Each year for the past twenty years, Professor Stephen Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach“, names what he thinks are the best beaches in the United States. I don’t think there’s ever been a year that at least one beach in Hawaii made his list, and for 2010 he includes Kahanamoku Beach on Oahu and Hamoa Beach on the island of Maui.
Kahanamoku Beach, named for Olympic swimmer and Hawaiian surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, is the stretch of Waikiki Beach between the Ala Wai Canal and Fort DeRussy, in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort.
Far from Waikiki, in more ways than one, is Hamoa Beach on Maui’s Hana Coast. I’m sure it must get busy there sometimes, but I’ve never seen more than a few people on this beach, and if you go early in the morning you may have the place all to yourself. Early in the day is also best for photographing Hamoa, when the morning light first hits the arching beach. Like all beaches in Hawaii, the sandy shore at Hamoa is public property. The Hotel Hana Maui (on everyone’s Top 10 list of hotels and spas) has a facility there for its guests, and I’m sure the hotel’s efforts are largely responsible for the beach and park being so clean and well maintained.
Click on these links to see the rest of Dr. Beach’s Top 10 List, and to see more of my photos of beaches on Maui, Oahu, Lanai, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii.
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Great shot! I need a vacation! Thanks for the post.