beaches


Hawaii Beaches for Kids: Lydgate Park on Kauai

Hawaii Beaches for Kids: Lydgate Park on Kauai

This wonderful little beach park is often overlooked by tourists but that’s their loss.Lydgate is a county park so there are bathroom facilities, showers, parking and lifeguards (one of the few beaches on Kauai that does). There are two wading / swimming areas that are ringed with large lava rocks and totally calm — perfect [...]
Hawaii Beaches: Shady Beaches for Pale Kids, Part 2

Hawaii Beaches: Shady Beaches for Pale Kids, Part 2

We spent a long afternoon on Bellows Beach in Waimanalo this weekend. It reminded me that this stunning beach is perhaps the most beautiful in the islands. The backdrop is the purple-green Koolau Mountains and the stark cliffs of Makapu’u and Rabbit Island in the distance. The sand is fine as talc (it gets everywhere, [...]
Hawaii Beaches: Shady Beaches for Pale Kids Part 1

Hawaii Beaches: Shady Beaches for Pale Kids Part 1

My son loves the beach but his red hair and incredibly fair skin means he fries even if we put sunscreen on him. Most beaches on the Eastern side of Oahu are pretty much sizling by 8:30 am. In the winter it is a bit better. But how do we keep him happy? At Sans [...]
Makapu’u Sunrise: For Prom Nights and Vacations, Too

Makapu’u Sunrise: For Prom Nights and Vacations, Too

Sunrises all over Hawaii are pretty danged spectacular. On Oahu, thought, its hard to beat the view of sunrise from the cliffs or the beach at Makapu’u. This is a fave prom night conclusion and rightfully so. The rugged coastline is stark and free of the clutter of lights, buildings and hotels. The colors are [...]
Hawaii Beaches: Hideaways on Kauai

Hawaii Beaches: Hideaways on Kauai

This little-known and lightly visited beach sits just below Princeville Hotel and has the Hawaiian name Pali Ke Kua. The trail access to the beach is located just before the Princeville Hotel gatehouse running alongside the tennis courts of the Pu’u Poa condominums. The initial part of the descent has stairs and a railing but turns into an actual dirt trail further below that can be slippery if its been raining…
Hawaii Beaches: Three Best Walking Beaches on Oahu

Hawaii Beaches: Three Best Walking Beaches on Oahu

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…
Kaunaoa Beach

Kaunaoa Beach

A gentle, lovely strand of white sand so real its hard to believe its man-made. Waves here are mellower than at next door Hapuna. Brunch at the Mauna Kea Hotel fronting Kaunaoa is a Big Island tradition. With a due West orientation sunsets are mighty fine. Towel? Check. Snorkel? Check. Book? Check. Right on.