Top 10 Hawaiian Beaches

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These Top 10 Hawaiian Beaches are known for offering mixes of all the right ingredients to give travelers and families the best vacation resort experience. Everyone wants something different in a holiday beach resort. Plus, if you are a family traveling with kids it is even more important to find the right balance between sea, sand and surf. What makes a good beach is the way it let's everyone relax the way they like. Families need sandcastles and surfers need big waves while a scuba diver wants a beach with a reef and calm water. A beach with all these things makes it a wonderful place to vacation in a resort atmosphere.

These top locations and luxury resorts are the best places to go if you need services like telephones, restrooms and picnic areas. Many have seasonal surfing and also snorkeling to offer adventurous travelers. Many beaches also have grass and shady areas also provide cover for sun worshippers and families with small children. Rentals of water sports equipment will vary although most beaches will be able to help out visitors with some type of rentals from snorkels to boogie boards. See the list of top Hawaiian beaches and resorts below for families and solo travelers.

1. Lanikai Beach
2. The North Shore
3. Punalu'u Beach
4. Hookipa Beach
5. Lahaina Beach
6. Poipu Beach
7. Kauna 'oa Beach
8. Kaanapali Beach
9. Honaunau Bay
10. Waikiki Beach

1. Lanikai Beach is located on the island of Oahu off Kailua Road, Kailua -East Oahu. Clear water and sparkling white sand make Lanikai Beach known for its beauty. Just off in the distance are two tropical islands of Mokumanu and Mokulua where there are designated bird sanctuaries. This combination of sand and sun make Lanikai Beach a well known to travelers and locals. The sunrise if not to be missed on this part Oahu where visitors can find sand, large rocks, shady areas and good swimming and snorkeling.

2.The North Shore is part of three separate areas: Waimeia Bay calm which is peaceful in the summer with big winter surfing waves in winter; the Pipeline whose name inspires surfers shooting through waves; and Sunset Beach that is known for what else - fabulous sunsets! If you are not a board-type there are plenty of other things to do nearby such as: Golf, Ocean Fishing & Tours, Sport Fishing, Shark Tours, Whale Watching, Horseback Riding, Jet Ski, Picnics, Scuba and Snorkel . . . plus lots of shopping!

3. Punalu'u Beach is located off Highway 11 on the South shore and is nothing short of dramatic. Black sand beaches and tall coconut trees make this beach memorable and very comfortable. The beach park even has a freshwater wading pool to cool off with for the whole family plus there are ducks for the kids. Punalu'u actually "diving spring" because Hawaiians used to get fresh water from these springs using gourds. The location is well known for the endangered green sea turtle that makes it's home here while the turtles are protected by law, snorkeling is a great way to see them in their natural habitat.

4. Hookipa Beach is well known for world-class windsurfing competitions. It is located off the Hana Highway in North Maui. While not everyone is an expert windsurfer there is a small coral reef that provides an excellent calm area for taking a relaxing few minutes on this unique beach. The dramatic rocky beach and sandy shore are complemented with barbeque picnic areas, showers, kiosks and payphones. The range of services make this beach a success for hosting the Aloha Classic, Red Bull surfing competitions and the Maui Sports Foundation events for expert windsurfers and sun worshipping tourists.

5. Lahaina Beach is on West Maui and the town is full of ancient history with a long tradition of whaling. Many people are familiar with the wedding ceremonies and famous Luau dances. The Luau dance is the traditional Hawaiian dance that celebrates the unique island culture with the hula dance, flower lei ceremonies and roasted pig dining make any evening a memorable experience.

6. Poipu Beach is on the southern island of Kauai it is well know for calm waters. The beauty of calm waters and tranquil beaches are a photographers dream come true. The area is picturesque with sandy beaches and shallow areas that provide safe areas for parents and children. Snorkeling is also good around the point and there is grass and shady areas for sun worshippers to lounge in. There are also many services available on the beach including lifeguards, picnic areas, showers and picnic facilities.

