Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
4.5
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Top ways to experience Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and nearby attractions
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Neighbourhood: Waikiki
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4.5
144 reviews
Excellent
71
Very good
52
Average
15
Poor
4
Terrible
2
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Travelcooking
London, UK3,698 contributions
Dec 2019
This man-made lake, located by to the Hilton hotel, is a great place to relax. If you have children is ideal to let play in the water. There are plenty of activities to enjoy for all ages. You can even have a picnic in the grass area close by.
Written 2 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NEKOBY
Gifu, Japan655 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Whenever I say Hawaii, I see this photograph of Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and Hilton's Rainbow Tower with Diamond Head in the background.
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, also known as Hilton Lagoon, is like the beach and is open to all.
Shops that may be affiliated with Hilton rent out SUP and other facilities, so you can enjoy various things on the quiet water surface.
If there's a problem, it's that it's pretty cold. It may be difficult to stay in or out of the water for long periods of time, as there are many shade hours in the morning and the water temperature is basically low.
Many of the photos here were very Hawaiian with relatively bright sunshine, so this time I focused on the photos of the evening.
Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, also known as Hilton Lagoon, is like the beach and is open to all.
Shops that may be affiliated with Hilton rent out SUP and other facilities, so you can enjoy various things on the quiet water surface.
If there's a problem, it's that it's pretty cold. It may be difficult to stay in or out of the water for long periods of time, as there are many shade hours in the morning and the water temperature is basically low.
Many of the photos here were very Hawaiian with relatively bright sunshine, so this time I focused on the photos of the evening.
Automatically translated
Written 26 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie Iris
56 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
This Lagoon next to the Ilikai and Hilton Hawaiian Village was wonderful to swim in. Sandy shore, easy to float in and relax. The beach on the other side into the ocean was somewhat rocky, so the lagoon was easy to walk into. The views from the Lagoon are great while relaxing and floating. Not crowded.
Written 17 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kohechin
Toyama, Japan3,894 contributions
May 2023 • Family
It looks beautiful and there are lots of small fish swimming around. This was my 7th time in Hawaii, and although I had been to the lagoon several times, I had never been to the center of the lagoon, and I was thinking of going further and further. ．． ．． dirty. ．． ．． Is this okay to include? The water was so cloudy that it was scary. I thought it would be better not to let small children play here. I rated it as ``average'', but it looks ``good'', but considering the water quality, it's ``bad''.
Written 22 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dhobbs178@gmail.com
4 contributions
Sept 2019
My 18 year old son was so excited to swim in the lagoon! We visited there the first week in September, 2019. The water was a little greenish and slimy. He contracted hand, foot and mouth disease which is highly contagious and not pleasant to experience. Please be aware!!
Written 13 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ParraMatt S
Kellyville, Australia29 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
We spent every afternoon there. The kids loved paddle boarding & the water bikes.
They have happy hour between 3pm & 5pm, the frozen mai Thais are gold!
It is only about 5ft deep at its deepest with fish swimming around.
Great place to watch the sunset.
They have happy hour between 3pm & 5pm, the frozen mai Thais are gold!
It is only about 5ft deep at its deepest with fish swimming around.
Great place to watch the sunset.
Written 11 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
akm193k
Sydney174 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
We went to Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon a few years ago on a sunny afternoon, and we had a wonderful time in a calm clean water, so we decided to go back.
We arrived there just after 8am, and the water was kind of dirty and shallow, so we decided to go to the beach instead.
We saw some people started swimming and stand-up paddling, so decided go in the lagoon. Water was still kind of dirty. It seems Hilton turns on the water filtering system after 9am.
If you want to swim in the lagoon, go in the afternoon to avoid disappointment.
We arrived there just after 8am, and the water was kind of dirty and shallow, so we decided to go to the beach instead.
We saw some people started swimming and stand-up paddling, so decided go in the lagoon. Water was still kind of dirty. It seems Hilton turns on the water filtering system after 9am.
