beaches

Beach

• This is where you’ll find world-famous Waikiki Beach!
• The love scene in “From Here to Eternity” was filmed here on Makaha Beach

Ehukai Beach
- past Sunset Beach on Kamehameha Highway (Route 83)
- advanced surfing
- popular with young crowd
- volleyball, kayaking, street musicians
- restrooms, showers

Hanauma Bay
- On Kalanianaole Highway (Route 72), about 10 miles east of Waikiki
- nature preserve with restricted access
- snorkeling and scuba diving
- restrooms, showers, concessions

Kualoa Park
- just off Route 83, north of Waikane
- narrow beach, calm & shallow water
- restrooms, showers

Makaha Beach
- off Farrington Highway (Route 93), about 2 miles north of Waianae
- board surfing prohibited due to popularity of body surfing
- this is the beach from the love scene in “From Here to Eternity”

Malaekahana State Recreation Area
- north of Hawaiian Temple on Kamehameha Highway (Route 83)
- no lifeguards
- just offshore: Mokuauia Island, a state-owned bird sanctuary. you can wade out during low tide.
- restrooms

Sandy Beach
- just off Kalanianaole Highway
- volcanic rock reef on east side
- restrooms, showers, concessions
- bodysurfing
- strong currents & undertow

Sunset Beach
- north shore, on Kamehameha Highway (Route 83)
- surfing & boogie boarding
- popular with locals

Waikiki Beach
- 3 miles east of Honolulu
- consists of 2 miles of beaches from Diamond Head to Ala Wai Canal
- beginner surfing, catamaran and outrigger canoe rides, diving, sailing, snorkeling, pole fishing

Maui Beaches

• 42 miles of beaches, more than any other island
• Western Shore best for swimming, sunbathing, people watching
• Sands: White, golden, black, red sand on Hana Beach (remote)

Awalua Beach
- on Hwy 30, about 5 miles south of Lahaina
- name means “double channel”
- locals’ swimming favorite
- novice surfing

Baldwin Park
- on HIghway 36
- body surfing, long board surfing
- many recreational facilities

Fleming Beach Park
- On Hwy 30, past Kapalua resort
- good for families
- body surfing or boarding
- soft white sand

Hamoa Beach
- 2 miles north of Hana Town
- surfing popular, but some rip currents

Hana
- remote
- black sand and red sand — difficult hike to the red sand beach
- snorkeling good on calm days

Hanaka’o'o Beach Park
- 3 miles north of Lahaina
- used by local canoe clubs
- body boarding, surfing
- 1 mile of sand
- nickname: “Sand Box Beach”

Honokowai Beach Park
- on Honoapi’ilani Highway
- narrow sand strip descending to wide rock double-shelf
- shallow pool below shelves good for kids
- snorkeling good offshore

Ho’okipa Beach Park
- on Route 36, about 5 miles north of Kahului
- advanced surfing (popular)
- windsurfing, pole fishing
- restrooms

Ka’anapali Beach
- fronts the luxurious Ka’anapali Beach Resort
- nickname: “Dig Me Beach” — the place to be seen
- most water activities popular year-round

Kahana Beach
- access at south end of Pohaku Access Park
- shallow, protected by offshore reef
- somewhat isolated

Kahekili Beach Park
- access at north entrance to Ka’anapali Resort
- fine golden sand
- one of the safest swimming beaches
- snorkeling, diving

Kamaole Beach Park
- downtown Kihei
- three beaches in one park
- gentle surf
- white sand
- restrooms, showers
- body surfing, lazy body boarding
- picnicking, grilling, volleyball — playground for kids

Kanaha Beach Park
- next to Kahului airport
- white sand
- good swimming for kids
- windsurfing

Kapalua Beach
- access past Napili Kai Beach Club
- golden sand
- easy body surfing, snorkeling

Keawakapu Beach
- access at Kihei and Kilohana Roads in Kihei
- white sand
- snorkeling, body boarding

Koki Beach Park
- 1 mile North of Hana Town Center
- white sand — wider beach in summer
- body surfing, body boarding, some surfing
- camping allowed

Lahaina
- access on south side of the Hotel Lahaina Shores on Front Street
- snorkeling, shorediving and some surfing

Launiupoko State Park
- on Hwy 30 about 3 miles south of Lahaina
- surfing

Ma’alaea Beach Park
- on Hwy 31 N of Kihei, near Wailea
- nickname: Hay Craft Beach
- winter whale watching
- stretches for miles, good for strolling or jogging
- body boarding, surfing, windsurfing
- next to Kealia Pond bird sanctuary

Mai Poina ‘Oe la’u Beach Park
- on North Kihei Road
- humpback whale watching in winter

Makena Landing Beach Park
- off Old Makena Rd.
- small sandy areas and pebble beach
- good swimming for kids

Maluaka Beach Park
- access via right turn past the Maui Prince Hotel
- pearl white sand

Mokapu Beach
- access south of Stouffer Wailea
- white sand, short & wide beach
- snorkeling, some body boarding and surfing

Napili Bay
- white sand
- advanced swimmers - high surf & rip currents common in winter

