The 11 best beaches in Hawaii
Waikiki’s perpetually bumping scene is a forever draw to the 50th state, but the best beaches in Hawaii go far beyond Honolulu, and you’d be doing yourself a disservice by spending your vacation in just one spot. Hawaii's eight main islands are home to beaches of every size, shape, and colour. There are also activities to suit the pickiest, most pernickety traveller, from snorkelling to paddle boarding and sunset strolls. Whether you’re after a leisurely dip in calm, turquoise waters or a surf in some serious swells, the state's superlative coastline has a beach with your name on it. Here, we’ve handpicked 11 of the very best beaches in Hawaii.
7 Michael/GettyHamoa Beach, Maui
Good for: Bodysurfing and boogie boarding
This slice of heaven is on the road to Hana, located about a half-mile past Mile Marker 51 on Highway 31. Here, you'll find a perfect crescent of cushiony sand backed by lush emerald-green foliage and pretty native Hala trees (from which you'll find swings hanging on either side of the beach). Thanks to easterly trade winds, there’s consistent surf that's great for bodysurfing and boogie boarding, though the swells can get larger in the late afternoon – particularly in the winter – so it's best to stick to the shallows unless you're an experienced ocean swimmer.
Hamoa also comes with the added perk of public bathrooms and showers (a luxury most Maui beaches don't have) and is a short walk to Tony's Place, a terrific food stand famous for its Onolicious fish tacos.
Mlenny/GettyKapalua Beach, Maui
Good for: Snorkelling
Protected by two reefs that extend outward on both ends to form a crescent-shaped cove, Kapalua is one of Maui’s best beaches for snorkelling thanks to its calm, clear waters and its abundance of marine life. Its rocky northern end has particularly good visibility since it has less sand, and you can expect to see everything from butterfly fish to large green sea turtles.
Plus, the beach is superlatively beautiful, and despite its popularity, has somehow managed to remain pristine and peaceful. A seafood dinner at Merriman's, a farm-to-table restaurant located at the south end of the beach, is the perfect way to cap off the day.
M.M. Sweet/GettyWailea Beach, Maui
Good for: Whale watching and celebrity-spotting
If you’re more interested in glitz and glamour than the rugged and remote, head to the soft golden sands of Wailea, on Maui’s southwestern coast. The quarter-mile-long shorefront is bookended by swanky five-star resorts – Four Seasons Maui at Wailea at its south end and Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Wailea to the north – both of which help keep the silvery sands immaculate and its emerald waters clear and uncrowded.
Wailea Beach also has stunning views over the Molokini Crater (if you’re game for a tour, we like Sail Trilogy’s newer vessels and skilled crew) and the islands of Lanai and Kahoolawe. It’s an excellent spot to watch whales from November through April.
Plus, there are tons of places nearby to grab a sundowner after a day spent in the ocean, from the casual Monkeypod Kitchen to the sleek Lehua Lounge.
Pro tip: There are nightly hula shows, followed by live piano and guitar performances, at the Four Seasons’ lounge – and you don’t need to be a guest to enjoy them, either.
Kilmer Media/AlamyKaihalulu Beach, Maui
Good for: Adventure seekers and Instagram junkies
An essential stop on the road to Hana, Kaihalulu Beach is one of Maui's most striking stretches, thanks to the contrast between its rust-red sand (a product of the lava cinder cone that towers directly behind it) and its electric blue waters.
The beach happens to be one of the most isolated and difficult to reach: the path down is steep, curvy, and narrow, and can get slippery as a result of crumbling cinder and fallen ironwood pine needles. So tread carefully – preferably in hiking boots. And at the bottom you’ll be rewarded with calm, protected waters and the kind of dramatic views that make it worth the trek.
If you don’t want to leave (or just need a good night’s sleep to recover from the trip), check into the dreamy Travaasa Hana nearby.
Zoia Kostina/GettyLanikai Beach, Oahu
Good for: Swimming and watersports
Though it’s only a half-mile long, Lanikai is one of the prettiest stretches of sand on Oahu. It’s the archetypal Hawaiian beachscape: powder-white sands melting into shimmering turquoise water, leafy palm trees, and views out to the beautiful Mokulua Islands.
As one of the few beaches in Oahu without shore-breaking waves, its calm waters are perfect for swimming, paddle boarding, and kayaking, as well as windsurfing and sailing on windier days. (If you’re up for it, we recommend renting snorkelling gear from local operator Kailua Beach Adventures; there are some serious patches of coral reef worth ogling.) Thanks to its location in the quiet residential neighbourhood of Kailua, about a 40-minute drive from Honolulu, it also remains infinitely more peaceful and relaxed than tourist-magnet Waikiki – but do note that for this reason, there’s no public lot, so parking can be tricky to come by.
