Looking for a beachside escape on Oahu? In this guest post, retired Navy submariner Doug Nordman shares why the Barbers Point Beach Cottages at White Plains Beach are one of his favorite military getaways — and how you can score your own slice of paradise.
Where will your military benefits take you? In our case, we enjoyed a five-night Oahu staycation from a last-minute opening at the Barbers Point cottages on White Plains Beach. We’ve lived on Oahu for over 35 years. White Plains Beach is my favorite surf break, and we’ve visited their cottages many times.
Here’s more info for you to plan your White Plains visit.
About the Barbers Point Beach Cottages
The cottages are in southwest Oahu on the former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, which was established during WWII and decommissioned in the late 1990s. Today the area (near the town of Kapolei) is known as Kalaeloa and most of the land has reverted to the state. It’s still home to the local Coast Guard rescue station, while the Navy wisely retained custody of the beaches and cottages.
There are 24 units (single cabins and duplexes) spread among three adjacent beaches: White Plains Beach, Nimitz Beach, and Nimitz Cove.
| Related Reading: Ultimate Guide to Military Beach Cottages & Waterfront Cabins
The cottages at White Plains Beach are 50 feet from the shorebreak, with ocean views from Diamond Head (to the east) all the way to the Barbers Point anchorage (to the west). Sunrises and sunsets are particularly spectacular in the fall, winter, and spring.
Nimitz Beach and Nimitz Cove cottages are a mix of ocean view and partial ocean view.
You can download a map of the Barbers Point Beach Cottages from the website.
The 3-bedroom cottages will sleep a maximum of eight people, and the 2-bedroom duplex/cedar cottages will sleep a max of six people. The 1BR handicap-accessible cottage will only sleep four.
There’s also a Distinguished Visitor (DV) cottage on White Plains Beach reserved for O-6s and above.
As of this writing, prices for the 2-bedroom duplex cottages are $160/day, and the 1-bedroom handicap-accessible cottage rents for $140/day. The 2-bedroom cedar cabins, the 3-bedroom cottages, and the 3-bedroom DV cottage rent for $210-$225/day.
(Twenty-five years ago I had a commanding officer who used to sponsor a reservation in one of the cedar cabins for our Sailor of The Year and other outstanding performers.)
The photos for this post were taken in and around Bldg 1707 (a 2-bedroom duplex). During our stay, I stored my longboard and stand-up paddleboard on the front lanai.
Here’s a video of the inside of the cottage.
Eligibility and Reservations
Kalaeloa and the beaches are open to the public (by state law) but the cottages and the surf shack are limited to patrons with a DoD ID or Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). The full list of eligible patrons is in their booking policy (the link will download a PDF from their website).
Pets are not authorized in the cottages or on the beaches. Violation of this policy is subject to a $200 fine. Service animals require proper ID. In previous years the lifeguards and staff have been slow to enforce the no-pets rule, but these days patrons are quickly reminded of the policy.
You can make reservations one of several ways, including by phone or e-mail, in person, or online. Visit their website for details.
The minimum stay is two days, up to a maximum of two weeks. Once you’ve checked in you can try to extend your stay (subject to availability). Each eligible patron can book only one cottage.
Eligible patrons are divided into two categories based on priority. Category 1 is for active-duty, Reserves, and Guard families, who can make reservations up to a year in advance. Category 2 is for retirees and DoD civilians, who can reserve up to six months in advance.
Availability depends on maintenance. The cottages are in especially high demand for summers and holidays, but the wait list is always open. In the past, they’ve given us up to two weeks’ advance notice of openings from the wait list, and they occasionally post about last-minute vacancies on social media (follow the “Great Life Hawaii” MWR Facebook page).
Amenities and Services
The cottages are equipped with everything you’d expect from a rental home. They have air conditioning, kitchen gear, washer & dryer, and a BBQ grill.
You should provide your own extra coffee filters and trash bags, beach towels, beach toys for the kids, and charcoal for the grill. (Pro tip: remember to bring matches or a lighter for the charcoal).
Anything else you need during your stay can be found at Kapolei stores mentioned below.
Each cottage has a private covered lanai with chairs, picnic tables, and recliners to enjoy the view. (It’s where I wrote most of this article)! The main White Plains Beach complex also has a handful of covered pavilions available for rent (with a reservation) or for casual use.
Barbers Point is a rustic getaway site, not a resort. The cottages have recently been renovated and the staff keeps up with the maintenance. This year I’ve seen plenty of other work on the Surf Shack and the pavilions.
In the last few years, the WiFi has tremendously improved. I’ve done podcast interviews, uploaded video files, and even attended webinars. Streaming video has been reliable and seems robust.
The area behind the Surf Shack and the beach cottages sports a beach volleyball court and more small pavilions, as well as public bathrooms and showers.
