The Most Beautiful Beaches in Hawaii

If you’re in the planning stages of your vacation to the Aloha State, chances are you’re feeling pretty daunted with the number of options available, especially when it comes to beautiful beaches worth checking out.

Hawaii’s coastline is absolutely dreamy and pretty extensive, which pretty much means you can’t really go wrong when it comes to deciding what beach to head to next. One thing you definitely need to keep in mind, though, is that where you ultimately decide to go will depend entirely on your interests and overall travel style.

Whether you’re traveling with small kids, want to spend a day surrounded by luxury, or prefer to mix things up and combine a beach day with time out in nature, Hawaii is guaranteed to please. Below is a list of the best beaches to visit in Hawaii!

The Most Beautiful Beaches in Hawaii

1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

If what you’re after is a spot that combines beach time and nature, look no further than Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on the island of

Oahu.

Located only thirty minutes away from Honolulu, Hanauma is a perfect place to head to in order to escape the bustle and hustle of the city without straying too far away from the city’s amenities.

While here, you can spend the day snorkeling through its glass-shaped bay. Where chances of spotting Honus (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) from a close distance are pretty high as they love swimming close to the shore.

After you’re done exploring the surface, you can continue scouring the preserve on foot by following the Koko Bay Trail, which will take you all the way up to a volcanic crater!

2. Wailea Beach

Love luxury and want a chic place to hang out for a day? If a resort vibe sounds like your jam, Wailea Beach is a must on your plans.

Wailea Beach is actually not only ranked as one of the best beaches in Hawaii. But it also often makes it to the top beaches in the world. Amenities are aplenty at Wailea, including cabanas, bars, and food. This means all you really have to worry about during your visit is choosing what bikini to wear.

Another highlight of Wailea is that it offers a wide array of activities. Including snorkeling, body surfing, and boogie boarding in case you feel like getting out into the ocean.

Plus, Wailea is considered a prime spot to catch sights of migrating whales during the winter months!

3. Lanikai Beach

Not only is Lanikai considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Hawaiian Islands, but also in the entire world.

Wrapped up by miles and miles of bright blue water and soft white sand, Lanikai offers views like no other. In fact, Lani Kai translates into “heavenly ocean” in Hawaiian language. Which is a pretty fitting description of what being here feels like!

Thanks to its calm waters, Lanikai is a perfect place for swimming. Kayaking is also a favorite activity to try while at Lanikai. And you can actually kayak your way to two small islands that sit close to the shore!

4. Punaluu Beach

Set right between Pahala and Na’a’ehu on the Big Island of Hawaii, Panauluu Beach is one of the seven black sand beaches on the

island, all of whose dark-colored sand was created by lava from the nearby Kilauea Volcano.

Aside from admiring the natural wonder that is black sand, Punaluu Beach is also a popular spot to see endangered green turtles and hawksbill turtles. So make sure you keep your eyes out for them! Moreover, Punaluu also provides picnic spots, snorkeling opportunities, camping grounds, and various beautiful hiking trails.

5. Kapalua Beach

Back in the 90s, Kapalua beach was considered the best beach in the entire United States. While that’s no longer the case, it still

remains one of the most beautiful beaches in Maui and entire Hawaii.

Kapalua provides the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience a classic Hawaiian beach feel. With a palm-fringed shore featuring golden sand. And blue waters as clear as they can get. The weather and environment on this northern part of Maui is also something to see. As it’s vastly different than the beaches a bit south. 

A popular activity at Kapalua is simply relaxing under the sun’s rays, but snorkeling here is another prime thing to do, especially for first-timers. Thanks to the fact that there is a coral reef located right by the shore, you can spot tons of colorful fish and even a few sea turtles without having to stray too far away from the shore.

6. Makalawena Beach

If you’re into quiet beaches and usually prefer to go to places away from the typical tourist route, Makalawena Beach is a perfect place to do just that.

Set on Hawaii’s Big Island, Makalawena is located pretty close to Kekaha Kai State Park, making it a great destination to combine beach

and nature on a day trip.

Despite its unraveled beauty, this beach still remains a bit of a hidden gem due to the fact that it’s a bit tough to reach it. To get to it, you will either need to drive on a 4×4 or walk for about half an hour from the parking lot. Still, once you get there, the extra effort is definitely worth your while!

 

Are you currently planning your beach-hopping adventure in Hawaii? Which of these beaches sparks your interest the most? You can’t go wrong and won’t be disappointed in any of the choices! I’d love to know which one of them you are most excited to check out, so let me know in the comment section below!