When it comes to sightseeing in Hawaii, isn’t visiting a sea turtle beach one of your top destinations?
Watching them nap on the beach or swimming with them while snorkeling might just become the highlight of your trip to Hawaii!
In this article, tour guides from Aloalo Travel have compiled 5 recommended sea turtle beaches in Hawaii to introduce to you.
Regarding these sea turtle beaches, the places where you can meet them actually change depending on the season and the conditions of the day!
We will introduce spots that have never been broadcast on TV, never appeared in magazines, and are unknown even to some locals, so please use this as a reference for your Hawaii trip.
Ali’i Beach
Ali’i Beach is a popular sea turtle spot located near Haleiwa Town.
The ocean is shallow here, with a depth ranging from an adult’s knee to waist, so even those who cannot swim can enter the water and play.
Also, geographically, it is a place not affected by waves, making it a wonderful environment where you can play even in the winter season!
The vast grassy park adjacent to it feels pleasant and is excellent for picnics.
It is also famous for hosting the surfing world tournament "Hawaiian Pro" every November.
Since it is a beach with many highlights, please be sure to visit when sightseeing on the North Shore.
Recommended Sea Turtle Season for Ali’i Beach
Actually, this is a beach where sea turtles come up onto the sand more often during the winter season when the waves are big!
They do come up often in the summer as well, but compared to winter, the probability is about half, so other beaches offer a higher probability in summer.
If it is winter, you should be able to see skilled surfers and sea turtles with a very high probability!
However, since parts of the offshore area at Ali’i Beach are extremely shallow, there are days when you cannot see any turtles at all during low tide because they cannot enter the bay.
When there are many turtles swimming even if none are on the sand, the probability of them coming up is high!
On days when you cannot see any swimming turtles either, do not persist and move to another beach.
Kaiona Beach
Kaiona Beach is a perfect hidden spot that is beautiful, calm, and great for relaxing.
It is a heavenly scenic beach that exists unnoticed on the East Coast, and "Kaiona" means "Attractive Sea" in Hawaiian!
On weekdays, there are hardly any people, so you can enjoy a feeling like it is a private beach.
On holidays, it becomes a beach where locals spend time leisurely having barbecues.
By the way, the Obama residence, known as the Obama Beach House, is located nearby along the same coastline.
Kaiona Beach is a Hidden Sea Turtle Spot
Kaiona Beach is not just about the beautiful ocean!
If you go into the water, there are many colorful fish, and near the rocky areas, there are quite a few sea turtles swimming leisurely.
The view of the Koolau Mountain Range from the sea is also spectacular.
You can float like you are in a pool and enjoy a relaxing swim, so it is surely the best location for those coming to Hawaii for healing.
When you get tired from playing in the water, you can lie down slowly in the shade of the trees…
The atmosphere with trees right next to this sandy beach creates a private feel that is truly the best!
Since it is a beach where I feel I can spend the most authentic Hawaiian time, perhaps former President Obama thought the same thing. Haha.
Papailoa Beach
Papailoa Beach is a spot with a massive number of sea turtles that is not listed in guidebooks.
Located in a quiet, high-end residential area on the North Shore, it is truly a hidden beach known only to those in the know!
The small path leading to the sandy beach only has a small sign that you might accidentally pass by if you don’t look closely.
It became popular instantly because the beach camping scenes in the popular US drama "LOST" were filmed here.
Since it is also a beach with many sea turtles, those who want to meet many turtles at a beach with no people should definitely go there.
Sea Turtle Information for Papailoa Beach
Papailoa Beach has abundant seaweed, so sea turtles come to eat on days when the sea is calm.
At times when there are many, there can be over 30 turtles just within your field of vision!
The area with many sea turtles is rocky, so it is not very common to see individuals coming up onto the sand, but if you enter the sea, you might be surrounded 360 degrees. Haha.
By the way, sea turtles can be seen exclusively in the summer season (late May to early September), and they disappear completely in the winter season because large waves roll in.
Also, sea turtles are strictly protected by law, so please play by the rules and keep a distance of 10 feet (3m) without touching them.
Paradise Cove
Paradise Cove is a secret beach where you can meet various creatures.
Located right near the Disney Aulani Hotel in Ko Olina, it is a beach where you can encounter beautiful lagoons, traditional Luau shows, and creatures such as sea turtles and Hawaiian Monk Seals!
Paradise Cove is also known as "Paradise Turtle Bay" and has long been popular as a sea turtle spot.
It is a hidden gem located within the tourist area of Ko Olina.
Since sea turtles are cherished as guardian spirits in Hawaii, please be sure to visit and meet them during your trip.
Paradise Cove Luau Show
Many people may visit Paradise Cove to see the Luau show.
It is the perfect situation to watch the sunset in a quintessential Hawaiian resort atmosphere.