The Surf Shack rents longboards, stand-up paddleboards, and bodyboards/fins, with very reasonable hourly and daily rates.
Best of all, the lifeguards give private surf lessons for $70 per person. Our family learned to surf on the day I retired from active duty (23 years ago!) and we were all standing up on longboard waves within an hour. Of course, it took us a few more sessions to learn exactly where to paddle and which waves to chase, but we’ve been surfing here ever since.
Next to the Surf Shack is the Information, Tours, & Tickets office for more local activities: luaus, dinner cruises, island tours, water activities, and Waikiki shows.
The Barbers Point Golf Course (1.5 miles away from the beach) includes 18 holes, a clubhouse/pro shop, and a driving range.
At the other end of the former base (two miles away) there’s a mini-mart and gas station.
White Plains Beach has no dining facilities (unless someone offers to share their cookout) but a food truck may be open on weekends— especially Saturday mornings.
The Local Area
Although Kalaeloa’s amenities are limited, the cottages are also less than four miles away from the Ka Makana Ali’i Shopping Center on the edge of Kapolei. It was built a decade ago and now includes over 100 stores, restaurants, and a movie theater. Its Foodland grocery store is fully stocked.
My favorite restaurants in Kapolei are Zippy’s (a local family-restaurant franchise) and Kalapawai Cafe & Deli, which offers fresh fish.
Ka Makana Ali’i also has an onsite hotel (Hampton Inn & Suites) with an Avis/Budget car rental franchise. (You might see the Hampton’s shuttle bus bringing guests to White Plains Beach). There are also several new hotels in central Kapolei.
If your last Oahu visit was over a decade ago, Kapolei has grown rapidly. The state and county government have expanded their services here, and shopping centers and restaurants have followed their growing workforce.
Getting Here
If you’re flying Space-A to Hawaii, Hickam arrivals can take a shuttle bus off base to the Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange. That connects to local bus service (called “The Bus“) for the Ka Makana Ali’i Shopping center and a rideshare or a taxi the rest of the way.
Rideshare and taxi drivers also have base access as of this writing, but in the past that access has been unpredictably suspended without notice for weeks to months at a time. (We found that out the hard way in 2023 when returning home from two months of slow travel). MilitaryUber drivers may still have base access— if they’re on the app when you’re seeking a ride.
Space-A passengers to Kalaeloa (sometimes listed on schedules as Barbers Point or John Rodgers Field) can walk the two miles to White Plains Beach from that passenger terminal. There are only 1-2 Kalaeloa Space A flights per month. You can also call for taxi or rideshare pickups at the Coast Guard station.
(Note from Poppin’ Smoke for travelers planning to fly Space-A to Hawaii: cancellations or changes within 14 days of scheduled check-in at Barbers Point are subject to a one-night penalty).
Most visitors arrive at Honolulu International Airport with access to a variety of rental cars, bus service, taxis, and rideshares. It’s about 30-45 minutes to White Plains Beach, depending on the time of day and traffic.
Yes, Oahu is still building its Skyline light-rail system, but as of this writing it only travels between Aloha Stadium and the Kapolei terminal. (We’re all eagerly awaiting the new stations at the airport and JBPHH to start their service soon.) From the Kualaka’i station in Kapolei there’s taxi and rideshare service to White Plains Beach.
Things to See and Do on Oahu
When you’re planning your trip, my favorite site for helping Hawaii visitors is 101ThingsToDo. It has something for everyone: hiking, surfing, museums, current special events, tours, dinner cruises, luaus, live local music, scenic drives, restaurants, and shopping. You can also compare prices (and discounts) with the Navy’s MWR site at GreatLifeHawaii.
Oahu shopping centers may have racks of visitor magazines like “This Week Oahu.” They feature dozens of activities and discounts along with their weekly calendar.
Please visit the ITT/MWR office at White Plains Beach to learn more about local events, like the annual June Military Surf Classic competition or public celebrations in Kapolei.
If you’re seeking beach gear, groceries, or affordable longboards, then Kapolei has a Target and a Costco. Longs and CVS are popular local drugstores.
Finally, here’s a little-known fact: Flying a kite is not permitted on White Plains Beach because it’s under the approach path to Honolulu airport.
Barbers Point Beach Cottages are a great option if you’re looking for a quiet, beachfront stay on Oahu. If you want to explore more places to use your military benefits across the islands, check out our full roundup of military recreational lodging in Hawaii.
Author bio: Doug Nordman served for 20 years in the submarine force and retired in 2002. He and his spouse were ordered to Pearl Harbor in 1989 and never left. Their daughter was born and raised on Oahu. After her active-duty service, she and her spouse returned to Hawaii to raise their daughter.
Doug’s two generations of family achieved financial independence on a high savings rate while enjoying life all over the world. Doug writes books and blog posts at MilitaryFinancialIndependence.com and can be reached at NordsNords@Gmail.