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From the moment of inception, Sea Gods inflatable stand-up paddleboards have been heralded among the top SUPs to travel with. The innate construction, design, and accompanying accessories have made it so. For this reason, we receive friendly inquiries from Sea Gods customers (ohana) regarding recommendations for where to SUP when traveling throughout the USA. One destination that we get asked about more than most is the best places to paddleboard in the Hawaiian islands, namely on the most populated and visited of the archipelago - Oahu.
The hardest part in responding to this particular query is that there are so many remarkable places to paddle in the paradise of the island known as The Gathering Place. That being said, we have narrowed down our top picks to consider convenience, skill level, and access to nearby amenities. Take note of the following prior to your next SUPing trip to Oahu.
Top 5 Paddleboarding Destinations to Bring Your Sea Gods ISUP to When Visiting Oahu Hawaii
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
Skill Level: Beginner only
Are you traveling to Oahu with kids in tow and want to get them as excited about stand-up paddleboarding as you are? Or are you new to SUPing and want to take your maiden voyage into the lifestyle on your next trip to the island? Then you need a beginner-friendly place to paddle. It doesn’t get much better then the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The manmade lagoon honors the legacy of the man who introduced the ancient Hawaiian practice of surfing to the world, and it just so happens that Duke and his ancestors have been paddling long before it became en vogue across the planet.
The water is a sheet of glass, even when trade winds blow, and offers the easiest entry as the sand gradually gives way to the water inch-by-inch until you can glide in at your leisure. And no, you don’t have to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village to paddle here, as no beach is off-limits in the Hawaiian Islands. Another great thing about beginner paddling at the Duke Kahanamku Lagoon, is that Duke Kahanamoku Beach and Fort DeRussy Beach are adjacent to the lagoon. Once comfortable, this allows you and/or your kids to graduate to an open water zone.
Ala Moana Beach Park
Skill Level: Beginner and up
Heading west across the Ala Wai Harbor from the Hilton Hawaiian Village is Ala Moana Beach Park. The expansive beach is protected by a large reef shelf many yards away from shore, which keeps the waters relatively calm throughout the year, even when the swell is up. There is so much space to paddle that you’ll never get in anyone’s way, aside from the odd sea turtle who will pop his/her head-up to see what you’re up to. Beginners can stick close to shore if they like, while intermediate and advanced paddlers can venture out into deeper territory for a closer look at the reef and sea life that swim along its edge.
Ala Moana Beach Park is also located across the road from Hawaii’s largest shopping center - Ala Moana Shopping Center - which is great for less adventurous members of your travel party. You can paddle while they shop until dusk, at which point we recommend that you meet up around 6 PM for what is also one of the best places to watch the sunset on the south shore of Oahu.
Ko Olina Lagoons
Skill Level: Beginner only
There are four lagoons in the Ko Olina resort community, located on the west side of Oahu in Kapolei. These lagoons are all connected to resort properties. Ko Olina Lagoon 1 is found at Disney Aulani, Lagoon 2 is at Ko Olin Beach Villas, while Lagoon 3 and 4 are located at Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club. Like with the Hilton Hawaiian Village (above), anyone can enter and paddle in these lagoons. Don’t worry about whether or not you can afford the $700/night price tag to stay at one of the properties. These are indeed beginner-only (intermediate and advanced paddlers will get bored) SUPing spots, as there is no entry into the open ocean. However, sea turtles and the odd Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaiian state fish) do make their way over the rock jetties to relax with visitors. Speaking of relaxation, there are a great number of publicly accessible beachfront eateries and bars around the lagoons so that you can take breaks between sessions and wind down for a tropical apres-SUP experience.
Anahulu River
Skill Level: Beginner to advanced
This is where things get more fun for varying skill-levels on this list of the best places to paddleboard on Oahu. Anahulu River is located in Haleiwa on the fabled North Shore of the island. The focal point is the Anahulu Bridge, where local kids can be found jumping from and plunging into the water below. The bridge area is the only hazard beginners need to be aware of when exploring Anahulu River, although it certainly looks like there’d be cause for concern when spying the jungle vegetation that bookends the river.
On any given day Anahulu could stand-in for the Amazon, but there are no snakes or crocodiles anywhere in Hawaii besides the zoo. You will see a fair share of sea turtles and even large puffer fish if you look closely while gliding through the river's calm waters. Intermediate and advanced paddlers take advantage of Anahulu’s entry into the open ocean off of Haleiwa Beach Park. However, we only recommend doing so in the spring to early autumn before the North Shore’s tumultuous winter wave season kicks into full gear.
Kualoa Beach Park
Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
We conclude with the absolute gem of the best places to paddleboard on Oahu. Kualoa Beach Park is located across Kamehameha Highway from Kualoa Ranch aka Jurassic Park. Tie your morning or afternoon of paddling in with a visit to the park to enjoy one of the near dozen tours available at the expansive attraction. Or don’t, because a day of SUPing at Kualoa Beach Park has something that no other paddleboarding experience has to offer - an island escape from the island of Oahu.
In the featured image above, you can see Mokoli’i Island (more affectionately known as Chinaman’s Hat). On a calm day, paddlers can launch from the sands of Kualoa and paddle over to the small islet in about 20 to 30 minutes. Along the way, you’ll find a reef teaming with all sorts of colorful sea life, but the highlight comes when you make landfall. Carefully drag your Sea Gods ISUP to the small sandy shore and get ready to explore the entirety of the island by foot. On the far side is a small cove that you can reach barefoot or flip-flops. However, we recommend packing a pair of sneakers in your Sea Gods dry-bag so that you can hike (for advanced hikers only) to the top of the Mokoli’i, where you will get a view of Oahu that few people in the world can claim to have seen for themselves.
Make sure you pack your new Sea Gods inflatable stand-up paddle board and essential accessories before your next trip to Oahu to enjoy the best SUPing spots detailed above. If you have any questions about our products, shipping, and warranties, feel free to contact Sea Gods anytime.
ALOHA!