Here's the second in this series.. John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on best beaches around the Aloha State. We're breaking them down into all different categories, shapes and sizes. We're starting off with the Top 3 Walking Beaches on Maui. If you've been on these beaches and want to comment, by all means, chime in. Also, feel free to submit your candids taken from these beaches to our Flickr photo pool. We're still building it (guilty -- I have not uploaded enough pics there yet). At any rate, if you like what John tells you here, buy his books at the University of Hawaii Press for a much more in-depth look at Hawaii beaches. Mahalo for reading!

Malakehana -- This beach is 1.5 miles long and has nice, firm sand. It's not quite as fine as other beaches further down the Windward Oahu shoreline and you don't have views of the Koolau Mountain range but there is no development, just a few houses. The water is really clean and clear during the summer months. The surf can be really big and beautiful watch during the winter months -- you are right along the edge of the North Shore. In the summer, also, you can wade out to Goat Island on a low tide, which is just offshore, and probably have a beach entirely to yourself. There are two on the island. This beach feels more isolated and solitary than the other long beaches along Oahu and during the week it can often be nearly deserted. (Images)

Kailua -- It's one of the longest beaches in the islands, running 2.5 miles long in one direction. So just by walking down and back you can get a 5 mile walk. Because the sand on Kailua Beach is extremely fine, its very compacted. You can run on the wet sand and not sink, which also makes it a great surface for walkiing. This is a very good beachcombing beach. You can find all sorts of stuff washed ashore -- sea glass, buoys. and, if you're lucky, a glass fishing ball that fisherman used to us. This is one of the most social beaches on Oahu but not touristy. Lots of people walk their dogs along the beach (some without leashes), and all sorts of watersports bring in teams and active folks. You've got great windsurfing and kitesurfing so its one of the best places in the state to watch those sports. Canoe padllers are often paddling by and Flat Island a few hundred yards offshore, is the beginner surf spot for Kailua. The trees come right up to the edge of the beach so its nice and shady in the late afternoons.
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Waimanalo -- There are four beach parks along Waimanalo Beach where you can park. All are connected to the same beach, which is about 3 miles long, roughly as long as Kailua. It actually continues into Bellows AFS, a miiitary base but only military families and sponsored guests can get to that part of the beach. Waimanalo has one of the most spectacular backdrops of any beach in the islands. You have a really nice view of the Koolaus. You can see Rabbit Island and Makapu'u Lighthouse. It's one of the most dramatic ocean versus mountain backdrops in Hawaii. You can find all different kinds of shells in purples, whites and other colors.(Google Images).

—Alex, 09/11/06