7. Kauna 'oa Beach is a large sandy beach located on the big island of Hawaii. The beach provides plenty of room for sand castles, volleyball, swimming, snorkeling and boogie boarding. It is one of the best beaches on the island with a rock reef that provides some protection from the surf. Golfers will even love to hate the sand traps at the famous Mauna Kea Golf Course.

8. Kaanapali Beach is one of the best beaches on Maui and for that reason it fronts many Ka'anapali resorts. Travel up and down the beach is made possible by a concrete path so wherever you are staying the path is nearby for morning walks and sunset strolls. Local services include: lifeguards, restrooms, showers and seasonal high surf. Many visitors that prefer calm waters will enjoy fantastic snorkeling at Black Rock. Adults with children will be pleased to see that many resorts have childrens programs so everyone in the family has a memorable experience.

9. Honaunau Bay is the City of Refuge by locals because of ancient traditions that gave warriors and law-breakers refuge here. The bay is refuge to many fish and coral that skin divers often visit due to the ease of entry provided by smooth lava rock flats. Scuba divers also frequent the area because is is so remarkable. Dolphins are regulars to the bay and give everyone a bit of excitement. The clear blue waters and even the occasional sea turtle offer rich diving experience for all.

10. Waikiki Beach on O'ahu's south shore is the beach of beaches. Two miles of beach fronted by hotels and by the beautiful Kapiolani Park. The beach can be crowded but it is popular for a good reason. Access to amenities includes: lifeguards, sand and reef areas, picnic areas, phones, showers and restrooms. Outrigger canoes can also be rented for a paddle through sun-drenched waves in the afternoon sun.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Top 10 Hawaiian Beaches


About the Author

James Ingram is a father of three, living in a small oceanside town on the beautiful Pacific Coast. He and his wife love to travel, which is how they got introduced to their current business. Visit Home Resort Network and Change Your Life today.


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How do I choose which island to get married on?

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From far away, it can be confusing knowing which of 4 beautiful and exotic islands to choose from for your beach wedding in Hawaii. Here is a brief breakdown of the 4 main Hawaiian islands based on my 10+ years living and traveling on these islands:

Oahu-This is where Waikiki and Honolulu are located. It is NOT the Big island, which is a common misconception. This island is where most of the people in the state of Hawaii live, and thus it is very much like a big city you would find on the United States mainland dropped onto an island setting, at least until you leave the Honolulu/Waikiki area. If you are looking for nightlife traffic and tourists, this is a good place to go. If you are looking for a quintessential trip to tropical Hawaii, this is not the best choice.

Maui-This is the next most populated and busiest island. It is not really like a major city, but it does have a lot of people, city grid-like streets, and reminds many of southern California put on an island. However, it is possible to get away on Maui if you head to the west side (which is dry) or around the other side of the island towards Hana (where unfortunately there are few to no places for tourist accommodation). Maui is full of social butterflies and its great nightlife is not consolidated into one place like on Oahu.

Kauai-This is the beautiful garden island and it is filled with tropical flowers, botanical gardens and lush beauty. Kauai does not have grid-like streets and is considered the ‘country’ get away from the ‘city’ of Oahu. It is the least populated of the Hawaiian islands. Kauai has a valley called Kalalau valley which many guide books and people consider to be the most beautiful place on the islands (I think it’s actually the most beautiful place on Earth!), so you will often find Kalalau on the cover of a book on Hawaii. (It’s like the cover girl of Hawaii, your quintessential gorgeous vista.)

Kauai does not have the nightlife options that the previous 2 islands have, but there are options of some bars and places to dance. There are many options of things to do during the day/night ranging from all of the normal tourist attractions (snorkeling, helicopter rides, luaus, boat rides etc.) to things found specially on Kauai such as kayaking, horseback riding, tube rides, taro patch tours, ziplining and much more.

