go and say something. Like why does this even need to be said?! People can be so unabashedly dense and self minded. Other than the couple episodes of utter stupidity I had to witness, I literally became a child again. I was just SOOOOOOOOO happy to be here. And completely awestruck. Just absolute bliss! Quite possibly my favorite moment of that vacation. And there were a lot of competing moments. Thanks Queen of Yelp Hawaii Nadine for that lovely experience! Laniakea Beach is just so special. It's a favorite spot for the honu. Let's keep it that way by being respectful. Don't ruin a perfect thing! Honestly, I have been hesitating to shine a light on this beach because it certainly does not need to draw a larger audience. I negotiated by attaching a worthwhile message. So thank you for indulging my soapbox moment. ;-) Be more aware of our ONE PLANET and our animals in it. Add it to your 2023 resolutions. ;-) And keep Laniakea Beach special....

This is the place to be if you are hoping to see turtles. Turtles love to come here to relax and lay their eggs. I love that there are always people here making sure the turtles are safe. Sometime there's crazy people trying to get really close to them and invade their space. Let's please take care of these turtles and enjoy them from afar. My kids love this beach. Although a little rocky, it's very small and the waves are that strong, so it's great for them to swim and play.

Not sure how a beach this awesome is rated less than 5 stars. Maybe cause it was sandy up to a point then it was rocky? Regardless, this beach was great! The main attraction were sea turtles it wasn't super crowded but we did stop by around 5-530pm... HOWEVER, the turtles were so majestic and beautiful. Even if the beach was made of broken glass, the turtles made up for it. We even saw little juveniles just a few meters off the shore! On a hot day this would be a decent place to relax and enjoy the ocean breeze.

This is a beautiful beach, I love coming here every time I'm in town. My favorite has to be seeing the sea turtles laying out in the sun. We saw a bunch of sea turtles 2 out of the 3 times we went there, so the chances are high. Awesome beach, will be back again. Definitely a great beach for surfers too, since I noticed the waves were higher here than other beaches around here.

There is a small parking across the street. If you wait a bit a spot will open up. Mist people don't stay long. The turtles were there in the morning. There are large rocks, so be careful walking around, don't mistake a turtle for a rock. PLEASE DO NOT HARASS THE TURTLES! Take your picture, enjoy the views and leave. There will be locals and sometimes police to keep unruly people in check.

Great turtle beach to take your kids. Please remember not close to the turtles stay 10 feet away or get fined.

Stopped here 20 years ago and saw many turtles out at the beach. Made sure to add this to our trip around Oahu so kids and rest of family could see. Arrived just after 2 pm to see a turtle. Parking was tight as there is only parking if you are headed north but after 15-20 min wait we got to park. The ranger mentioned there were a few turtles around 12:30pm. FYI no swimming here but drive few miles more north and the perfect beach is there awaiting you.

REWARD My family was there Sept 2nd. And my wife and I I left 3 pairs of Yeezy slides in the parking lot. We set them down Infront of our car and forgot to pick them back up. If returned I'll leave a reward.

An absolute amazing beach that you should check out in the North Shore. There are dedicated parking spots but street parking should be fairly easy to find and this beach was recommended to me by my friend. North Shore is known to have some of the world's highest waves and the waves were pretty high for the season, but it wasn't like astronomically high. It was high enough to say that I should not get in the water and the currents were pretty high, but it wasn't too high. This place has some great views of the waves and my friends (not I because I had to go to the bathroom -- which BTW is hard to find near here!) were able to see a turtle napping here. You can walk around the beach and just get pleasant good vibes. If you're a surfer, you should definitely check this place out because it's definitely for you. I would want to stay in this part of town for a few days if time allows int he future because it's the laid back vibe that Maui had and I enjoyed my short time at this beach -- will definitely be back!

Turtle beach truly lives up to its reputation of turtle beach. EXPERIENCE: Parking: Parking lot for about 15-20 cars then some kinda sorta illegal street parking. Feels: It's a lovely place. I see people surfing and fishing on one end, another side people snorkeling, and then another side people observing the turtles play around the shore. It's a relaxing place with beautiful water and trees. A great spot to swing by if you're in the North Shore area. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Volunteers were great! Props for their commitment for taking care of the turtles OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Woooo! After so many years I finally got to see not only one but two turtles up close! I look forward to coming back here to admire the turtles and the island. Tips: * Respect the turtle, beach, and volunteers please! * Peak time for turtles is generally from 11-2pm otherwise ask the volunteers for any changing trends.

