Favorite Hawaii Beach

[Pomai]

The Travel Channel ran a marathon today on some absolutely beautiful beaches around the world.

This was their pick of the Top 10 Hawaiian Beaches (http://travel.discovery.com/ideas/beaches/hawaii-beaches/hawaii-beaches.html):


Lanikai beach - Oahu
The North Shore (including Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Sunset) - Oahu
Punalu'u (black sand) beach - Big Island of Hawaii
Ho'okipa beach - Maui
Lahaina beach - Maui
Poipu beach - Kauai
Kauna'oa beach - Big Island of Hawaii
Ka'anapali beach - Maui
Honaunau Bay - Big Island of Hawaii
Waikiki - Oahu


Surely many of you - whether local or visitor - will disagree with this list. I sort of do. My girlfriend is from Maui and can't believe Ho'okipa made #4. Totally blown out unless you're a windsurfer. I guess it depends what your activity at any particular beach is, which can be many!

Where is your favorite Hawaii beach?

[Miulang]

Kalepolepo in South Maui, mostly because the touristas don't know about it...yet.:p And because it was an ancient Hawaiian fishpond.

Miulang

[acousticlady]

Maui - Charlie Young Beach at the end of Kamaole I

[Menehune Man]

Makapu'u Beach - Oahu

'Cause you can boogie board/body surf, or just swim, explore around both edges, suntan or find some shade if needed, never seems to get too crowded, though there's usually a few bikinis to watch! :D

All around good.

[MatildaRose]

I have two favorite beaches -- Polihale on Kauai, where you can hear mountain goats on the cliffs, and Makaha.

[oggboy]

Hamoa Beach, Hana Maui
Oggboy/Can lidat

[helen]

Lydgate Park in Wailua, Kauai. I don't know when they placed the rocks but it forms two protected pools from the usual rough East Kauai swells. The bigger of the two pools (which is shown in the photo) gets to be around 5ft or more in depth and is great for snokeling, can see fish swimming around close to the rocks.

[cynsaligia]

i like going to the "turtle beach" on the north shore of oahu, even tho there was once a turtle who mistook my black boyshort bikini-clad okole for a rock and came thisclose to biting it in search of seaweed. :(

someone, please enlighten me as to its proper name.

another beach i would like to go to again is little beach on maui. ;)

[MatildaRose]

i like going to the "turtle beach" on the north shore of oahu, even tho there was once a turtle who mistook my black boyshort bikini-clad okole for a rock and came thisclose to biting it in search of seaweed. :(

someone, please enlighten me as to its proper name.

another beach i would like to go to again is little beach on maui. ;)


This site says it's called Laniakea Beach.
www.northshore.com/hawaii/beach-lani.asp

I think I've heard my husband-surfer talk about Laniakea's -- maybe a surf spot near the turtle beach? Maybe not. :confused:

[oceanpacific]

Punalu'u (Ka'u on Big Island) - very dangerous current;

Hapuna - since we lacked "real" beaches in Hilo, we'd drive 65 miles to Hapuna on weekends when we were in high school. There, we'd meet the girls from Kona and the Hamakua coast.

[LikaNui]

Waimanalo Beach, especially the Magnum Beach and Hidden Beach areas.
:)

[tutusue]

[...]and Makaha.
High five, MatildaRose! All along the Waianae Coast there are some beautiful beaches. During big surf I love to sit on Makaha Beach and live vicariously thru those in the water!!! Otherwise, the view from my living room will do just fine...

[MatildaRose]

High five, MatildaRose! All along the Waianae Coast there are some beautiful beaches. During big surf I love to sit on Makaha Beach and live vicariously thru those in the water!!! Otherwise, the view from my living room will do just fine...

Love the photo -- most definitely suitable for framing, or on the cover of a Christmas card. I love the Waianae Coast, TutuSue. Extended family from Canada had a condo at Makaha Valley Plantation until 2001. Plenty peacocks! They lived there 5 months of the year for 13 years or so, and Makaha was like my weekend home. I hear you about the big surf...look, but don't touch. :eek:

[Keanu]

i like going to the "turtle beach" on the north shore of oahu, even tho there was once a turtle who mistook my black boyshort bikini-clad okole for a rock and came thisclose to biting it in search of seaweed. :(

someone, please enlighten me as to its proper name.

another beach i would like to go to again is little beach on maui. ;)

This site says it's called Laniakea Beach.
www.northshore.com/hawaii/beach-lani.asp

I think I've heard my husband-surfer talk about Laniakea's -- maybe a surf spot near the turtle beach? Maybe not. :confused:

Yes, the beach in question is Laniakea Beach or just Lani's. The surf break is a couple of hundred yards from shore.