It has great natural diversity, including a large colorful canyon, steep cliffs, jungle, and desert. Many people consider it to be the best of both worlds because you can have your tropical island getaway and romantic Hawaii wedding on a beach without 100 unwanted guests, yet you still have options of many things to do.

The Big Island/Hawaii- The Big Island, or the Big I, is the largest of the main islands and is very large with very few residents. There is not much nightlife, but you certainly can get far away from everything. The Big Island of Hawaii also has an active volcano you can hike out to and actually see the hot lava enter the ocean. Other than that, you will not have so many things to ‘do’ (there are of course all the normal tourist activities), but it does have immense natural diversity. (Out of the world’s 33 climatic zones, the Big I has 26 of them.)

So, there is my personal overview of the 4 main islands (there are 7 in the state of Hawaii but almost all visitors go to these islands only). Having a Hawaii beach wedding is a wonderful experience. Having a Kauai beach wedding is even more special in my opinion because of the special nature of this garden island. Kauai has so many secluded spots and gorgeous backgrounds that the pictures always turn out better. There are beaches where you can stand facing one way and have a mountain scene behind you, face another way and have mountains and a beach and a pier, and face yet another way and have cliffs and a river next to a beach behind you! You can imagine how stunning the wedding photography is when you have that much variety in one spot.

Of course, no matter which island you choose, having a wedding coordinator or wedding planner will make your special Hawaii beach wedding day run so much more smoothly. It’s so comforting and relaxing to know that someone else is running around doing your worrying for you! Luckily for all the brides and grooms-to-be, there are many attentive and experienced wedding coordinators in Hawaii.

Author Resource:- For more information visit: www.alohaeverafter.com

Article From New Ezine Articles

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Kauai Vacation Rentals

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Hawaii, an absolutely amazing place that it can actually be called heaven on earth. The beautiful islands here with its vast beaches offers the most exotic holidays that one could only dream of. It offers the perfect setting for having the time of your life. There are plenty of options when it comes to luxury Hawaii vacations.

The location, accessibility and the spirit of the people of Hawaii is what makes it one of the most sought after vacation spots in the world. The place is getting so popular that you can see an increasing number of tourists with each passing year. Hawaii has many small islands and each island has it own unique features, offering the holiday goers with the best time of their lives.

Kauai is one such picturesque island in Hawaii. The scenic beauty of this fourth largest island in Hawaii is sure to take your breath away. When you visit Hawaii, Kauai should definitely be on your must see list. You will find some of the best views in the world, right here in Kauai. For those who want to enjoy the sea and relax, the place is most well suited for them and for those who would like to partake in adventure activities Kauai has enough and more for them on offer.

You will not find a moment of boredom here. One can go hiking, for boat rides, snorkeling, visit historical sights on the island, skydiving, kayaking and a host of other activities and they are sure to fill your day and keep you absolutely busy. Accommodation in Kauai is not a problem. There are many Kauai vacation rental homes available. But you have to book early as the peak season is witness to heavy rush of tourists. One visit to Kauai and you would know why.

Kauai vacation homes rentals would give you the comfort and ease of being at home and at the same time provide you with the luxury of the finest hotels in the world. An ideal place to stay during a holiday would be in one such vacation home. Kauai vacation homes rentals offers many services to their customers. They come in various categories and you can choose one depending upon your budget, number of people, services required and all the other requirements that you are looking forward to in your place of stay.

Kauai vacation rentals give you the option of having home cooked food as they come with an attached kitchen. This also helps you in saving a substantial sum on food and this money can be spend well on sightseeing and enjoying the place to the fullest. A vacation home is the perfect accommodation option especially when a large family or group intends holidaying together. It turns out to be the most economical lodging place for large groups.

Try staying in one of the magnificent Kauai vacation home rentals and it is certainly going to be one of the luxury Hawaii vacations that you would have ever had and you are sure to come back for more.

By Jason mcgregor
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