Whenever I'm in Haleiwa, I'll make my way over to Laniakea Beach to visit the Honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles)! I wish I could watch them all day just basking in the sun or swimming along the rock to feed on the seaweed (limu). But, because I no longer live in Honolulu, I'm grateful for the "Honu Guardians" from the non-profit organization, Mālama i nā honu, who volunteer their time at the beach to ensure the honu can bask safely and peacefully. Visitors must keep 10 feet away from the honu! There's usually red rope surrounding the honu to ensure the minimum distances are met, and signs posted as reminders. But, it never fails. There's always that one person who is just oblivious to the rules and the volunteers are on it - if you happen to be that person, you will be called out loud and clear. I like the improvements that have been made along Kam Hwy: parking has been expanded to fit two rows of cars, there are two marked crosswalks, and large yellow safety barriers. Be sure to visit https://malamanahonu.org/ to learn more about the organization and the honu! They have a list of all the honu and their names, along with all who volunteer and the hours that they've put in. Mahalo to all of the Honu Guardians for "protecting the Hawaiian sea turtles through education, public awareness and conservation, all in the Spirit of Aloha."

Located off Kamehameha Hwy in Haleiwa. Parking is really hard here cause this spot you would have to park across the highway and the cross over and back avoiding the traffic. We quickly stopped here to see the turtles in the ocean but to our surprise some were laying on the sand and chilling. I think it was 3 or 4 of them. From what I've heard times there are many in the water. The other issue about this area is climbing down from the Hwy since it's all sand and rocks over here so it is all uneven with sand and rocks. Overall it was worth seeing the big turtles up close they do rope off the area and it is monitored by staff so they are watching to make sure no one goes up to them or touch them.

Beautiful beach on the North Shore. Saw a turtle resting when not many people were around after the rain, closer to sunset. During the daytime, we spotted many smaller turtles swimming close to shore. Recommend bringing snorkels.

Laniakea is a wonderful beach that gives you close encounters with the sea turtles. Great photo opportunity, lovely view. Please be respectful of these beautiful sea creatures and keep your distance and do not disturb!

Sun basking sea turtles! Lots of tourists. Look for the red rope and stay behind it. Parking is right across the beach behind the yellow barriers. There are a few ways to get down to the sand, just have to keep walking to the right. They have a whole binder to identify the sea turtles. Once they find out who they are, they put up a sign.

Too crowded, far too many people to find parking. Lots of traffic to even get there. Waited 45min to go 2miles

TL;DR: sea turtles 11am-3pm. Good for stopping by, not staying. Small beach. WATCH YOUR STEP. Great place to stop by and view sea turtles grazing on sea lettuce in the shallows or sunning themselves on the beach. Best to view between 11am and 3pm. The sea turtles are protected by law. You have to be at least 10 feet away and no, you cannot touch them. So keep your grubby human hands to yourself. You see with your eyes, not your hands. There is also a fine for touching a sea turtle. Yup, someone went and ruined it for us all. So don't make it worse and make turtle viewing a banned thing too. There is not much of a beach here at all. It's a small sandy area that immediately turns into smooth slippery rock filled with holes and toe jamming crevices. This is where the sea lettuce grows and where the turts hang. Always be aware of your feet. The waves plus poor sea turtle-distracted-you can be caught by surprise while playing "turtle paparazzi" and you'll end up getting wet or hurt if you slip! I'll say it again: always be aware if your feet, especially while you creep towards a turtle while snapping a photo. Parking: across the street from the beach. A two lane road splits the beach and the parking lot -- be mindful of peak hours, there can and WILL be a line of cars waiting along the road and backing up traffic. Bring some entertainment for the little ones because it can be a boring wait for that parking spot.

Beautiful beach! We happened to catch some parking and hit the sand with some towels and a volleyball for an hour or two, and we had a great time! The turtles were making debuts all over the stretch of sand, and a LOT of people were trying to get too close for pictures, and a lot of the kids were not controlled very well. We took our pictures from a distance and then let honu be Seems pretty popular, but we had room higher up on shore to volley a bit and bask in the sun for a while. When the turtles weren't shore feeding, we dipped our feet in the pools and waves a little, too!

