Hotel review · Windward Oahu
Paradise Bay Resort on Kaneohe Bay
The windward side’s one hotel open to the public: a low-rise of studios, suites and cottages on Kaneohe Bay, with floating docks where a beach would be.
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Laenani Beach Park, next door to the resort, looking toward Mokoliʻi. Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons.
The 30-second verdict
Paradise Bay is a quiet base on the bay, with the Koʻolau mountains behind it and kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear included in the resort fee. There is no beach and no restaurant. Book it for a kitchen, a dock and a calm windward stay, and bring a car.
Paradise Bay at a Glance
- Area
- Windward Oahu, Kahaluʻu at Laenani Point
- Address
- 47-039 Lihikai Dr, Kaneohe, HI 96744
- Beach
- None on site; Kualoa Regional Park is about 15 minutes
- Price tier
- Mid-range, independently owned
- Resort fee
- $42 a night plus tax
- Parking
- $28 a day plus tax, first come, first served
- Check-in
- 4 p.m.; check-out 11 a.m.; guests 21 and up
- Airport
- About 18 miles; roughly 30 minutes
- Units
- 46 studios, suites and cottages
- Pets
- Up to two dogs in select units, $38 each a night
Fee, parking, times, age and pet rules from the resort’s FAQ, checked Sep 27, 2026. The unit count is from the state’s 2025 hotel inventory; drive times are without traffic.
Best for
- CouplesGoodWaterfront cottages with bay lanais and dock yoga, but no restaurant or bar.
- FamiliesGoodSuites with kitchens and kids 12 and under free, but no beach or kids club.
- FriendsGoodTwo-bedroom suites with a king in each room and free kayaks and paddleboards.
- SoloGoodStudios, weekday yoga and a free paddle class; a car is close to required.
- GroupsSkip46 units, one small meeting room and no restaurant.
Pros
- Kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear are in the resort fee.
- A kitchen or kitchenette with a full-size fridge in every unit.
- Waterfront cottages with private lanais over Kaneohe Bay.
- Dogs welcome in select units, with a dog park.
- About half an hour from the airport over the H-3.
Cons
- No beach; the nearest lifeguarded sand is about 15 minutes away.
- No restaurant or bar, and no breakfast.
- Fee and parking add about $79 a night with tax.
- Housekeeping only on request.
Known for
Three floating docks on the bay
The docks stand in for a beach. Guests launch the included kayaks and paddleboards from them, and weekday yoga happens on the dock over the morning water, with the Koʻolau range behind.
Studios and Suites
The property opened in 1962 as Schrader’s Windward Country Inn and took its current name under owners who bought it in 2010. Its 46 units, per the state’s 2025 inventory, have wood floors, air conditioning and a kitchenette with a cooktop, microwave and full-size fridge. Studios run 300 to 400 square feet with a king. One-bedroom suites run 320 to 550 square feet with a separate living room, and two-bedroom suites, about 600 to 700, put a king in each bedroom.
Waterfront Cottages
The cottages are the ones to book. The one- and two-bedroom Waterfront Cottages have full kitchens and large private balconies on the bay, and the freestanding Hale Lily adds a second bath. The two-story Hale ʻOpua suite, about 1,250 square feet, and the dockside Kahouna suite are booked by phone or email. Weighing the windward side? See where to stay on Oahu.
Pool, Docks and Gym
There is one outdoor pool and a hot tub, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with no slides, cabanas or adults-only area. Most guests end up on the three floating docks instead, which double as sun decks. There is no spa, but a small gym, BBQ grills and weekday yoga on the dock come with the fee, and live music plays Monday to Thursday evenings.