Teri Wertman/GettyAli'i Beach, Oahu
Good for: Swimming and surfing
A trip to Oahu isn’t complete without a visit to the island’s sleepy, windswept North Shore. Though there are plenty of stunning beaches to explore, from Sunset Beach (known for its enormous swells and show-stopping sunset views) to Laniakea Beach (best for turtle sightings), we love Hale'iwa's Ali'i Beach because it has something for everyone.
For swimmers, there's a small protected bay area on the south side of the beach, while surfers can enjoy some epic breaks a little further north. And unlike many North Shore beaches that are tucked trickily behind residential areas, Ali'i Beach is easy to access and offers lots of parking, a large grassy picnic area, as well as restrooms, showers, and a lifeguard station, making it great for families.
Art Wager/GettyWaimanalo Beach, Oahu
Good for: Leisurely strolls
Do you enjoy long walks on the beach? No, really.
If you do, then look no further. Clocking in at just over three miles long, Waimanalo Beach is the longest uninterrupted white-sand beach on Oahu and a good place to mosey around, scooping up shells and watching the surf roll in.
It’s also one of the best beaches in Hawaii, sandwiched between the dramatic cliffs of the Ko’olau mountain range and the iridescent blue-green waters of Waimanalo Bay. Thanks to its tucked away location on Oahu’s windward, or eastern, coast, it remains relatively uncrowded compared to most other beaches on Oahu, frequented only by local families and in-the-know visitors. And if all that weren’t enough reason to visit, Hawaiian green sea turtles love to visit Waimanalo, so keep your eyes peeled for their glossy shells.
Matt Anderson/GettyMakalawena Beach, Big Island
Good for: Total solitude
Hawaii’s Big Island is known best for its dramatic black sand beaches – but due to their popularity, they’re often pretty crowded and not that great for swimming, let alone relaxing.
Makalawena, on the other hand, is as blissfully deserted as it gets, thanks to its (literally) off-the-beaten-path location – you’ll need a four-wheel drive vehicle to traverse the rough black lava rocks, then hike for another half-hour over a lava field just to get there. (It should go without saying, but you’ll want to pack plenty of water and sunscreen for the journey.) Fortunately, it’s worth the fuss: you’re rewarded with a string of postcard-perfect white-sand coves, lots of shady palm trees to laze beneath, and a beautiful coral reef just a few feet offshore that’s perfect for snorkelling.
A heads-up: The southernmost cove is known for nude bathing, which – coupled with the arduous trek – doesn’t make this spot especially family-friendly.
Philippe FLEURY/GettyPunalu’u Beach, Big Island
Good for: Families and turtle-spotting
Punalu’u is one of the most popular sunbathing spots in all of Hawaii, and for good reason: just off the Māmalahoa Highway (also known as the Hawaii Belt Road), it’s easy to get to; it’s ideal for swimming and snorkelling; and it’s beautiful to boot, with its lush coconut palms, jet-black sand, and jewel-tone waters.
Plus, it’s a popular spot to see groups of enormous Hawaiian sea turtles catching some rays right on the sand in front of you, along with endangered Hawksbill turtles, who often come right up to the shore. (Just remember: It’s illegal to touch sea turtles in Hawaii, so make sure to keep a distance of at least 15 feet). Lifeguards, a picnic area, and natural freshwater pools at the beach’s southern end make Punalu’u especially family-friendly.
John Elk III/AlamyMaha'ulepu Beach, Kauai
Good for: Remote, unspoiled beauty
One could argue that all the beaches on the island of Kauai are pristine, but Maha'ulepu is on another level. It occupies southern Kauai's only stretch of undeveloped shoreline and, thanks to its off-the-beaten-path location (getting here requires either a long, bumpy drive down a dirt cane field road or a hike along the Maha'ulepu coastal trail), it is the definition of unspoiled.
The two-mile stretch of sand is actually made up of three parts – Gillin's Beach, Kawailoa Bay, and Hāʻula Beach – that offer a variety of landscapes and treasures to explore, from tide pools and caves to low, rugged sandstone cliffs. This is about as far from Waikiki as you can get: Maha'ulepu is raw, untamed Hawaii at its finest.
Design Pics Inc/AlamyHālawa Beach Park, Molokai
Good for: Jurassic Park vibes
Thanks to its location on the secluded northeast tip of sleepy Molokai, southeast of Honolulu – arguably the least touristed of all the Hawaiian islands – Hālawa Beach Park feels like a utopia, completely undiscovered and untouched by time.
It's made up of two coves separated by a rocky outcropping: a protected sandy crescent known as Kama'alaea Beach, and ruggedly beautiful Kāwili Beach, with its powerful surf (legend has it that Molokai Ali'i nui – or chiefs – loved to surf here in the 1800s). Backed by dense tropical forest, flanked by lush soaring mountains, and with views of distant waterfalls, you'll feel like you've stumbled into some magical, prehistoric paradise.
A version of this article originally featured on Condé Nast Traveler.