One turtle on beach 4 turtles near the shore my kids got to see And not crowded at all. Beautiful and clean

It's amazing to be able to see turtles in nature. The guides are helpful and friendly. Parking is possible but not always easy. Make sure to respect the wildlife and stay at least 10 feet away.

We came here in hopes of seeing some sea turtles, but we're not lucky in doing so. Even so, we enjoyed the soft sand and watching the ocean waves. Make sure you don't miss the small parking lot across the street or it'll be hard to turn around.

Awesome beach! Loved seeing all the sea turtles. The people there to explain and educate on the turtles was also amazing.

What an amazing find! Loved this beach there were so many turtles so be sure to stay the right distance away from them. The day we went they had volunteers there making sure the turtles were safe and people were keeping their distance which was nice. Snorkeling here was so fun too there was an abundance of fish just remember to be respectful and not step on the coral.

The famous "turtle beach". I stopped to talk to the turtle volunteer for awhile- they are there from sunrise to sunset tracking turtles and answering questions. She said they don't come out as much in the winter because the rocks are more exposed and the waves are rough, but had one logged from the day before. We were lucky to see one poke his head out of the water and swim around for awhile offshore, before taking off. Perfect spot to sit back and wait. We parked a little ways away at the ranch, but unfortunately our gas lid was broken off in an attempt to steal gas from our rental car. Guess we should've read other reviews 2022 #13

One of the most beautiful beaches I've been to . There's no restrooms or parking but it's worth it .

Water is awesome, we saw turtles and could watch surfers all day long. Traffic builds as the day goes but omg, The locals are so friendly. Luv it

Recommendation: Come early but not too early for snorkeling as the sunlight is needed to see the creatures under water. Don't touch anything. One can kill corals by touching them. Came early to avoid the crowd for some snorkeling and turtle watching at 7 am. There were some parts of the ocean without sunlight to be able to completely see the underwater creatures. Also tourism has adversely impacted the beauty of the corals. There were a few small brain corals and very few others. Sad... I was able to see many trigger fish and angel fish, and a sizeable needle fish. Surprisingly I did not see more well-known fish like the tangs and nimo fish (clown fish). No eels or turtles this morning either. Maybe next time. Parking lot is across the street. There is not a wash station, so be prepared to be sandy and salty.

Laniakea beach is a must every time my family or friends visit Hawaii. Who doesn't love Hawaiian sea turtles?! But it's all about luck if you will see one or not. Sometimes we didn't see any and one time we saw 2. If you are so lucky just make sure you stay 10 feet away from them since they are protected under Federal and State laws. There's a small parking lot right across the street.

The best beach to see sea turtles, if you're interested. No Parking Lot or designated parking. Parking across the street and you have to cross a busy road to get to the beach. Once you cross the beach, simply follow the little trails leading to beach. If you have littles, I would recommend carrying them until on the beach. Some walkways are step and dangerous, if you're not paying attention. Be sure to lock your car and put away valuables, because you can see your car from the beach. ----------------------------- After checking out the turtles in their natural habit, you should head to the DOLE Pineapple Plantation to eat some delicious dole whip.

FAVORITE PART OF OUR TRIP! This is *the* beach to see green sea turtles laying in the sand. It was surreal. We arrived and immediately saw a group of people gathering on the far side of the beach. It was clear that this was the turtle-watching spot. We hung out for about 45 minutes, seeing glimpses of little turtle heads in the distance. We weren't sure how long we'd need to wait to see a turtle or if there'd even be any turtles that day, but stuck it out. My husband was the first to spot a turtle close to the shore. The turtle started riding a wave and let the wave just drop him off on the sand. Everyone was sooooo excited and the turtle rescue team immediately roped off a large area to block off the public and give the turtle space. The turtle slowly started moving up the beach and was so precious. The turtle rescue put out a sign with that specific turtle's name and information which was pretty cool. This specific spot is apparently beloved by sea turtles because of the big rocks and big amount of algae on those rocks that they like to eat. We were so excited to have gotten to witness the magic of nature like this. If you're visiting Oahu, definitely rent a car so you can drive here and check it out yourself.

