Which are the best beaches in Hawaii? Recently a group of 600 travel experts from Canada ranked the world’s top fifty. These included Honokalani Beach at Hana, Maui (#28), Tunnels Beach on Kauai (#32) and Lanikai Beach on Oahu (#41). The criteria used for selection included sand and water, beauty, remoteness and sunshine. Facilities and parking were not factored in.
Would any of these beaches be at the top of your best beaches in Hawaii list?
Honokalani Beach, Maui (featured image above)
This black sand gem is a multi-decade favorite of ours. It’s located within Waianapanapa State Park near Hana. For unique beauty, isolation, and water quality, it ranks highly. For accessibility, and due to its tiny size (located at upper left in photo), it has a unique, must-see-at-least-once appeal.
Tunnels Beach, Kauai
An iconic north shore Kauai snorkeling beach, Tunnels popularity is in part a problem. It can be very crowded, and we’ve had to forego stopping there on multiple occasions due to the unavailability of parking. Illegal parking isn’t a good option since tickets are given freely. There are no road signs so you will need a guide book like Kauai Revealed to understand the location. We have had friends go to Haena Beach thinking they were at Tunnels for example.
Lanikai Beach Oahu
This beach is an iconic gem of Oahu beaches and another Beat of Hawaii favorite. We’ve even had it virtually to ourselves on rare occassions. On the other hand, many times we have turned back because the traffic and parking can be totally maddening on weekends and holidays.
Our previous picks for “best beaches In Hawaii” include the following:
Hapuna Beach, Big Island
Hapuna is known for swimming, surfing, boarding, snorkeling and sunbathing that are consistently top notch. Do you know about Turtle Cove? At the far end of the beach, near the hotel, you’ll see Hawaiian green sea turtles.
Hanalei Bay, Kauai
Hanalei Bay, iconic Kauai is an island favorite and that of travelers worldwide. There isn’t much we haven’t already said about this beauty that’s been featured in films including most recently The Descendants. Follow our guide to Hanalei Bay.
Makena Beach, Maui
South of Wailea, this is one of the best beaches on Maui and a great escape from the resorts. It’s also a nice getaway when staying to the north at Lahaina and beyond. The beach is long and wide, protected by lava walls. It has great swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing with terrific views of neighboring Kahoolawe and Molokini.
David S says
Tunnels and Lanikai are beautiful beaches, but so is Haena, which of course is only a short beach walk from Tunnels. But my favorite remains Lumahai….there is something breathtaking about the sweep of the beach and of course, the “pool” and rock diving at the end. It is never crowded, an easy, brief hike and in the summers, the water is magnificent. We are so lucky to live on Kauai, which has more beach than all the other islands put together.
Diann W says
Big mahalo for not mentioning the best beach in the world on the island you have already mentioned. It’s nice to keep some places from becoming over crowded.
We enjoy your website.
Beat of Hawaii says
Thanks Diann!
Aloha.
Dan says
Keawakapu in Wailea is my favorite. Most days it is calm in the morning for great swimming and snorkeling and afternoon trade winds provide some waves for boogie boarding or body surfing in the afternoon.
Nalani says
Aloha! Just an FYI, Tunnels isn’t the correct name. It’s Makana and we are trying diligently to include the actual Hawaiian placenames when referring to places. It’s totally o.k. that Tunnels (the surf spot on the outer reef) is used as long as we help people also identify its original name. Thank you so much for this website. I really enjoy it! Nalani
ane t says
Aloha.
I am writing from Maui. I don’t know why Makenna beach (big beach) is consistently called one of the best beaches on Maui for swimming. I would never swim there and I live here. Most days it has big and sometimes huge waves and the shore break is “killer”. Yes it is beautiful but I would never consider it a safe and good place to swim. It’s always packed with tourists. Interestingly enough, I rarely hear of someone drowning there – at other beaches here, yes – but not there. We have had 11? deaths by drowning this year so far!! All at the relatively safe beaches. Go figure.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Ane.
Thanks very much for being a regular at Beat of Hawaii. Much appreciated!
Aloha.
David says
What do consider the best Maui beach? We visit every year and stay on Napili Bay. It’s a nice beach, but the waves and rip tide are dangerous at times.
Susan says
I agree, Ane. I come Maui a couple of times a year and Makena is one of my favorite beaches there. It is one of the most beautiful, but it can also be dangerous to swim there for those who don’t know how to handle the shore break. I almost know the lifeguard’s speech by heart- “Don’t go in the water if you do not know how to handle strong currents and high waves. There have been many accidents here as a result of inexperienced swimmers.” Best to sit and watch and enjoy the surfers!
Sonya says
Hello I’m am traveling to Kona June 22-29, to run my 50th half marathon . I will be traveling from Philadelphia can you please tell me when would be the best time to purchase airfare and about how much would be it. Thank you very much. I’ll be traveling with 4-6 people.