If you want to swim in the lagoon, go in the afternoon to avoid disappointment.
Written 13 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
limjoco
Streamwood, IL335 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
At one end of Waikiki Beach is the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. The lagoon is a great place for little ones to play. It's shallow and there are no waves to scare the kiddos or knock them over.
Even though the lagoon is on Hilton property, it's open to the public but is not crowded at all.
The also rent stand-up paddle boards, paddle boats, aqua bikes and more so that you can still have the same ocean experiences.
The water is pumped in from the ocean so it's nice and clean. It is salt water, so remember that.
I highly recommend the lagoon to anyone who has small children or anyone who is afraid to go into the ocean.
Even though the lagoon is on Hilton property, it's open to the public but is not crowded at all.
The also rent stand-up paddle boards, paddle boats, aqua bikes and more so that you can still have the same ocean experiences.
The water is pumped in from the ocean so it's nice and clean. It is salt water, so remember that.
I highly recommend the lagoon to anyone who has small children or anyone who is afraid to go into the ocean.
Written 23 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
blackeldo
Kiama, Australia2,235 contributions
Apr 2016
This rather attractive hotel-developed self enclosed lagoon takes up a major proportion of the western half of the rather compact DUKE KAHANAMOKU BEACH at the western end of the 3km long WAIKIKI BEACH STRIP.
Because of Hawaii's strict laws insisting on public access to all beach areas, the hotel (the rather nice looking HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE) cannot block public access to the pool - I walked in off the street around 1500 on a nice Friday afternoon thru one of several open gates to the main road. If you read the hotel's fine print it mentions they have the right to charge an user fee, but nobody approached me or several other groups who appeared to be outsiders in the hour plus I was there. Had a lovely swim and took in some sun.
The pool is huge, calm and ideal for those of us who are lap swimmers. Its existence plus a twin tidal pool area towards the other end of the Waikiki beach strip in front of KUHIO BEACH is why I rate Waikiki Beach EQUAL BEST IN OAHU FOR LAP SWIMMERS. The other #1 in this respect is KO OLINA, a flash resort development at least 30km further west at the southern end of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST. Ko Olina has 4 developed pools similar to the DUKE plus about 3 natural pools. Guess what? FREE PUBLIC ACCESS.
Back at the DUKE - immediately east of the pool is the remainder of DUKE KAHANAMOKU BEACH - this is a pretty nice strip of sand, only gets moderately crowded compared to say the GRAYS BEACH and the confusingly named "WAIKIKI BEACH" sections further east - nice sand, water tends to be fairly calm on account of good protection from the offshore reef. It only extends about 200m east of the pool to a small pier (the HILTON PIER) beyond which it becomes the very peaceful DERUSSY BEACH. Despite excellent access thru the rather large DERUSSY PARK behind the beach, for some reason this beach tended to be the least busy of all the Waikiki beach areas until the eastern sections of KUHIO BEACH 1500m to the east. Water and sand conditions similar the DUKE BCH.
Hey, Grand dad Charle, looking for an old style beach bar just like those in the ORIGINAL series of HAWAIIAN FIVE O, will find it promenade-side at DERUSSY - the KOA OASIS BOOZE SHACK ("best Margaritas in Wailikiki"). I dunno abt the margaritas (although they were selling up a storm) - but the icy cold local KONA beer in the BIIIG glass was worth a repeat or three. Chaz will find the location neat for scoping out passing bikikini babes too.
Because of Hawaii's strict laws insisting on public access to all beach areas, the hotel (the rather nice looking HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE) cannot block public access to the pool - I walked in off the street around 1500 on a nice Friday afternoon thru one of several open gates to the main road. If you read the hotel's fine print it mentions they have the right to charge an user fee, but nobody approached me or several other groups who appeared to be outsiders in the hour plus I was there. Had a lovely swim and took in some sun.