Who doesn't absolutely LOVE TURTLES?!?!? nobody is the answer on our rental car day we HAD to come see the turtles...it was a packed day and by the time we made it up there the sun had just set...that didn't stop us we found a roadside parking (there is a dirt shoulder across the street).. made our way to the water (down a rocky hill...we later found an easier path a bit West of where we walked down. There was a huge sea turtle on the beach inside a roped off area ...a nice man guarding the turtle to make sure that nobody came close to the turtle. (NICE!) it is a Federal law to not touch these guys and it made me so happy to see that it is being enforced in a preventative manner vs punitive. Beautiful beach ! wish we could have been here during the day

This is a famous beach on the north shore to see sea turtles and enjoy the blue waters of Hawaii. The parking is across the street and the street is busy so be careful. The parking needs some care as there are significant pits off the road. The path to the beach is also awkward with tree roots and other obstacles. The beach has interesting lava rock along the shore but there is sand as well. There are signs that warn of dangerous waters and also describes the turtles. There is a naturalist that is on then beach to ensure safety of the turtles. There are trees that provide good shade. The turtles are magnificent and seeing them is a five star gift. They often sun themselves on the beach posing for the camera. There are no restroom facilities on the beach - but there are porta potties. Bring a towel and camera. Don't touch the turtles!

Named turtle beach for a reason! Touristy beach so there's a bottleneck of traffic when you approach the area, but the beach has soo many giant sea turtles. Never seen anything like it. Worth the trip at least once while in Oahu. The kids love it!

Come here to see the turtles and if you are patient enough you will see one. Besides the beautiful view this is the main attraction. Park along the side of the road in front of the white fence where the horses are and walk a little ways down to the beach. Be careful because there is not a paved opening so you will have to climb down jagged rocks to get to the main beach. You will see people gathering and looking for turtles. People are very excited even yelling :-/ There was a big crowd waiting for this big turtle to arrive and she did not disappoint. Be careful though you cannot touch or disturb the turtle. Not only is it her home but you will be fined. So look but don't touch. They are very serious about animal habitat preservation here. If you don't want to wait on the beach, you can always get in the water and snorkel with them next to you!

The most turtles I've encountered on Oahu! Weather was so perfect and we saw dozens of turtles in the waves and a few on the sand. Love this beach!

Turtles, turtles everywhere! Not a fan of the volcanic ash underfoot but fun to see the sea turtles .

The CONs of this beach: - ALOT of CAR BREAK INS. The further you park the more chance of it happening. Thieves have spotters to watch when tourist leave knowing that it will take tourists a good amount of time getting back. - DASHING ACROSS THE STREET IS DANGEROUS. There are no marked crosswalks. It seems like every year a tourist gets banged by a car. - ILLEGAL PARKING. There are so many no parking signs but no one pays attention. Just know there is pressure by locals on the government to start enforcement. Do you really want to risk ruining your vacation with a ticket? - TRAFFIC. Right now with the huge influx of tourists (even higher than before COVID) be prepared to sit in traffic for a while. - NO RESTROOMS NEARBY. ALTERNATIVE beaches with turtles: - Ko Olina. Google it, so you can see I'm not lying. - Sea Life Park. This is probably the closest you can legally get to a turtle on Oahu. Before they even sold food so that you could feed the turtles.

Amazing beach to see turtles! The parking is a little tricky here and the beach is a little hard to access. We were able to find a spot along the road and make our way over. We saw the turtles almost immediately. They were a little hard to make out in the waves, but one came up to shore. You should keep a distance from the turtles as you can get fined for getting too close or touching them! However, it was such a special moment in our trip to Hawaii to get to enjoy the sea turtles!

The parking is across the street so you do you have to cross a Main Road but the car is her respectful and they do stop for pedestrians. There is someone that's working and making sure that everyone stays behind the road to protect the turtle or turtles and their signage, which describes the names and information that they have. Even though my research said they come between 11 and one when we left the North Shore around 4 PM and the turtle was still there. there isn't much opportunity to sit calmly up close, but you can walk around and observe from at least 10 feet away and depending on the tide, you can get a little wet.