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Been awhile since I saw this type of question survive in here.

Both places are fine. Lanikai is more of a closed area with lost traffic going around in circles 24/7. Kailua has more private beach space.

Oceanfront is worth it, however the pricing is pretty high for skipping a block or so walk from other places.

Another safe option with privacy and oceanfront is the Turtle Bay resort. It has a great protected cove right next (about 50 feet away) to the resort with an outdoor lounge and water toy rentals. This is a peaceful place to visit with children.

BoeingDad

I agree with Boeingdad, the Turtle Bay Resort has a much better selection of accommodations for your large group (11). There are only 75 legal “grandfathered” rentals in the “residential-use only" Lanikai and Kailua neighborhoods. Most of them are not on the beach and are smaller B&B style properties. I would not recommend staying in unauthorized accommodations.

Went to Buzz's the other day for lunch and took a right out of the parking lot to check out Lanikai.

The streets are literally packed with rental cars. I can't imagine that the beach would be secluded any more at all. This was about two in the afternoon, on a weekday. There were large groups of people getting out of those cars, heading for the beach access aisles.

At this point I think I would opt for Turtle Bay if I were a tourist here.

We just got back from a vacation in Kailua and we agree with Kailuamama (name?) that Lanikai was so crowded. We went there but it was so crowded. Seemed like a mostly local crowd (teens) but it was still worth the tight parking.

We stayed at Turtle Bay the last 2 nights of our vacation and hated it. We wish we stayed in Kailua. The swimming areas have loose pieces of coral in the one sandy bottom area and our kids both were cut on the bottom of their feet. Also, the area is too condo/hotel like and not what we wanted in a Hawaiian vacation. Turtle Bay offers 2 dining options and rocky shores and lots of people. One can do the North Shore for a day trip but believe us, not worth spending the night out there. Kids complained the entire time and wanted to be back in Kailua. Kailua feels more like a "local" relaxing community and not a resort in an isolated non-sandy part of the island...TB is kind of boring really.

so... I get the drift that no locals want to see tourists come to kailua/lanikai. I can understand this wholeheartedly as I grew up in a resort town in Maine (not QUITE as beautiful). However, since some of us don't leave much of a footprint, and only want to enjoy the beauty of the islands (and are adamant about not staying in resorts, but would rather frequent local farmers markets and food co-ops) Is there a community there that supports visitors in terms of affordable bed and breakfasts, etc, etc?

Aloha!

I live near Kailua Beach Park, and both Kailua and Lanikai beaches are gentle enough for my 4-year-old, with Lanikai slightly more so.

Personally, beachfront wouldn't mean enough to me to pay the extra price. I would also have "beachfront," "ocean view," and "beach access," and "close to the beach" spelled out very carefully. My apartment was advertised "ocean view," which means if I stand on my front stoop, on my tippy toes, with the trees blowing just the right way, I MIGHT see a slip of blue that MIGHT be the ocean, not the sky. ;-)

Enjoy your stay!

please give us COLD alaskan folks some specific suggestions as far as where to stay at Kailua or Lanikai, We want to come for son's Manoa graduation in spring 2008, we have 5 kids and not much of a budget, but place must be clean and safe for kids (youngeset is 9).

My clooege student recommended stying at either of these areas, but other than that I need much assistance in deciding.

There are close to 400 of great places to stay in Kailua and Lanikai. Vacation homes, vacation rentals and B&B's. You can find them at VRBO.com, HomeAway.com and KailuaVactionRentals.net among others.

Yes, beachfront is the most sought after and the rarest of these accommodations. Most places are not on the beach. "Oceanfront" means that it's on the water but not on a sandy beach. "Walking distance" usually means less than 20 minutes walk. "Just a few minutes from" means that the rental is probably more than a mile from the beach.

Kailua beach is grand. Wide open spaces. Friendly people. Lots of great shops and restaurants in Kailua town. Lanikai is a secluded community of mostly upscale homes where much of the beach has been eroded by seawalls. There are still beachfront rentals available in Lanikai but they will cost you. Best value in accommodations is in Kailua at a place that is in "easy walking distance" to Kailua beach. Hope this helps.

Hmmm……With an estimated 400 and growing visitor accommodation businesses that average between 2 to 6 bedrooms per business, Kailua has about 1500 to 2000 visitor rooms.

That’s like having five to six Kahala size hotels in your backyard. No wonder the Kailua residents are not too happy about it. Especially since Kailua is zoned and master-planned as a local residential community.

I wonder how it became such a bustling tourist town?