Quick answer: Hawaii’s best beaches include Waikiki, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach on Oahu; Makena, Polo and D.T. Fleming on Maui; Ke’e, Anini and Salt Pond on Kauai; Hulopoe on Lanai; Papohaku on Molokai; and Carlsmith and Kamakahonu on the Big Island. Ocean conditions change by season, with big surf on north-facing shores in winter, and Ke’e Beach now needs an advance reservation for most visitors, so plan ahead.
Hawaii became the 50th US state on 21 August 1959, but it was a sought-after tropical destination long before that. It has eight main islands, six of which are open to visitors (Niihau is privately run and Kahoolawe is uninhabited and off-limits), and about 750 miles of ocean coastline. The 22 beaches below are grouped by island, with what each is like and what to know before you swim.
Before you swim: Hawaii beach safety
- Check conditions: the state’s ocean safety site (hioceansafety.com) lists surf, wind and hazards for each island. Swim near a lifeguard tower where you can, and if in doubt, stay out.
- Seasons: north- and west-facing shores often get very large surf in winter (roughly November to March) and are usually calmer in summer. South-facing shores tend to be calmer in winter.
- Reef-safe sunscreen: since 1 January 2021, Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate to protect coral reefs. Use a mineral or reef-safe product.
- Wildlife: green sea turtles (honu) and Hawaiian monk seals often rest on beaches. Give them plenty of space and never touch or feed them.
Oahu
1. Waikiki Beach
Waikiki, on Oahu’s south shore in Honolulu, is Hawaii’s most famous beach and the centre of the state’s hotel district. Diamond Head rises at its eastern end, and the gentle waves make it one of the best places in Hawaii to take a beginner surf lesson, as well as to swim, paddleboard or just people-watch. Expect crowds.
2. Haleiwa Beach Park
Haleiwa Beach Park is on Oahu’s North Shore, beside the historic surf town of Haleiwa with its shops and food trucks. It is a good family stop, with picnic areas, restrooms and showers, and the bay is calmer than many North Shore beaches. An earlier version of this article said lilacs surround the park; that detail has been removed.
3. Waimea Bay Beach Park
Waimea Bay on the North Shore is famous for its huge winter waves, which can be among the biggest in Hawaii and draw expert big-wave surfers and crowds of spectators. Only very experienced surfers should go in at that time. In summer the bay usually turns calm, and it becomes a popular spot for swimming, snorkelling and jumping off the large rock in the bay.
4. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach, also on the North Shore, is another legendary winter surfing spot. In summer the water is often calm enough for swimming and snorkelling, and all year round it lives up to its name, with sunsets over the Pacific.
5. Keawaula Beach (Yokohama Bay)
Keawaula Beach, also called Yokohama Bay, is at the far western end of Oahu, where the road ends near Kaena Point. It is remote and wild, more a local favourite than a tourist sight. Surf and currents are often strong, especially in winter, so it is better for walking, sunsets and the coastal trail towards Kaena Point than for swimming.
Maui
6. Makena Beach State Park (Big Beach)
Makena Beach, often called Big Beach, is a long, wide stretch of golden sand on Maui’s south shore, backed by undeveloped land. It is a beautiful spot for sunbathing, but the shore break can be powerful, so take care when swimming. There is no drinking water at the beach, but restrooms and picnic tables are available.
7. Polo Beach
Polo Beach is a small, attractive beach in Wailea on Maui’s south shore, next to resort hotels. It is usually calm and good for swimming, snorkelling and picnics, and water-sports rentals are available nearby.
8. D.T. Fleming Beach Park
D.T. Fleming Beach Park, near Kapalua in West Maui, is a long sandy beach with full facilities. It is popular with surfers and bodyboarders when the waves are up, especially in winter, which also means strong currents at times. Swim only when it is calm.
Kauai
9. Ke’e Beach
Ke’e Beach is at the very end of the road on Kauai’s north shore, inside Haena State Park, and is the starting point of the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast. In calm conditions, a reef-protected lagoon makes it a lovely place to swim and snorkel, and a lifeguard station is nearby.
Reservations are required: most visitors who are not Hawaii residents must book a park entry pass in advance, either with a shuttle from Hanalei or Princeville or with a limited parking slot, through the official Go Haena booking site (gohaena.com). Hawaii residents are exempt. Overnight parking is not allowed. Check the current rules and prices before you go.
10. Haena Beach Park
Haena Beach Park is a county beach park on Kauai’s north shore, just before Haena State Park. It has a wide sandy beach and is popular for shore fishing and swimming in calm summer conditions, but the surf can be dangerous in winter. Parking is limited, and parking for Ke’e Beach is managed separately through the state park’s reservation system.
11. Anini Beach Park
Anini Beach, on Kauai’s north shore, is one of the island’s calmest beaches because a long offshore reef shelters it. It is a good place for families, beginner snorkellers and paddleboarders, and there is a county campground beside the beach.
