25 Best Beaches in Hawaii You Need To Visit
If you’re looking for the best beaches in Hawaii, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve compiled a list of the top 25 beaches in Hawaii—so whether you’re looking for secluded beaches, family-friendly beaches, or black sand beaches, we’ve got you covered.
With clear water and soft white or black sand, it’s easy to see why these beaches are so famous. Take a swim, surf, or relax—whatever you do, you’re sure to have a great time on any of these amazing beaches!
Best Beaches in Hawaii
1. Kaanapali Beach
Location: Maui
Lifeguard: Yes
Facilities/Amenities: Restrooms, parking (limited), shopping
Activities: Swimming, snorkeling, and cliff jumping
Kaanapali Beach is a world-famous 1-mile beach located on Maui’s west coast. With its wide expanse of white sand and clear blue water, it’s easy to see why this beach is a top choice for locals and tourists.
Kaanapali was once a retreat for the royalty of Maui. This says a lot about the beauty of this beach.
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy—from swimming to relaxing on the beach and access to some great shopping and dining options nearby.
Kaanapali Beach is located on a strip of some of Maui’s popular resorts and hotels and is one of Hawaii’s most popular tourist destinations.
Like all beaches in Hawaii, Kaanapali is open to the public and has limited public parking. Be sure to look out for the public parking signs.
We’ve been here a couple of times and were able to park for free both times, but we did have to wait for some people to leave the last time we visited.
Kaanapali Beach is also home to the famous “Black Rock, ” a popular spot for cliff jumping.
If you are looking for a perfect beach with almost everything you could ever need in one setting, Kaanapali Beach is your place!
2. Lanikai Beach
Location: Oahu
Lifeguard: No
Facilities/Amenities: None, limited parking in residential area on weekdays only
Activities: Swimming, kayaking, snorkeling
Lanikai Beach is a world-famous beach located in Kailua on the windward coast of Oahu.
This fantastic beach has been consistently voted as one of the best beaches in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
With its clear turquoise water, soft white sand, and gentle waves, Lanikai Beach is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Hawaii.
The beach is also great for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling. And if you want to explore the area, there are plenty of hiking trails nearby, such as the famous Lanikai Pillbox Hike.
If you love kayaking, Lanikai Beach is one of the best places in Oahu to kayak. You can kayak to the Mokulua Islands, a pair of small islands located about a 30-45 minute kayak from Lanikai Beach.
Lanikai Beach is a must-see for anyone visiting Hawaii and one of our favorite beaches on the island.
See Also: 71 Awesome Things to Do on Oahu With Your Family
3. Kailua Beach Park
Location: Oahu
Lifeguard: Yes
Facilities/Amenities: Parking, restrooms, showers, playground, and picnic tables
Activities: Swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, and kitesurfing
Located on Oahu’s windward coast, Kailua Beach is a beautiful white sand beach with clear turquoise water.
The beach is about 2 miles long and is an excellent place for swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. Kailua Beach is also a good launching place to kayak to the Mokulua Islands and is a straight shot to get there.
The beach is also close to the town of Kailua, which has some great restaurants and shops.
If you are looking for a beautiful white sand beach to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Hawaii, Kailua Beach is the place for you.
See Also: Hawaii in September
4. Hapuna Beach
Location: Big Island
Lifeguard: Yes
Facilities/Amenities: Paid parking, restrooms, showers, and picnic tables
Activities: Swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing
Hapuna Beach, located on the Big Islands Kohala Coast, is a beautiful white sand beach with clear blue water.
The beach is about half a mile long and is an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling. The beach is also close to the town of Waimea, which has some great restaurants and shops.
Hapuna Beach is also known to be one of the best family-friendly beaches due to its continuous shore break, making it an excellent place for kids to swim.
One of the best things about Hapuna Beach is that it’s located on the sunny side of the island and it receives less rain (18.94 inches) than other parts of the island, making it a great beach to visit year-round.
Please note that swimming and snorkeling here are best when the waves are calm. Avoid swimming here if the surf is high. The current can be very strong and dangerous when the waves are big.
If you are visiting in the winter months, you might get lucky and spot a whale while you are here.
5. Poipu Beach
Location: Kauai
Lifeguard: Yes
Facilities/Amenities: Parking, restrooms, showers, shade structure, and picnic tables
Activities: Swimming, fishing, snorkeling, bodyboarding, diving, and surfing
Located on Kauai’s south shore, Poipu Beach is a beautiful golden-white sand beach with turquoise water.
The beach is protected by a barrier reef, making it a popular place for swimming.
If you love wildlife, you will love this beach as monk seals and green sea turtles frequent it.
We had one of the most magical experiences on this beach. We were relaxing and waiting for the sun to set when a monk seal exited the ocean and made its way right up in front of us! We had to move back a little to give it some space, but the experience was one we will never forget.
The sunsets here are spectacular and are surely worth sticking around for. This is by far one of the best places on the island to watch the sunset.
If you are lucky, you might get to watch the sunset with some monk seals too!
6. Wai’anapanapa State Park (Honokalani Beach)
Location: Maui
Lifeguard: Yes
Facilities/Amenities: Camping, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and cabins
Activities: Swimming (only when the tide is low) and hiking
Located on the east side of Maui, Wai’anapanapa State Park is a beautiful black sand beach and one of Maui’s most popular beaches.
This beach was once a significant location for Hawaiians, and it is deemed a sacred place.
If you are looking to visit a black sand beach in Hawaii, this is one of the best, but keep in mind that reservations are required.
Wai’anapanapa means “glistening waters” in Hawaiian, and the name is absolutely fitting. On a sunny day, you can clearly see the water illuminated by the light perfectly against the gorgeous black sand.
One of the best things about this beach is that it’s close to Hana, a small town with great restaurants and shops.
Wai’anapanapa State Park is also one of the best and most popular stops on the famous road to Hana.
Outside of the beach, there are other activities you can do while there too. There are hiking trails, lava caves, stone arches, blowholes, and a temple to explore. This beach and park are worth a visit if you are in Maui.
Please note that swimming here can be dangerousWai’anapanapa—especially during the winter months—due to the high surf and undertow. Only swim in the summer months when the tide is low.
7. Wailea Beach
Location: Maui
Lifeguard: No
Facilities/Amenities: Parking, restrooms, showers, and picnic tables
Activities: Swimming, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, and snorkeling
Located on Maui’s southwest shore, Wailea Beach