Popularizing a Hawaii beach that is off-limits to most people is an example of bad research. Here how to pick the best beaches in Hawaii.
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46 thoughts on “Best Beaches In Hawaii: One You Can’t Visit + One You Shouldn’t”
Popularizing a Hawaii beach that is off-limits to most people is an example of bad research. Here how to pick the best beaches in Hawaii.
God Bless you
We honeymooned at The Cliffs in Princeville and went to Hanalei almost daily. Beautiful beach and palms around it. The Coco Palms was still open and they were filming “Uncommon Valor” right down the road from us with Hueys flying overhead regularly!
Fell in love with Hawaii right away. Interviewed for an awesome job on Oahu and moved first to Waikiki, then Hawaii Kai.
Only beach we ever hated was Makaha past the base entrance. Local gang bangers were drunk and fighting and scared my wife and keiki.
Anyway, that’s awhile ago and long before my spinal cord injury. Now I’m happy with the wife helping me use a walker to get into the water at Ala Moana Beach. Once deep enough I can still swim! God Bless her!
Actually, there is a list of places, beaches included, here in Hawaii, that the public are asked not to post about on social media due to overcrowding and the risk of destruction (coral death/damages, for example).
Also, I hesitate to name my favorite places for that same reason.
The amount of people that disrespect Hawaii is astounding. I don’t know what the heck people are thinking (not thinking? Or don’t care) when it comes to basic respect of the land, residents and the wildlife.
I knew a woman that was that way. What was she thinking or not thinking. Instead of holding on to some trash until she came to a can she would roll down the car window and throw it out. When I first visited Hawaii I mentioned to her how you were supposed to leave things like you found them-or better. Don’t take any rocks or sand etc. with you. As soon as I said it she ask me to bring her some sand when I got back. What did I just say?!
I think throwing trash out of your car is far worst than taking some sand …at least on Maui, there is a lot of sand!
I think of it this way: If everyone takes a little sand there wouldn’t be any left. Some people that took stuff from the Big Island mailed it back. They were having a lot of bad luck. They thought maybe there was something to Pele being angry for them taking things home with them. I don’t know why anyone would litter anywhere. It makes things look so bad.
I heard that story over 20 years ago (taking sand home as a souvenir bringing bad luck), but the trash issue is still far more damaging …you say what would happen if everyone took sand and I say “imagine if everyone just left their trash on the island”, of course as everyone knows by now, plastic being the worst because it can easily make it to the ocean where turtles get choked thinking it’s jellow fish etc. So far, no shortage of sand on Maui.
I go by how I feel on the situation. I prefer to hold onto my trash if no can is readily available. When I first went to a beach on the mainland I was big on collecting shells. I picked up a Starfish to take home and it later broke. Pele is not an issue for me. I just prefer to leave everything where it is. I like real flowers and leis but I don’t like to see the flowers die. I use to pick flowers but I wouldn’t now. That’s just me.
Neither should be done. It is what is known as respect and common sense. There is no better option, hence the reason tourist are not being welcomed, they feel too entitled ” I paid to come so I can do what I want”
Yes, I remember that I explored some of those during Covid. I found beaches just by exploring areas I always wondered about (after being a real estate broker for 30 years in DC before getting licensed here) and it was obvious that the beaches I found were “local” and when I told a lady in Lahaina that I found some of those beaches, she said “please don’t post them on Facebook” and I didn’t. In fact, I haven’t been back there, since I love the beach closest to me (Kaanapali), even if I have to share it with tourists.
Just FYI, Dr Beach is a PhD in coastal ecology and rotates beaches in his ratings so repeats are rare or spread out, otherwise a handful would always be the same top 10. There are some beaches even some locals stay away from, Waimanalo is very local locals only. Thanks for noting there are beaches visitors need to stay away from. I wish Kailua, which neighbors Lanikai, hadn’t become so popular with parking often overflowing on weekends and holidays.
Regarding wildlife, visiting a beach known for turtles we saw a group of four taking turns sitting on a turtle on the sand and taking selfies and group pics. We told them it was against the law to go within 25 feet of protected wildlife much less sit on them and they told us what we could do.
Let Dr Beach mislead people. Stay away from the real treasures
I am being biased here but I will always love Waimea Beach. I grew up in Waimea so it does have a special place in my heart our house is very near the area. I remember as a child in the 80s we let in a family of tourists in our seperate guest shack because their rental car broke down. We didn’t accept their payment because they truly needed help. They were amazed by the beautiful sunrise of waimea.
Build proper parking lots and restrooms from all the taxes and fees. Even changing entrance fee would better than parking and peeing in the dirt and shrubs. Residents would be better off offering services in a controlled area instead of just fighting the tourist. Its Hawaii people love it and will come.
I got favorites on the Big Island named Secret Beach.
Ironically one of my favorite places in the world is called “Secreta beach” on Maui.
ok, the only secret beach I know is in Maui (but it’s not really “secret”. However, I did go to a small (hidden) beach on the Big Island when I visited 20 years ago, may be that was the one!
Nice post Jeff/Rob. Personally, We haven’t found a beach we didn’t like! :0)
Thanks for the words on Lanikai but it’s popular with everyone from Oahu residents to tourists, as is Kailua Beach next door, which does have parking – often full to overcapacity – and bathrooms. Kailua is also over popular with tourists, including bus loads who get off, take a selfie, use a restroom and leave. Just FYI, Dr. Beach, Stephen Leatherman, is a PhD in coastal environment and rotates the beaches in his ratings, you can only be No.1 once, our at least once in a long while. He’s a professor at Florida International University. When you check out Lanikai, you might take a look at the state and local beaches in Waimanalo, including the Air Force base beach, but watch out for break ins and a dislike of visitors.
Thanks BOH for another informative article. Always enjoyable to read. My favorite beach is/was Polihale. It used to be very quiet and serene, almost like a private beach. I haven’t been there in awhile since it was closed the last time I visited Kauai. There is no shortage of beautiful beaches, that’s for sure.
Aloha guys! That’s easy,Hapuna Beach,Kohala Coast Big Island!! Can’t wait to be back in Nov.