12. Kealia Beach
Kealia Beach is a long white-sand beach on Kauai’s east side, the area known as the Coconut Coast, near Kapaa. It is popular with surfers and bodyboarders and has a lifeguard station, showers, restrooms and picnic tables. The waves can be strong, so it suits experienced swimmers best.
13. Salt Pond Beach Park
Salt Pond Beach Park, on Kauai’s west side near Port Allen and Hanapepe, takes its name from the traditional Hawaiian salt-making ponds nearby. A rocky reef helps keep the water calmer, so it is popular with families, and it has picnic shelters and a lifeguard tower.
Molokai
14. Papohaku Beach Park
Papohaku Beach, on Molokai’s west shore, is sometimes called Three Mile Beach and is one of the largest white-sand beaches in Hawaii. It is usually quiet, with room to spread out and a county campground. Strong currents and big waves are common, especially in winter, so it is better for beachcombing and sunsets than for swimming.
15. Kawili Beach, Halawa Beach Park
Halawa Beach Park, at the north-eastern end of Molokai in the remote Halawa Valley, has two coves on either side of Halawa Stream: Kama’alaea on the west side and Kawili on the east. Kawili is more exposed to open-ocean swells and can have strong currents when the surf is up, so swim only on calm days. The views up the valley and along the coast are the main attraction. There are restrooms and picnic tables.
16. Kapukahehu Beach (Dixie Maru)
Kapukahehu Beach, better known as Dixie Maru Beach, is a small, sheltered sandy cove at the west end of Molokai. It is quieter than most beaches in Hawaii and, in calm conditions, a pleasant place for a swim or snorkel.
17. Kumimi Beach (Murphy’s Beach)
Kumimi Beach, also called Murphy’s Beach or 20 Mile Beach, is at about mile marker 20 on Molokai’s east shore. It is one of the island’s best snorkelling spots, with calm water inside the reef for much of the year. Go at high tide, when you can enter the water over sand rather than rock.
Lanai
18. Hulopoe Beach Park
Hulopoe Beach Park is a crescent-shaped beach on Lanai’s south coast, in front of the Four Seasons Resort Lanai. It is known for clear water, excellent snorkelling and large tide pools, and a short hike leads to the sea stack of Pu’u Pehe. Parking, restrooms and picnic tables are available.
19. Polihua Beach
Polihua Beach, on Lanai’s remote north-west shore, is a long, wide stretch of white sand, at least a mile and a half long. Getting there usually needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle. A strong alongshore current makes swimming dangerous even on calm days, so treat it as a beach for walking and solitude. Its name refers to the green sea turtles that once nested here; if you see one, keep your distance. An earlier version of this article described Polihua as the longest white-sand beach on Lanai and only “rough for surfing”; the more important point is that swimming there is unsafe.
Hawaii Island (the Big Island)
20. Kamakahonu Beach
Kamakahonu is a small, sheltered beach in Kailua-Kona, beside the Kailua pier and the reconstructed Ahu’ena Heiau temple, where King Kamehameha I spent his last years. Its calm water makes it a popular place to rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards or to let children swim.
21. Carlsmith Beach Park (Four Mile)
Carlsmith Beach Park, nicknamed Four Mile because it is about four miles from downtown Hilo, has a series of lagoons protected by a reef. Green sea turtles are often seen here. Fresh water seeps into the lagoons, so the water can feel cooler than elsewhere. A lifeguard is on duty at weekends and on holidays.
22. Leleiwi Beach Park
Leleiwi Beach Park, along the coast east of Hilo, is a rocky shoreline with natural lava-rock pools, coves and inlets rather than a long sandy beach. It is a good place to look for turtles and to snorkel in calm conditions, and it is popular with people staying in Hilo.
Exploring more US beaches? See our guides to the best beaches in the USA, Florida’s best beaches and Alaska’s best beaches.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hawaiian island has the best beaches?
Each island has excellent beaches. Oahu has the famous Waikiki and the North Shore, Maui has long south-shore beaches such as Makena, Kauai has the dramatic north shore, and Lanai and Molokai are best for quiet, uncrowded beaches.
Do you need a reservation for Ke’e Beach?
Yes, for most visitors. Non-residents must book a Haena State Park entry pass in advance with either a shuttle seat or a parking slot through the official Go Haena site. Hawaii residents are exempt.
When is the ocean calmest in Hawaii?
North-shore beaches such as Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach are usually calmest in summer and have big surf in winter. South-facing beaches are often calmer in winter. Always check the day’s conditions on hioceansafety.com.
What sunscreen can I use in Hawaii?
Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, which harm coral. Bring a reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreen.
Details checked in October 2026 against Hawaii state park and ocean safety information, the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s beach guides and travel guides to each island. Surf, reservations and access rules change, so check before you go.
