Oahu has no shortage of beautiful beaches, and when it comes to favorites the Ko Olina lagoons are near the top of my list. Never overly crowded (due to limited parking), gentle water that is perfect for toddlers, walking paths that are beautiful to stroll, and 3 great hotels with numerous restaurants and bars…what more do you need!? Oahu beaches are incredibly varied, but if you have the chance to trek out to the west side of the island Ko Olina is certainly worth the trip. Recently my friend Stephanie and I stopped by to photograph the new Henley One Piece in Sunny Stripe from one of my favorite swimsuit brands, Lively because we knew that Ko Olina was the perfect place to take the photos! Last summer I bought the cabana stripe bikini from Lively (as seen in this Instagram photo here) and I quickly fell in love with the quality and the fit. The same can be said for this new swimsuit too!
swimsuit c/o Lively | rattan earrings (only $12.99 and Amazon Prime!) | necklace (similar)
Favorite Beaches in Hawaii: Ko Olina
Ko Olina Resort is a favorite of both locals and vacationers alike. There are four beautiful lagoons, three of which have hotels or villas on them and one lagoon is fully public. All four have small parking lots so if you want to visit it’s important to get there early. The three lagoons with buildings on them are still open to the public, but there are sectioned-off areas that are for hotel guests only. Ko Olina does not allow umbrellas or tents, but don’t worry, there are countless palm and hala trees that provide ample shade. We visit the Ko Olina lagoons frequently and the kids love running around in the manicured grass between the lagoons, digging in the sand, and swimming in the water that rarely gets more than gentle waves. The pathway is great for running and walking, and we often head down there with the jogging stroller and can easily log a few miles. I love the quiet early mornings, but the view of the sunset from Ko Olina is spectacular too. Evenings are especially fun if you go to one of the many happy hours within walking distance! Mina’s Fish House at the Four Seasons and Monkeypod Kitchen are our favorites and we feel totally comfortable bringing kids to both of them.
Now let’s talk about this suit. It’s incredibly soft, has functional snaps so it would be super easy to nurse in (I weaned Caroline last month though, so that phase is over for us), and the stripes are nice and playful. It doesn’t have pads so it’s certainly more geared toward those of us with small chests, but it’s incredibly comfy and the back is a tad cheeky without being too revealing. Definitely something I’d feel comfortable wearing around the kids, and it looks really nice with a pair of denim shorts thrown over it. I’m wearing a size small (my normal size most everywhere) and that’s what I have in my cabana stripe Lively bikini too.
Now tell me, have you been to Ko Olina before? What is your favorite beach on Oahu? Stay tuned for more “favorite beaches in Hawaii” posts because it’s a new series I’ve wanted to start for a while now! Can’t wait to share all of my favorites with you. Mahalo for stopping by, and be sure to check out Lively if you need a new swimsuit this summer!
Thanks to Lively for sending me this swimsuit to wear in this beautiful place we are lucky to call home. I only work with companies I love that I think you will love too.
