Hawaii Beach Vacation
If you are looking for a beach vacation, the state of Hawaii can offer many excellent spots for your escapade. Find out more about these amazing vacation destinations and start planning for a wonderful getaway. The Hawaiian Islands offers one of the most exclusive vacation spots in the world. This collection of islands, which is known as the Hawaiian archipelago has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Within its eight main islands, there are more than 100 islets and atolls that could be mistaken for a paradise on Earth.
A lot of people, when planning their vacations, head to the islands. There are a lot of options (like Hawaii for example) for a beautiful beach vacation that’s a little less crowded than other places. When you’re getting ready to go, though, how many things should you bring? Even if you’ve been before, you might want to consider different things this time around.
Hawaii is a state located in the Pacific Ocean. It is made up of 6 islands that are also referred to as the Hawaiian Islands or The Big Island. They consist of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii. These islands are also known as the Sandwich Islands. The state is home to at least 8 of the world’s 13 climate zones which include coastal beaches, rainforests, deserts and highlands. Some areas even experience volcanoes and lava.
Hawaii Beach Vacation
One of the many reasons we love Hawaii — aside from an incredible mai tai, fresh seafood, and laid-back surf culture — is that it can easily lay claim to having the most beautiful beaches in the world. Why is that? For starters, they come in every size, shape, and color there: wide, calm expanses that are perfect for families and little ones who just want to dip their toes in the Pacific; tiny, secluded coves where honeymooning couples can get away from the crowds; and red, white, black, and green sandy stretches that provide the ultimate photo-op for Instagram. Best of all, you can access every single one of them, since all of Hawaii’s beaches are public.
Better still, you’re not limited to experiencing these beaches on just one island. Like many travelers, you can visit Hawaii on a multi-island itinerary, and spend each day of your sun-filled vacation hitting up a different shoreline. Oahu, home to world-famous Waikiki Beach, is known for having some of the widest golden stretches — and the best surfing — in all of Hawaii.
Kauai is nicknamed the Garden Island, and with good reason: the tropical forests here are lovely and lush, and have served as a backdrop for films such as “Jurassic Park.” But the coastline is also blessed with many reefs, which in turn create ideal beaches for snorkeling. Tiny Lanai, famous for having two luxurious Four Seasons resorts, has one of the best beaches in the world for spotting spinner dolphins.
Hawaii, which also goes by the name Big Island, may be best known for its lunar-like volcanic rock landscape, and can also lay claim to having some crowd-pleasing white-sand beaches, including the photographic gem Punalu’u black-sand beach. A secluded island off-the-beaten tourist path, Molokai has some of the most pristine stretches, where you’re likely to run into mainly locals.
So how to pick from all these spectacular stretches of sand? Here are some of Travel + Leisure‘s favorite beaches where you can get a slice of that true Hawaiian paradise.
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Waikiki Beach, Oahu
Travelers have been flocking to this calm, golden, crescent-shaped stretch of sand on the island of Oahu since the early 1900s — when Hawaii first popped up on the tourist radar, and visitors would arrive only by steamship. Today, it’s a bit more crowded, but the scene is still fun: grab a mai tai at the iconic Royal Hawaiian hotel, built-in 1927; kick back; and watch locals mingle with tourists, all with impressive Diamond Head as a backdrop.
Ko Olina Beach, Oahu
If you have kids, get to this placid beach on the west side of Oahu right away. The clear blue water is shallow enough for little ones to splash around in, and sitting just above the lagoon is Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. Another property not to be missed is the five-star Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina.
Waimea Bay Beach Park, Oahu
Set along the dramatic, less-developed north shore of Oahu, Waimea Bay is one of the island’s most famous big-wave surfing beaches. During the winter months, from November through February, the swells become awe-inspiring giants that draw the pro riders. Waimea, Sunset Beach, and Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline) play host to some of Hawaii’s top surfing competitions, like the Vans Triple Crown. You can stay at the nearby Turtle Bay Resort to be near the center of the action.
Polihale State Park, Kauai
It takes some effort to get to this remote, 17-mile stretch on Kauai’s windswept western shore. And you’ll need a four-wheel-drive in order to navigate a bumpy road and sand dunes. But the effort is worth it. On this quiet, almost ethereal stretch, you can see landmarks like the Napali cliffs (which technically begin on Polihale’s northern end) and Niihau, Hawaii’s forbidden island. Also pack plenty of sunscreen and water, since there is limited shade.