Kaneohe Sandbar Snorkeling Tour
★★★★★ 4.9 · 503 reviews · From $180
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Beach Access
The resort says it plainly: it “does not have direct access to an on-site beach.” Kaneohe Bay here is shallow and reef-lined, with flats that show at low tide, so this is paddling and boat water, not swimming off the sand. After heavy rain, stay out of brown water (check whether it is safe to swim today). For a beach with a lifeguard, Kualoa Regional Park (tower 9) is about 15 minutes north and Kailua Beach Park about 27 minutes south; compare them in the best beaches on Oahu.
Out on the Bay
The resort runs a sea turtle and reef snorkel trip on Wednesdays and a sandbar boat trip on Saturdays, for guests only, at an extra charge it does not publish; direct bookings get 25% off. State rules bar commercial boats in Kaneohe Bay on Sundays and federal holidays, so plan around them. More ideas in our Oahu snorkeling guide.
Kualoa Ranch: Ocean Voyage Tour
★★★★★ 4.5 · 88 reviews · From $63
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Dining
There is no restaurant, no bar and no breakfast. The lobby serves coffee in the morning, and every unit has Nespresso pods and a full-size fridge. Kailua’s grocery stores and restaurants are about 25 minutes away.
Around the Resort
The Byodo-In Temple is about 9 minutes away, and Kualoa Ranch about 14 minutes north (see Kualoa Ranch tours compared). Kailua and Lanikai are about 25 minutes south. Waikiki is 30 to 40 minutes by car. There is no shuttle, so read whether you need a car on Oahu before you book.
Could be better
The fees arrive without a beach or a restaurant to show for them. The resort fee is $42 a night plus tax and parking is $28 a day plus tax, about $79 a night together, and with no shuttle most guests pay both. The gear it covers is good value only if you use it.
Consider Instead
- Ke Iki Beach Bungalows is the beachfront pick with a kitchen: bungalows on the North Shore sand, each with a grill, free parking and no resort fee.
- Kahala Hotel & Resort suits travelers who want quiet with a beach and dinner on site: an 800-foot beach, Alan Wong’s, and no resort fee, 10 to 15 minutes from Waikiki.
- Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club suits families who want a kitchen and a lagoon: villas with full kitchens and a washer and dryer, a kids pool and no resort fee, with $48 parking.
Tips Before You Book Paradise Bay
- Book direct. Direct bookings get 3 p.m. early check-in and 25% off the resort’s boat trips.
- Plan around Wednesday and Saturday. Those are the snorkel and sandbar days; no commercial boats run on Sundays.
- Use the gear you pay for. Kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear and a paddle class are in the fee.
- Drive to swim. Kualoa Regional Park is the nearest guarded beach, about 15 minutes north.
- Ask for housekeeping the night before. Service is on request by 10 p.m. the day prior.
- One car per unit. Parking is first come, first served and cannot be reserved.
Paradise Bay: Questions
Does Paradise Bay Resort have a beach?
No. The resort sits on Kaneohe Bay with no on-site beach; guests use three floating docks to kayak, paddleboard and snorkel. Kualoa Regional Park, with a lifeguard, is about 15 minutes by car.
Does Paradise Bay Resort charge a resort fee?
Yes: $42 a night plus tax, collected at check-in. It covers the pool and hot tub, gym, docks, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, morning coffee and weekday yoga. Parking is $28 a day plus tax.
Is there a restaurant at Paradise Bay Resort?
No. There is no restaurant or bar and no breakfast; the lobby serves morning coffee, and every unit has a kitchen or kitchenette.
How far is Paradise Bay Resort from the airport and Waikiki?
The airport is about 18 miles, roughly 30 minutes without traffic, and Waikiki is 30 to 40 minutes. There is no shuttle; the resort recommends a rental car.
Is Paradise Bay Resort good for kids?
It works for families who want a kitchen and a quiet base. Kids 12 and under stay free, but the check-in age is 21, and there is no kids club or beach on site.
Sources, checked Sep 27, 2026
Researched from the sources above, checked Sep 27, 2026. We never claim a visit we did not make; first-hand notes are marked as Stew’s. How we research and review.
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