When tourists ask me where "turtle beach" is located, I tell them I don't know of any beach on the North Shore that goes by that name.

[Menehune Man]

... another beach i would like to go to again is little beach on maui. ;)

Yeah, "Little Makena" is a Great beach!
Many years ago I was anchored off of Kamaole 1 in Kihei and would ride my bicycle all the way down there to go swimming, snorkling, play volleyball, and...
Yeah, "Little Makena" is a Great beach.

[Pomai]

another beach i would like to go to again is little beach on maui. ;)Been there many times. Semi-clothed at least. Sunday with the Hippies and the congas is truly an experience.

Of all the people, YOU mention Little Beach. Nothing couldn't be more beautiful than a Filipina hottie at Little Beach. :cool:

The closest we have to nude beaches on Oahu is either near Mokuleia on the North Shore and Diamond Head. Sort of. But unlike Maui, the cops enforce against it here, which is stupid. Spend your beat time going after drug dealers and thieves, not boobies and naked beach booty. :D

[1stwahine]

Yokohama Beach.:D
http://oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu/?i=oahu&shid=2&bch=yokohama

Auntie Lynn

[Pomai]

I have two favorite beaches -- Polihale on Kauai, where you can hear mountain goats on the cliffs.That is one long, long and wide stretch of beach. Like a desert. At the time we were on Kaua'i, Polihale (the road going there) was closed due to facility repairs.

From what I've been told, Kauai's homeless population occupies some areas at Polihale. I also hear Tiger Sharks frequent that area, all the way back up towards Barking Sands.

[Pomai]

While not really a "beach", here's a (reposted) photo I took about a year ago at China Walls (notice I pluralize it!) at Portlock in Hawaii Kai...

http://www.96seven44.com/images/chinawalls_ledge.jpg

It's a cool place to hang out and tan and jump in the water when it's calm. I just hate when folks drink beer there and leave their empty bottles and rubbish. Take the trash with you, damned it!

Heed the warning...

http://www.96seven44.com/images/chinawallsobelisk.jpg

To get to China Walls (http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/556767712wbQRhI), turn into Portlock on Lunalilo Home Road, then make a left on Poipu Drive where the school park is (an uphill climb). Drive all the way down (up), then make a right on Hanapepe Loop. Park in front of the (very expensive!) homes near Hanapepe Place (notice all the street names in Portlock are named after areas on Kaua'i). You can tell, because there'll usually be plenty of cars. Walk into Hanapepe Place' cul-de-sac and head for the grassy area where you'll see the obelisk in the photo above, then walk down a small trail. There you are... China Walls (http://www.pbase.com/selvin/china_wall).

I just might head out there today. :cool:

[D'Alani]

Just before Kawela Bay a small beach with an island just offshore, I think it's called Maninikukai Island. Good swimmimg, diving, fishing, and planny pipipi.:)

[Miulang]

Another of my most favorite Hawaiian beaches is at Papohaku Beach (http://www.hawaiiweb.com/molokai/beaches/PapohakuBeachPark.htm) on Moloka'i (next to Kaluakoi). That stretch of beach is the most pristine I have ever seen. The day we were there, there was no one else on the beach (although there were people camping and using the park facilities). It's a very very long, expansive stretch of white sand. Absolutely gorgeous. Think Wailea or Makena beaches, but 3 miles long and 300 yards to the water's edge.

Miulang

[modpirate]

I have a sentimental attachment to Waimea Bay.

[acousticlady]

Another of my most favorite Hawaiian beaches is at Papohaku Beach (http://www.hawaiiweb.com/molokai/beaches/PapohakuBeachPark.htm) on Moloka'i (next to Kaluakoi). That stretch of beach is the most pristine I have ever seen. The day we were there, there was no one else on the beach (although there were people camping and using the park facilities). It's a very very long, expansive stretch of white sand. Absolutely gorgeous. Think Wailea or Makena beaches, but 3 miles long and 300 yards to the water's edge.

Miulang

Am heading there next week! Going over to celebrate my birthday. Yeah!

[Miulang]

Am heading there next week! Going over to celebrate my birthday. Yeah!

Oooh...lucky you! Moloka'i is my favorite of all the islands, too. Go have a long john at Kunemitsu Bakery in K'kai for me.;) And if you like Spam musubi, the Chevron station that's right outside K'kai (next to the blinking "stop" light), sells these double Spam musubi...awesome. And go to the kanikapila at Hotel Moloka'i (the Bamboo Room) on Friday night. Good fun and it's a great place to watch the sun set behind Maui.

Miulang

[MatildaRose]

That is one long, long and wide stretch of beach. Like a desert. At the time we were on Kaua'i, Polihale (the road going there) was closed due to facility repairs.

