Beaches in Hawaiʻi

You'll find a wide variety of easily accessible beaches on Oʻahu. World-famous Waikīkī is right off Kalākaua Avenue, walking distance from every hotel in Waikīkī and easy to reach by bus, Bikeshare or rideshare — you don't need a rental car unless you're exploring beyond Honolulu. The North Shore is where the big-wave surfing happens in winter; parking is free but hard to secure during international competitions and on weekend afternoons. In between are plenty of beaches with free parking and swimmable water. Oʻahu is best for Hawaiʻi first-timers and serious surfers.

For the resort-beach experience, come to Maui. Kāʻanapali and Wailea have soft white sand and gentle water and sit steps from the island's best hotels. Maui is also where you'll find especially photogenic beaches — the Waiʻānapanapa black sand beach, Hoʻokipa (for sea turtles) and forest-lined Mākena. Maui beaches are best for visitors who want the quintessential Hawaiʻi beach-resort experience.

Kauaʻi isn't known for its beaches, but there are still plenty to choose from. Many visit Hanalei Bay for the photogenic pier and dramatic green backdrop of waterfall-streaked cliffs. There are resort beaches in Poʻipū, though they're not the best for swimming. What's cool about some Kauaʻi beaches — Keālia, for example — is that you can drive right onto them, loading up coolers and beach toys without hauling them from the car. Kauaʻi beaches are best for visitors who care more about the landscape than convenience.

Many of Hawaiʻi Island's beaches aren't beaches at all, but lava-rock cliffs over the ocean — especially on the Hilo side. If you want white sand you can actually swim from, your best bet is the Hāpuna and Kohala Coast resort area, with a few more spots along the Kona Coast. Two Step on the south Kona coast is great for snorkeling, Kohanaiki (Pine Trees) is a popular surf break, and you'll almost certainly see turtles at Punaluʻu black sand beach. Hawaiʻi Island isn't really the lounging-on-the-beach island — for that we'd point you to Maui or Oʻahu.

The flag system at lifeguarded beaches is the first thing to read when you arrive. Green means low hazard — open water, manageable for average swimmers. Yellow means elevated caution — less confident swimmers should stay close to shore or out. Red means the beach is closed to swimming, an instruction, not a suggestion. Double red means the area is closed entirely. And if a beach has no flags because there's no lifeguard, that absence is itself the most important safety information you have.

Hawaiʻi's drowning rates are among the highest in the country, and the two causes behind most of them — rip currents and shorebreak — don't look obviously dangerous to the untrained eye. Sandy Beach on Oʻahu and Mākena on Maui cause spinal injuries every year from shorebreak that appears gentle and is not: the wave breaks directly on the sand with sudden downward force. Go to Sandy's to watch the pro bodyboarders, not to get in the water. Rip currents — fast channels of water that pull you out during breaking waves — are present at beaches across every island. Never swim alone at an unfamiliar beach.

Seasonal patterns dictate which beaches to visit. North shores on all islands see their largest surf from December through March, when North Pacific swells arrive. South shores see summer surf from June through September. East and west sides get surf year-round at varying sizes. Conditions change daily and sometimes hourly, but knowing which direction a beach faces and what season it is gives you a useful baseline.

Two rules apply at every beach in the state. Reef-safe sunscreen is required by law — oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned, so look for mineral-based zinc oxide. And Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) and monk seals are federally protected: keep at least 10 feet away, never touch or feed them, and never position yourself between a turtle and the water. Turtles haul out to rest and regulate their temperature; approaching forces them back into the ocean and burns energy they need. The fine for harassment starts at $10,000.