Oneloa Beach (”Big Beach”)
- in Makena, north entrance to Kapalua
- white sand
- good view of Molokai
- one of most popular on Maui, local favorite
- diving, snorkeling
- nearby is Little Beach: clothing optional

Oneuli Beach
- dark sand
- exposed reef

Papalaua State Park
- on Hwy 30, about 10 miles south of Lahaina
- long, narrow roadside beach
- nickname: “Thousand Peaks”
- surfing, body boarding, snorkeling

Polo Beach
- access south of Kea Lani Resort
- white sand
- snorkeling, offshore bodysurfing
- some heavy surf and erosion as a result

Po’olenalena Beach Park
- off Old Makena Rd.
- golden sand
- three rocky points along long beach

Puamana Beach Park
- at the south end of Front Street in Lahaina
- nickname: “Hot Sands”
- picnic facilities

Ukumehame Beach Park
- on Hwy 30 about 9 miles south of Lahaina
- yellow sand
- long, narrow roadside beach
- fishing, easy surfing, kayaking
- picnic & grill facilities, restrooms

Ulua Beach
- access south of Stouffer Wailea
- long, wide white sand beach
- snorkeling, body boarding

Wahikuli State Park
- 2 miles north of Lahaina
- picnicking/barbecueing
- snorkeling

Waiehu Beach Park
- heavy surf along offshore reef
- ocean debris — popular for beachcombing and Limu gathering
- rocky sea bottom - not good for swimming
- fishing

Waihe’e Beach Park
- access via Halewaiu Road to Municipal Golf Course parking lot, turn toward ocean on park access road
- rocky bottom, not good for swimming
- shore diving, snorkeling, shoreline fishing
- beachcombing and Limu gathering

Wailea Beach
- access south of Four Seasons
- highly developed area
- long, wide white sand beach
- snorkeling, bodysurfing

Wainapanapa Park
- near the end of the Road to Hana
- black sand
- snorkeling, volcano rock caves, camping
- restrooms, showers

Beaches

The Finest Beaches Only Hawaii Can Offer

 

 

Hawaii has a number of unmatched beaches in the whole world. There are some that are reached only through a helicopter or a disembarking marine vessel. There beaches that are created around the extraordinary spectacle of powerful waves that crash into jagged lava rocks. There are also beaches that literally fade under the great winter surf found on the northern shores of the Hawaiian Islands. But which of these coasts are the best when a person is in the mood to hit the beach? Here is a compilation of some of the most luxurious beaches in Hawaii that travelers should not dare to overlook:

 

Lanikai Beach

 

This is located in the island Oahu is considered by a lot of Hawaii’s people as the most excellent swimming beach in the whole state. The sea has clear turquoise waters, a well-preserved vast beach, and coconut trees gently swaying in the beach, making this a magnificent sight to behold. It has a mile-long expanse of fine sand that is loved by sunbathers. The area’s dazzling aquamarine waters are protected by a vast offshore reef that offers tourists the perfect swimming conditions. Aside from swimming, other prevalent activities in this beach consist of sailing, outrigger canoeing, kayaking, surfing, as well as windsurfing. With the Mokulua Islands seen in the nearby distance, the Lanikai Beach really deserves its name that when translated becomes the Heavenly Sea.

 

Hanalei Bay Beach

 

The Hanalei Bay is located on the North Shore of the island of Kauai, and it may be deemed as the loveliest beach scenery in the state. This is the largest bay on Kauai and has almost a flawless semicircle of powder-like white sand. Behind the Hanalei is a spectacular setting of both waterfalls and bright green mountain crests enveloped in mist. One can find huge coral reefs on the two ends of the beach. Every ocean leisure pursuit is available here such as boating, kayaking and windsurfing. This area is also popular with dedicated surfers. There is a boat ramp available to the public and a pier that is used for swimming and fishing.

 

Kaanapali or Black Rock Beach

 

This beach is known for its many names like Canoe Beach, Keka‘a Beach and Dig Me Beach. This beach is situated Maui and is well-loved by water-sport enthusiasts. Almost every kind of sea recreation is found in this area. Scuba diving and snorkeling are extremely popular here. The Black Rock is actually a huge lava rock that separates the beach. This is a busy beach that offers fun activities like sunbathing, shopping, kayaking, eating in restaurants, fishing boat tours, and sailing, among others.

 

 

 

 

Hanauma Bay

 

This bay actually houses an astonishingly diverse and flourishing fish species. The Hanauma Bay is among the best swimming and snorkeling places in the world. This is yet another one of Hawaii’s exquisite bays but if tourists would like to enjoy its riches, they should plan in advance and be there early in the day for a visit.

 

Kapalua Bay Beach

 

The Kapalua Bay Beach is a little piece of nirvana in Maui, Hawaii. It offers tourists a visual delight such as delicate golden sand, dancing palm trees and tranquil, blue-green waters. There is nothing that a traveler could ask for. This is flanked by two lava sites and surrounded by a coconut tree orchard. The Kapalua Bay Beach is celebrated for its calm surf, which is perfect for beginner swimmers as well as families with little kids.

 

Truly, Hawaii is home to some of the best beaches one would ever hope to set foot on. Visitors coming to this magnificent state should go to see one of these fabulous aquatic sites this side of the planet, and they would never look at beaches the same way again.