The pool is huge, calm and ideal for those of us who are lap swimmers. Its existence plus a twin tidal pool area towards the other end of the Waikiki beach strip in front of KUHIO BEACH is why I rate Waikiki Beach EQUAL BEST IN OAHU FOR LAP SWIMMERS. The other #1 in this respect is KO OLINA, a flash resort development at least 30km further west at the southern end of the LEEWARD (DRY) COAST. Ko Olina has 4 developed pools similar to the DUKE plus about 3 natural pools. Guess what? FREE PUBLIC ACCESS.
Back at the DUKE - immediately east of the pool is the remainder of DUKE KAHANAMOKU BEACH - this is a pretty nice strip of sand, only gets moderately crowded compared to say the GRAYS BEACH and the confusingly named "WAIKIKI BEACH" sections further east - nice sand, water tends to be fairly calm on account of good protection from the offshore reef. It only extends about 200m east of the pool to a small pier (the HILTON PIER) beyond which it becomes the very peaceful DERUSSY BEACH. Despite excellent access thru the rather large DERUSSY PARK behind the beach, for some reason this beach tended to be the least busy of all the Waikiki beach areas until the eastern sections of KUHIO BEACH 1500m to the east. Water and sand conditions similar the DUKE BCH.
Hey, Grand dad Charle, looking for an old style beach bar just like those in the ORIGINAL series of HAWAIIAN FIVE O, will find it promenade-side at DERUSSY - the KOA OASIS BOOZE SHACK ("best Margaritas in Wailikiki"). I dunno abt the margaritas (although they were selling up a storm) - but the icy cold local KONA beer in the BIIIG glass was worth a repeat or three. Chaz will find the location neat for scoping out passing bikikini babes too.
Written 24 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
burtonchick92
Anchorage, AK2 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
Upon arriving in Honolulu I was excited to learn my hotel had its own lagoon. I sprinted back out as soon as I set foot in the water.... the water was disgusting, it had a foul smell and was filled with duck and fish excrement. I immediately returned to my room and took a long shower as I felt itchy and disgusted. I cannot believe people are allowed to swim in this.
Written 25 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I read in reviews that there's not a lot of shade at the lagoon or nearby beach. Can we bring our own personal sun shades/shelters and umbrellas or must they be rented from the various vendors?
Written 25 September 2019
When we were there, the locals would bring pop up tents and umbrellas and set them up around one side of the lagoon closest to the car park. I believe that beach in front of the lagoon (Kahanamoku Beach) is public. There are also free fireworks here every friday night!
Written 26 September 2019
Is this water filtered?
Written 20 September 2019
I was told that it was ocean water, but you may want to call the hotel and check for certain.
Written 20 September 2019
The sand looks very compact. Do you think I could drive my mobility scooter on it?
Thank you.
Written 13 July 2019
I think you possibly could up to a certain point, However, the closer you get to the water, the sand will shift under load, so I'm not sure if that would work. I have a feeling someone has tried it before, so maybe someone at the Hawaiian Village in the activities department can answer the question.
Written 14 July 2019
I am staying at an AirBnB right next door. Does anyone one know if I can pay a daily admission fee to use the lagoon?
Written 9 February 2019
The lagoon is free. No charge for public access, only if you want to rent any equipment or water toys.
Written 9 February 2019
Can you have a small get together (party-like) at the lagoon?
Written 12 September 2018
Hi, I’m not sure on public drinking, but I did see gazebo/bbq big family gatherings parked up for the day there, just like being at a beach or park situation. Really nice there.
Written 13 September 2018
hello I stay in another hotel in the same street and I still swim in the lagoon? it is open to the public outside and the price please thank you
Written 31 July 2018
Can adults snorkel in the lagoon...we are over 70 years old?
Written 27 March 2018
Yes you definitely can! It is shallow around the edges....obviously towards the middle it gets deeper but if you stick to the outer you’ll be right👍🏽
Written 28 March 2018
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