Best Beaches in Hawaii

Hawaii is known for its tropical climate, sunshine, and sand. People dream of visiting the golden beaches, but where do you start? It’s easy to get bogged down in all the options, especially when they are all so beautiful. Just make sure you apply reef safe sunscreen before you get in the ocean.

Best for sunbathing:

Kauna’oa, Big Island

One of the prettiest beaches in Hawaii – Laurance Rockefeller chose it for the now-iconic Mauna Kea, which brings hundreds of tourists in. The beach is calm and crystal clear. It has bright blue water, with gentle waves and the added entertainment of turtles. There are coral reefs on either side and you can even snorkel. Spend the day sunning yourself and walking along the golden sands. Just make sure you arrive early for the parking!

Makena Beach aka Big Beach, Maui

This is one of the longest and widest beaches in Hawaii and is a popular spot with everyone. Despite that, because of how expansive it is, the beach hardly feels crowded. Grab a towel and look out at the island Molokini. Not only is it stunningly beautiful – but it also has some incredibly popular food trucks that are open all day. If you hate tan lines, why not visit Little Beach, one of the most famous nude beaches next door?

Best for atmosphere:

Waikiki Beach, Oahu

This is Honolulu and perhaps Hawaii’s most popular beach. High-rise hotels, surfers and decadent shoppers all come together in a melting pot of activity. Whether you want to sunbathe or take part in some water sports – Waikiki has it all. Watch the sunset with a cocktail and let yourself enjoy the beauty of Hawaii.

Kaanapali Beach

This was named America’s Best Beach and is a popular location for tourists. It has now got a large selection of hotels and resorts the three miles of glorious sand and water. Not only is it a natural delight, but there is also Whaler Village – a high-end shopping center with shops, restaurants, a museum, and golf courses. Want to swim? Have a massage? Go zip-lining? The possibilities are as lush as the beach.

Best for sports:

North Shore, Oahu

The seven miles of beach is where some of Hawaii’s best surfing competitions are held. If you are a good surfer or have an appreciation of watching those who are, Waimea Bay is a great space to hang out. In the winter is has 30-foot waves, but in the summer you can swim and snorkel as much as you like.

Ho’okipa, Maui

This is where pretty much all professional windsurfing is done in Hawaii. There are competitions and you can see the pros for free, gliding effortlessly across the water. It is a great place for aspiring pros to see how the big boys perform. If you are a skilled surfer/sailor you are welcome to join, just be aware of how big the waves are and how strong the rip gets.

Honaunau Beach, The Big Island

If you want to go diving, then look no further than Honaunau beach by the famous City of Refuge national park. Volcanos have erupted into the ocean in streams of lava, which have hardened into smooth structures. They have now created a large reef that is populated with large amounts of wildlife. There are over 40% of Hawaii’s native fish, stunning bright coral, and even Hawaiian sea turtles.

Best for kids:

Kalapaki Beach, Kauai

This is a great beach for little ones because it is protected by a break wall from the open ocean. This means the water is calm and is a perfect place for relaxing. There are plenty of activities – volleyball, canoeing and surfboard rentals. It’s the perfect place to teach kids how to swim so why not take a walk along the sand and enjoy a shaved ice with your family. When you’re done soaking up the sunshine there are several seaside restaurants for lunch.

Poipu Beach, Kauai

This is the most popular beach on the South Shore and is made up of golden crescents. It is the perfect beach for those with children as there are lifeguards on duty every day. The way the beach is formed means there are wading pools and lots of kid-friendly activities like boogie-boarding. It provides the perfect place for the whole family to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Something new

Punalu’u Beach, Big Island

Have you seen it all when it comes to beaches? Sick of white sand and blue skies? How about black sand instead? Made out of basalt created when lava flows into the ocean. It explodes in the ocean and cools to form the iconic black shore. In case that wasn’t enticing enough – green turtles also enjoy the black beach and are often found there. So it’s two for the price of one.

Papakōlea Beach, Big Island

Black beach not cutting it? How about one of four green beaches in the world? Otherwise known as Papakōlea beach. The crystals are formed by the beach carving the cinder cone that is part of the Mauna Loa volcano. It contains green crystals which then mix in with lava and white shells creating a patchwork beach. It creates a quilt of sand that is stunning to look at.