Sea Turtles at Laniakea Beach & Paradise Cove: A Perfect Oʻahu Day with Kids
Day 6 in Hawaiʻi was all about slowing down. After multiple days of go-go-go, we decided to relax, soak in the island, and enjoy some quality time with friends. My friend and her kiddos joined us, which basically meant: more giggles, more sand in weird places, and more “Mom, look at this!” moments than we could count. 😎🌺
Stop One: Laniakea Beach — Turtle Time 🐢
First stop: Laniakea Beach, a.k.a. “Turtle Beach.” Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, were swimming near shore, and with every wave that rolled in, they were gently carried closer to us before catching the next one back out to sea. It was mesmerizing to watch—like nature’s own slow-motion surfing competition. 🌊🐢
My oldest was in awe. My youngest son? Convinced he could make a new turtle friend. 🐾 Before I could stop him, he inched closer… and that’s when the local “turtle police” (aka super-friendly beachgoers) jumped in. There are official signs everywhere warning that touching a turtle could get you fined hundreds of dollars! 😳 Cue the parenting lesson of the day:
No, it’s not like petting a dog 🐶
No, it’s not like tapping a fish 🐟
And definitely no gentle shell boops—you could literally pay for it 💸
We convinced him that turtles are island VIPs, and it’s better to admire from a safe distance. The moral of the story? Sometimes the best way to show love is from a respectful—and legal—distance. 🏖️
These creatures are incredible—they can live 80+ years, weigh hundreds of pounds, and have been around since the dinosaurs. Standing there watching them felt like stepping into living history.
Stop Two: Garlic Shrimp Heaven at Big Wave Shrimp 🍤
Next, we hit the North Shore for Big Wave Shrimp, because vacation calories don’t count, right? 😋
Picture this: food trucks lined up like a mini festival, picnic tables in the sun, chickens strutting like they own the place 🐔, and the smell of sizzling garlic shrimp drifting through the air.
The portions? HUGE. The flavor? Out of this world. My kids devoured theirs so fast. My youngest son tried to sneak a bite from mine and got a stern side-eye from both me and my own plate. Sharing? Not today, buddy. 😂 The littlest one had more then she could eat and saved some fries for the beach.
The best part: watching the kids’ faces light up after their first bite. And the second bite. And okay, the third. 😋
Stop Three: Paradise Cove Beach 🌊🌺
Finally, we arrived at Paradise Cove Beach in Ko Olina, and the vibes were instant calm. Parking was a miracle (we scored right away 🅿️), the sand was soft, the water gentle, and the lagoon perfect for kids.
We spent hours splashing, floating, and building sand castles that inevitably collapsed under the weight of a little sibling sabotage 🏰💥. One of those moments where you’re simultaneously exhausted, sunburned, and completely content.
By the end of the day, we were salty, sandy, and stuffed with garlic shrimp 🌴🍤. Life was good. The kids ran themselves tired, the ocean sparkled in that golden late-afternoon light, and for a while, time just… slowed down. As we packed up to leave, I couldn’t help but think: sometimes the best Hawaiian days aren’t the ones packed with big adventures—they’re the ones where you just let the island set the pace. 🌺✨
