Popular Hawaiian Beaches
POPULAR HAWAIIAN BEACHES
© Hawaii Tourism Authority/Kirk Lee Aeder
Your best bet for having fun in the Aloha State...
Thanks to continuous lava flows from active volcanoes, Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that's still growing. In 20 million years, we may be talking about some hot new beach that's risen from the depths of the ocean, but for now, your best bet for having fun in the Aloha State is the sands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai and The Big Island.
The second largest of Hawaii's islands, Maui is a treasure trove of tourist opportunities. From gawking at waterfalls and black- and red-sand beaches on the picturesque drive along the road to Hana to watching the sunrise atop the inactive volcano Haleakala, you won't be disappointed in this island's many offerings.
The oldest of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai has lush scenery that has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including South Pacific, Lilo & Stitch, and the Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii. The island is also home to one of the wettest spots on Earth, a locale on the east side of Mount Wai'ale'ale, which sees 460 inches of rainfall every year.
Oahu, whose name means "Gathering Place," has a particularly apropos nickname since it is the most populous (and cosmopolitan) of the Hawaiian islands. Home to the state capital of Honolulu, the island is perhaps best known as the home of Pearl Harbor, the naval site bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, prompting the United States' involvement in World War II.
The Big Island is known for its active volcanoes and, consequently, its black-sand beaches (the latter are a result of lava hitting the cool ocean water, solidifying, and then cracking into many small pieces). The Big Island is also home to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Mauna Kea Observatory, and Hulihe'e Palace, a former vacation home for Hawaiian royalty.
Combined, Hawaii's most developed islands (Lanai is almost entirely privately owned and Molokai only has a couple of lodging options) give you a bit of paradise, without the need to leave the U.S.
The second largest of Hawaii's islands, Maui is a treasure trove of tourist opportunities. From gawking at waterfalls and black- and red-sand beaches on the picturesque drive along the road to Hana to watching the sunrise atop the inactive volcano Haleakala, you won't be disappointed in this island's many offerings.
The oldest of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai has lush scenery that has been featured in many movies and TV shows, including South Pacific, Lilo & Stitch, and the Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii. The island is also home to one of the wettest spots on Earth, a locale on the east side of Mount Wai'ale'ale, which sees 460 inches of rainfall every year.
Oahu, whose name means "Gathering Place," has a particularly apropos nickname since it is the most populous (and cosmopolitan) of the Hawaiian islands. Home to the state capital of Honolulu, the island is perhaps best known as the home of Pearl Harbor, the naval site bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, prompting the United States' involvement in World War II.
The Big Island is known for its active volcanoes and, consequently, its black-sand beaches (the latter are a result of lava hitting the cool ocean water, solidifying, and then cracking into many small pieces). The Big Island is also home to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Mauna Kea Observatory, and Hulihe'e Palace, a former vacation home for Hawaiian royalty.
Combined, Hawaii's most developed islands (Lanai is almost entirely privately owned and Molokai only has a couple of lodging options) give you a bit of paradise, without the need to leave the U.S.
Choose a Beach
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Big Island
How big is the Big Island? At 4,028 square miles, it's the largest island in the United States. Smoosh all the other Hawaiian isles together and the resulting mash-up still pales by comparison. And the Big Island gets bigger every day because the active volcano at its center spews red-hot lava that cools into black volcanic rock, expanding the island's landmass by a few feet each day. |
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Maui
A veritable sampler of all the other Hawaiian islands, Maui has just about everything you might want on a tropical vacation—beaches, volcanic mountains, world-class cuisine, a variety of accommodations and, of course, plenty of that old-Hawaii charm. |
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Oahu
Oahu roughly translates to "the Gathering Place," and it's easy to see why people flock here. It's where the first air travelers to Hawaii fell in love with beautiful beaches, hula dancing and the warm welcome that's come to be called the spirit of aloha. It's also the Hawaii's most populous island, and it's home to the state's capital, Honolulu. |
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Kauai
Think of Kauai, the sleepiest of the four major Hawaiian islands, as a clock face without the numbers 10 and 11. That's because the northwest quadrant of the Garden Isle is covered with the Na Pali coastline, terrain so forbidding that no road dares go through it. The only way to see Na Pali's lush flora, intricate sea caves, and thrilling waterfalls is from the water on a snorkeling cruise or by trekking across the experts-only hiking trail. |
