10 Best Beaches in Hawaii

Kailua Beach Park ranks as one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Oahu and is perfect for watersports like windsurfing as well as indulging in some bird-watching. The beach is only a 30-minute drive from city centre Honolulu and is boasts beautiful, turquoise waves and soft, white sand.

In addition to all the usual activities that can be enjoyed on the beach, such as flying kites, building sandcastles, and windsurfing, you might also want to check out Flat Island, a rock seawall located just a little way into the ocean. It’s easy to take a quick lap to the small island, and you can surf or kayak around it as well. The island also serves as a bird sanctuary.

Ko Olina Beach Park, located on the coast of Oahu, contains 4 man-made lagoons alongside offshore reefs that are a definite treat to swim in when visiting this upscale beach. The beach here definitely caters to visitors to the island, given that it contains Disney's Aulani and the Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club.

Conveniently, parking is free even for beachgoers not staying in a resort, and there are public bathrooms and showers. The beach is located approximately 24 miles from city centre Honolulu.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a visitor hotspot, and besides the usual beach fun, one of the most notable things here is that it’s a nursery ground for baby turtles. Green sea turtles, to be precise, and it’s very common to see some of these small sea turtles swim around in the waters before making their way on out to sea.

The bay also has an abundance of parrotfish, but besides being ideal for checking out the marine life, the beach here is perfect for relaxing or building a sandcastle. The preserve is a 40-minute drive from city centre Honolulu.

Waimanalo Beach is a perfect place to indulge in activities such as bodyboarding or hiking a small trail that’s populated with wildflowers. The hiking trail itself is very laid-back and good for all skill levels, and it offers a great opportunity to stretch your legs and explore nature separate from the beach.

Before or after hiking, though, you’ll probably want to catch some waves. The waves aren’t too big and break close to the shore, making it the perfect atmosphere to do some watersports such as bodyboarding. However, there are some occasions where the shore break can be powerful, so it’s good to still take caution.

Makena Beach is further proof that the best things come in pairs because it also allows you to experience 2 beaches as one: Big Beach and Little Beach. Naturally, Big Beach is larger, and it offers more amenities, such as picnic tables, bathrooms, and food concessions.

Little Beach is just a short distance away and is composed of a small cove, but without any amenities, so you may find it a little less populated. Makena Beach is located in South Maui.

Kapalua Bay Beach is roughly a 20-minute drive from Lahaina and is protected by 2 reefs extending outward to form an impressive crescent-shaped cove makes for a great photo opportunity. In addition to snapping selfies in front of the cove, you can also enjoy the calm waters of this beach that make it an ideal location to do some snorkelling.

Naturally, after swimming or snorkelling for the whole day, you’re bound to find yourself famished. Luckily, you can make a quick walk to Merriman's. Merriman’s is a farm-to-table restaurant towards the south side of the beach that serves an excellent array of fresh seafood dishes, so you’re sure to find yourself satisfied.

Waikiki Beach is a luxury, upscale beach that lives under the shadow of the iconic Diamond Head volcano. Diamond Head is certainly worth a visit if you can manage it, but Waikiki Beach also has plenty to offer on its own.

The beach has a long history of being a playground for royalty and the rich, but anyone can enjoy it. With a backdrop of hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops and a bounty of watersports available here, like surfing and paddleboarding, there's plenty to do on and off the beach.

Lanikai Beach is a great spot to visit if you enjoy swimming or indulging in watersports. Located in Oahu, roughly 30 minutes from city centre Honolulu, Lanikai Beach has some of the most beautiful views on the Mokulua Islands coupled with its shimmering turquoise waters.

The beach is perfect for watersports such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and windsurfing. You can rent some snorkelling gear here as well. Since it’s less of a tourist area given that it’s located in a residential area, it’s possible to have a good chunk of the beach to yourself.

Hanalei Beach is part of a crescent bay that is composed of 4 different beaches that make up Hanalei Beach Park. Hanalei Beach is the main highlight, but all the beaches are in close proximity, and some usual activities to engage in include surfing, boogie boarding, and just enjoying the crystal-clear waters.

Besides to beauty of the seas, the area also has beautiful green mountains in the background that make a great backdrop for scenic photos and selfies. The beach is about 7 miles away from city centre Kauai.

Hapuna Beach is known for having one of the most expansive white-sand beaches in all of Hawaii, and it’s a real treat to visit. Located along the volcanic western coastline of the Kohala Coast, this beautiful beach is not only one of the largest white beaches but has also been consistently ranked in international lists of top-10 beaches in the entire world.

Hapuna Beach lives up to its title. In addition to activities such as swimming, bodyboarding, sunbathing, and snorkelling, sometimes it’s possible to spot whales during migration. Additionally, there are amenities such as food vendors, showers, and bathrooms.