20 of the Most Gorgeous Beaches in Hawaii

With eight main islands and a host of smaller ones, it goes without saying that Hawaii has plenty of beaches. And what glorious beaches they are! Whether you like your sand white, black or green (because why not?), you’ll find it in the Aloha State. You can also choose from bustling tourist hotspots or hidden coves. These are Hawaii’s best beaches.

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1. Waikiki Beach, Oahu

Travel Channel is just one of the many media outlets to list Waikiki as one of the top beaches in Hawaii. Located in Honolulu, it’s Hawaii’s most famous beach, and with so many high-rise hotels lining it, it’s one of the most accessible. Back in the 19th century, Hawaiian royalty would come here to surf.

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2. Hanalei Bay, Kaua’i

Hanalei Bay tops the list of Hawaii’s best beaches according to vacation rental directory HawaiiGaga.com. The beautiful three-kilometre stretch draws surfers of all levels, and in summer, the water is calm enough for stand-up paddleboarding.

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3. Kauna’oa (Mauna Kea) Beach, Hawai’i

Kauna’oa Beach is also known as Mauna Kea Beach because the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is located here. This crescent-shaped white sand beach on the Kohala Coast of Hawai’i or Big Island has a limit of 25 people at a time, according to Travel Channel, so it’s a great option if you want privacy without an arduous trek to get it.

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4. Halona Cove, Oahu

Tiny Halona Cove was 'Whitecap Bay' in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides but in 1953 already it was the filming location for one of cinema’s most memorable scenes. It was here that in From Here to Eternity, Deborah Kerr told Burt Lancaster that nobody kissed her the way he did.

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5. Lanikai Beach, Oahu

HawaiiGaga ranks Lanikai Beach second among Hawaii’s beaches. An offshore reef means the water is calm and perfect for swimming with kids while you can also kayak to the nearby twin islets of Na Mokulua, which you can see in the background.

Lanikai is a popular spot for photo shoots too, if you want to admire beautiful people in swimsuits.

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6. Kailua Beach, Oahu

According to HawaiiGaga, Kailua Beach is tops for the range of activities it offers, including swimming, bodysurfing and surfing. It’s a popular windsurfing and kite-surfing spot too because of the steady trade winds.

Like neighbouring Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach is in an upscale residential area and the lack of hotels keeps the crowds away.

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7. Waimanalo Beach, Oahu

The beach at Waimanalo Bay is almost 5.5 miles long and consists of powdery white sand. It’s to the south of Kailua Bay and while this isn’t the best swimming beach, conditions are perfect for boogie boarding.

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8. Punalu’u Beach, Hawai’i

Punalu’u Beach isn’t really the kind of beach you’d go to for swimming, since underwater rocks can make conditions dangerous. However, as Travel Channel points out, it’s a great place for simply enjoying nature, with green and hawksbill turtles coming to nest here in the jet black sand.

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9. Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach, Maui

Kihalulu Beach is so isolated that it’s become a clothing-optional beach. Getting to this small beach involves a perilous hike but if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with a good snorkelling spot against a backdrop of red sand.

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10. Ka’anapali Beach, Maui

Ka’anapali Beach was named the second best beach in the United States in TripAdvisor’s 2017 Traveler’s Choice Awards. It offers a host of activities, from surfing to volleyball, and there are plenty of resorts around.

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11. Tunnels Beach, Kauai

Tunnels Beach got its name from the many underwater caverns here and as HawaiiGaga says, it’s one of Kauai’s best spots for snorkelling when the water is calm. When surf’s up, though, Tunnels Beach becomes a favourite with kite-surfers and windsurfers. The sunsets are spectacular too.

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12. Haunama Bay Nature Preserve, Oahu

In 2016, the website Dr. Beach named the beach at Haunama Bay Nature Preserve the best beach in the United States. The water is calm and the abundance of tropical fish makes it the perfect place for snorkelling.

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13. Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui

Two rocky headlands protect the stretch of beach at Kapalua Bay, making this a great swimming and snorkelling spot. Dr. Beach ranked it third on his 2016 list of best beaches in the United States.

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14. Hulopo’e Beach, Lanai

Lonely Planet calls Hulopo’e on the south coast of Lanai one of the best beaches in North America. Coral and reef fish make for good snorkelling while tidal pools and a protected splash pool will keep the kids entertained.

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15. Honaunau Beach, Hawai’i

Honaunau Beach gives you access to what Travel Channel calls an underwater paradise. It’s not only a great snorkelling beach but is popular with SCUBA divers too because of the abundance of tropical fish and good visibility.

You might see the odd green turtle here and in the deeper waters you may also spot dolphins.

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16. Makena Cove, Kauai

Picturesque Makena Cove, also known as Secret Beach, is a popular venue for sunset weddings and Fodor’s calls it one of North America’s best beaches. Rocky outcrops are home to tidal pools and provide good lookouts for trying to spot sea turtles.

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17. Kikaua Beach, Hawai’i

Artificially created Kikaua Beach is perfect for swimming with kids because lava outcrops protect the cove, making the water calm, while the bottom of the beach is sandy. This lovely palm-fringed beach never gets crowded, according to HawaiiGaga, because parking is restricted here.

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18. Papakolea Beach, Hawai’i

National Geographic calls Papakolea Beach on Hawai’i Island one of the world’s best beaches. You can only get to this secluded beach after a three-kilometre hike.

So what's the attraction? It could be that you won’t have to compete with thousands of other tourists to find a space to place your beach towel but the real reason to come to Papakolea Beach is that it’s one of only four beaches in the world to feature green sand.

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19. Poipu Beach, Kauai

Travel Channel says that Poipu Beach is perfect for families and beginner swimmers. There are two sections, one of which is ideal if you have small children, while the other offers good snorkelling and occasionally surfing.

The two sections are separated by a sandbar where you might spot a napping monk seal.

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20. Polihale Beach, Kauai

Polihale Beach stretches over 27 kilometres, making it the longest in Hawaii. Part of the beach falls within a military base but a large section is part of the Polihale State Park, where you can camp if you have a permit.

It’s accessible only by what HawaiiGaga calls a 'confoundingly terrible dirt road' but the difficulty of getting here keeps the crowds away.