Ko'Olina Lagoon

SO beautiful! If you're looking for a calm and relaxing spot, this is definitely it. The water was super blue, the sun was bright, sand white, and the palm trees added that perfect serene touch. I love that the lagoon was family friendly, and you didn't have to worry about big waves crashing into you. We were visiting from Aulani, so we grabbed some drinks and some foods and explored the area. There are plenty of rental beach chairs and accessories if you want to spend a day relaxing. I have heard that parking is a bit rough to find and that you have to arrive early if you want a spot. Other than that I think it's the perfect place to relax and sip a pina colada!

Whenever u go to Hawaii I try to go to the lagoon that borders Aulani. It is such a beautiful place. The kids love to play in the sand and go out into the water. I highly recommend it if you are visiting Hawaii especially with children.

The lagoons are why we come here to visit. It's open ocean swimming while being protected and with minimal waves.

Funny how I grew up not 5 minutes (well, 10 minutes now with traffic) from this place and never really came on a regular basis. Fast forward to adult hood and every time we come home to visit, I have to come here.It's just so much more peaceful than the Ala Moana/Waikiki side. It is a touch hotter, so grab some shade. But man, just lounging around listening to the waves is just too awesome. Free parking is tough to find, but, if you're good to spend money then there are ample spaces.Water temp is perfect, shore break is very mild since there are breaks outside the lagoon. You can swim to the rocks if you like. Not much in the way of fish. Come here for peace.

I see that there are 4 different types of Ko'Olina Lagoon, which I did not know about... but looking at the photos, this was the one that looks like the one I stayed at so I shall leave my review here.A beach day at the Ko'Olina Lagoons is an absolute must. It's a peaceful escape from the busy city life of Waikiki and Honolulu, and there are resorts here that make me reminisce Maui a little bit. The parking for this lagoon is connected to a bunch of hotels and resorts and parking CAN get limited and tight, so make sure to plan accordingly.The lagoon is so peaceful and the waves are not strong because it's a lagoon so it's the perfect way to relax. I didn't get into the waters -- I ended up taking a nap in the shade and did some sun tanning but that itself did justice to explain how great my day was here.Once I have the time (and the money), I would love to take my family here for a resort trip. None of that touristy stuff, but just to solely relax and I guess check out the other three lagoons that they have here... but overall -- we had a great stop here!

This place is awesome! It's right next to Aulani and it's free! Perfect for families to enjoy or even perfect for couples to just relax and swim in calm waters. The sand is a little hard because it's man-made but wear some water shoes and you're good to go. My fiancé snuck into Aulani and bought us some ice creams to enjoy! I loved our experience here. My only complaint is parking can be tough. There's only about 10-15 parking stalls.

Word is out. What was once one of the best kept secrets on the west side of Oahu is now common knowledge to locals and tourists alike. Parking is horrendous. Don't even try visiting the lagoons (written sarcastically).The sunsets here are the same as all over the west side of Oahu (written sarcastically). Too many rules (true story). You can't barbecue. You can't pitch a tent or umbrella. You can't tailgate at the lot. Paid parking is expensive. Free parking is overrated if you have to wait an hour to get into the lot in hopes of finding an empty stall.Best yet, just stay away from the lagoons and go elsewhere to enjoy the wonders that is Koolina.

Repeat after me, "there are no private beaches on Oahu". While there are super expensive resorts right here you can go and enjoy the beach/lagoon. Expect parking to be full fast and early in the morning. You will pay for that. Expect lots of tourists visiting and staying at the resorts. There is a walking path connecting the 4 "numbered" lagoons that goes along the back of the resorts and lagoons. You will undoubtedly will see a wedding or two on the green grass field of one resort, by the chapel, or see a bride and groom taking pictures by the small lagoon just past the Four Seasons. The water is calm and there is a couple of options for a bite to eat from average priced across the street to extremely pricey at Four Seasons.

Who doesn't absolutely love the Ko'olina Lagoons? I love coming here to relax and swim, and it's a perfect family-friendly destination.There are a few drawbacks that prevent us from coming here ALL the time, and I'm sure they are all over the Yelp reviews -- parking is difficult, especially on weekends. You can't use your own umbrella/tent/shade (which is weird to me, but I think they want you to rent an umbrella/beach chair from the resort), you can't fly a kite, and there' not a whole lot of shade.However, if you go on a weekday, get there early, get lucky with parking and find a spot in the shade, you will have a perfect day at the beach. The water is calm and inviting. You can snorkel and see a fair amount of colorful tropical fish. It's protected from the open ocean, so you don't have to worry about getting swept away. It's a truly idyllic setting.I've been here by myself, with my husband, with friends, family members, and we all enjoy our time here every time. When we have extra time and aren't in a rush, we like to stop by the gift shops on the drive out. They have cute boutiques, ice cream shops, etc.Enjoy your time at the lagoons! If you can't get parking, don't give up. Either come back later, wait, or try another time. You won't be disappointed!

I absolutely love Ko'Olina!!! I love how there's space for everyone to enjoy any lagoon. The park area is well kept and clean. Everyone keeps to themselves and it's a great spot for photo-ops. Definitely worth the drive to experience this side of the island.