Although it is a popular tourist destination, there are far fewer tourists compared to beaches in the Waikiki area!
You should be able to enjoy an atmosphere almost like a private beach.
The biggest event at Paradise Cove is the traditional Hawaiian Luau show.
It is said to be one of the most authentic Luau shows in Hawaii, so it is an event you want to go to at least once.
The show enjoyed with dinner offers high satisfaction and is sure to become a wonderful memory!
Recently, it has also become popular as a spot for weddings and wedding photos.
By the way, the "Paradise Cove Crystal Chapel" is a very famous chapel, so if you are considering a wedding ceremony or wedding photos, please check it out.
The Secret Beach of Paradise Cove
Actually, there is a secret beach at Paradise Cove that you cannot reach just by accessing it normally.
Moreover, it is a beach with a very high possibility of seeing the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.
Paradise Cove is actually a relatively large bay called "Kaula Bay," and while you often see sea turtles here, you cannot spot Hawaiian Monk Seals that frequently.
If you proceed left along the sandy beach (towards the Four Seasons Hotel and Aulani Disney Hotel) and walk for about 1 to 2 minutes as if going up a river, you will see the adjacent beach.
This beach is the secret beach, just as the name implies!
If you couldn’t meet sea turtles or Hawaiian Monk Seals at Paradise Cove, please be sure to check the secret beach as well.
Laniakea Beach
Laniakea Beach is the ultra-classic spot known as the most famous turtle beach in Hawaii.
Commonly called Turtle Beach, it is bustling with many tourists throughout the year!
Sea turtles are called Honu in Hawaiian, which means a guardian spirit that brings good luck, and they are very cherished by the people of Hawaii.
At Laniakea Beach, except for the season when waves are big, you can observe such sea turtles with high probability.
Sea turtle viewing is one of the highlights of North Shore sightseeing, so please go and meet them.
Recommended Season & Time for Laniakea Beach
The times and seasons when you can observe sea turtles are clearly defined.
In the case of Laniakea Beach, if it is the summer season (around May to September), you will likely meet sea turtles napping on the sand with a probability of over 90%!
Conversely, during the winter season (around October to March) when there are waves, the probability drops to about 30–50%.
This is because when waves are big or the current is fast, sea turtles do not come close to the shore because it is dangerous as they might crash into rocks.
Temperature is not very relevant, so even in the cool winter season, if the sea is calm, I think you can see them reasonably often.
Regarding the time of day, around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM offers the highest probability.
If you want to take a good close look at sea turtles up on the sand, let’s visit in the afternoon!
Sometimes they are up on the sand around 9 AM or past sunset, but basically, they return to the sea at night.
Since the turtles’ daily routine is to munch on seaweed in the morning and bask in the sun on land in the afternoon, it might be good to swim with them in the morning and view them from the land in the afternoon. Haha.
In the summer season, the sea is calm and visibility is excellent, so snorkeling is also recommended!
Since it is an area with quite a lot of fish, you can enjoy a beach that is typically Hawaiian.
Winter Season at Laniakea Beach
If you visit Hawaii in the winter season, it doesn’t mean you can’t see sea turtles.
However, since waves are strong in the winter season and turtles don’t come close very often, the ironclad rule is to move to another beach immediately if they are not there.
Since Laniakea Beach has the characteristic that turtles are less likely to come up in winter, please try "Ali’i Beach," located right near Haleiwa Town, when waves are big or the current is fast.
Ali’i Beach is a beach where sea turtles are more likely to come up onto the sand in winter than in summer.
There are several other secret turtle beaches, but we introduce those in a separate article, so please check it out if you are interested.
Points of Caution for Laniakea Beach
There are several points you need to be careful about when visiting Laniakea Beach.
To have fun safely, please check the following points in advance!
Observe Sea Turtles While Maintaining a Certain Distance
Under Hawaii state law, fines are imposed if you touch or ride a sea turtle.
There are actually cases where people who rode sea turtles and posted it on social media were fined around $2,000.
Also, it is recommended to observe from a distance of about 10 feet (3m), so let’s follow that rule!
Volunteers from sea turtle protection organizations are stationed at Laniakea Beach, and they draw a red line to indicate that distance.
By the way, you can also listen to stories about sea turtles from the volunteers.
Please feel free to talk to them about various things, such as how many years they live, at what age they lay eggs, what their names are, and where they give birth.
The Rocks at Laniakea Beach are Slippery
Laniakea Beach is a rocky beach with continuous rock formations.
Seaweed, which serves as food for sea turtles, grows densely on those rocks, but this is slimy like moss and extremely slippery.
I have seen scenes where people slipped and fell many times in the past.
Some people have been taken away by ambulance, so never underestimate it!
Since sea turtles often come up around these rocky areas, there are very many cases where people get excited, get too close, and fall!