Hawaii Photo Diary: Ko Olina

In need of a tropical escape? Sharing a photo diary of Ko Olina on the island of Oahu, Hawaii!

For anyone that has been to Oahu, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Ko Olina, which means “place of joy”, located on the west side of the island toward Ewa Beach/Kapolei/Waianae if you are driving from Honolulu. 

It’s is a resort community comprised of the Four Seasons, Disney’s Aulani Resort, the Marriott Beach Club (and timeshares), and a community of private homes and condos. There’s also a sprawling golf course (it’s beautiful and worth the greens fee), restaurants and of course – Ko Olina lagoons, four man-made beach alcoves for swimming.

This resort destination is also home to Paradise Cove Luau, which is probably our favorite luau on the entire island of Oahu, because seeing the sunset from the west side is just *chef’s kiss*…so good! The food, show and pre-luau activities are fun, too. 

Hawaii Photo Diary: Ko Olina

In any case, today’s Hawaii photo diary is a showcase of what Ko Olina has to offer featuring some drone photos we’ve taken over the years. 

Please note, none of these photos are recent, as beaches and parks, are closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic and you’ll see that there are lots of people in these photos sitting quite close together. They’re old and newly edited, I promise! 🙂 

One thing to note about this resort community is that parking can be a little tricky if you aren’t staying here in one of the hotels or long-term rentals. You can valet at one of the hotels if you plan to dine at one of the restaurants, or you can pay to park at lagoon four if you plan to go to the beach. Another thing worth noting is that the lounge chairs in lagoon one (where Four Seasons and Disney Aulani are located) cannot be used by anyone other than guests of the hotels. 

One thing that parents really love about the lagoons is that the water is extremely calm, unlike other beaches on Oahu. Each lagoon was man-made, so they’re all partially protected from the ocean with rock walls, making the lagoon water like glass. though the water is calm, it’s worth noting there are no lifeguards on duty. 

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy Hawaiian Sunset Photo Diary or Hawaii Beach Photos: Sandy Beach Park!