From what I've been told, Kauai's homeless population occupies some areas at Polihale. I also hear Tiger Sharks frequent that area, all the way back up towards Barking Sands.

Sources say that Polihale is part of the longest beach in Hawaii at 17 miles.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/html/beaches/polihale_beach.html

It is desert-like, to some, but the balance and power of Na Pali is out of this world. Check it out with a bit of Loyal Garner:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hwDih-vZo8

Tiger Sharks? Probably. We didn't see much of a homeless population when we were back 2 years ago, but the end of the road where we go, is close to Barking Sands, which the State/Feds manage, so it's as close to isolated as you can get. The icing on the cake at Polihale is the view of Niihau -- stunning is an understatement. My husband says the surf rocks (no crowds).

[acousticlady]

Oooh...lucky you! Moloka'i is my favorite of all the islands, too. Go have a long john at Kunemitsu Bakery in K'kai for me.;) And if you like Spam musubi, the Chevron station that's right outside K'kai (next to the blinking "stop" light), sells these double Spam musubi...awesome. And go to the kanikapila at Hotel Moloka'i (the Bamboo Room) on Friday night. Good fun and it's a great place to watch the sun set behind Maui.

Miulang

The kanikapila is the reason I'm going - and to meet friends :). Will definitely have a long john for you!

[Pomai]

Sources say that Polihale is part of the longest beach in Hawaii at 17 miles.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/html/beaches/polihale_beach.html

It is desert-like, to some, but the balance and power of Na Pali is out of this world. Check it out with a bit of Loyal Garner:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hwDih-vZo8

Tiger Sharks? Probably. We didn't see much of a homeless population when we were back 2 years ago, but the end of the road where we go, is close to Barking Sands, which the State/Feds manage, so it's as close to isolated as you can get. The icing on the cake at Polihale is the view of Niihau -- stunning is an understatement. My husband says the surf rocks (no crowds).Wasn't knocking it or your suggestion. Just saying.

Imagine 20 years from now when Polihale, and other such secluded beaches in Hawaii will be infiltrated with tourists.

I decided to stay in Waikiki yesterday, and took these shots in front of Duke's, while of course, enjoying the jamz of Henry Kapono...

http://www.96seven44.com/images/waikiki_kepoikai.jpg

http://www.96seven44.com/images/waikiki_diamondhead_7.30.07.jpg

Yeah yeah, Waikiki and its scenic splendor is highly overated, but it's still one darned beautiful beach, and a great back yard to play in!

[Vanguard]

Waikiki
Haleiwa
Hanauma Bay

[Leo Lakio]

The kanikapila is the reason I'm going - and to meet friends :).Lucky you, indeed. I haven't been to Moloka`i since 1989 - and I was at the beach Miulang mentioned!

The slide guitarist with our halau up here goes to Moloka`i just about every year, and he always sits in with folks at the kanikapila. He's made me several recordings of the gatherings, and he plays and studies with Mr. William Aki.

[timkona]

I love that shot with Diamond Head in the background. Similar shots, taken 50 years ago, show a wide expanse of sand between the hotels and the ocean.

Best to sell your ocean front properties NOW. You don't want to be "The Last Sucker Holding The Bag".

I hear there is a nice place, across the street from the ocean, that is for sale.

[Miulang]

Wasn't knocking it or your suggestion. Just saying.

Imagine 20 years from now when Polihale, and other such secluded beaches in Hawaii will be infiltrated with tourists.

I decided to stay in Waikiki yesterday, and took these shots in front of Duke's, while of course, enjoying the jamz of Henry Kapono...

http://www.96seven44.com/images/waikiki_kepoikai.jpg

http://www.96seven44.com/images/waikiki_diamondhead_7.30.07.jpg

Yeah yeah, Waikiki and its scenic splendor is highly overated, but it's still one darned beautiful beach, and a great back yard to play in!
A few years ago, we spent a weekend in Honolulu. On the Sunday we had brunch at the Royal Hawaiian, it was kind of drizzly and humid. But there was nary a soul on Waikiki Beach!:) We decided that the best time to be on Waikiki Beach was when it was raining; then you can have the beach all to yourself, just like it probably was in the early days when travelling to Hawai'i meant sailing on a Matson boat.

Miulang

[acousticlady]

Lucky you, indeed. I haven't been to Moloka`i since 1989 - and I was at the beach Miulang mentioned!

The slide guitarist with our halau up here goes to Moloka`i just about every year, and he always sits in with folks at the kanikapila. He's made me several recordings of the gatherings, and he plays and studies with Mr. William Aki.

I FEEL lucky! I will try to look up Mr. William Aki. I would love to "pick" his brain if he'll let me. I have nothing but awe and respect for any musician (I personally am terrified to perform in public).