Best Beaches on the Island of Hawaii

The Island of Hawaii doesn’t have as many beaches as some of the other Hawaiian Islands. However, the beaches on the Island of Hawaii are considered some of the best beaches in the entire world. So, if you are ready to sink your toes into some soft sand and take long walks with your family, you must visit at least one of these beaches! Of course, when you are planning your family vacation in Hawaii, you may have no idea which beach should be at the top of your list. Thankfully, I know a few of the best beaches on the Island of Hawaii.

Best Beaches on the Island of Hawaii

Makalawena Beach

This gorgeous beach in Hawaii will make you work for the soft sand, sparkling water, and gorgeous views. But the twenty-minute walk over cooled lava is worth every second! The path to the beach is easily marked and worn down after all these years.

When you reach the beach area, your family will be greeted by the shade of palm trees. There are also lumps of lava scattered on top of the sand. This is one of the beaches in Hawaii that many people do not visit. So, it is possible that your family will be the only people enjoying the sand, views, and the occasional wild chicken.

Papakolea Beach

Papakolea Beach is also known as Green Sand Beach or Pu’u o Mahana Beach. The green sand is created from a precious stone called olivine. As the water from the ocean erodes the cinder cone, the olivine from the cinder joins the sand to create the green color.

This is not an easy beach to reach, but again, it is worthwhile just for the opportunity to see the green sand.

Hapuna Beach

One of the best beaches in Hawaii for swimming and snorkeling is Hapuna Beach. Your family will love the long stretch of sand. It is perfect for lounging while reading a book or building sandcastles. The crystal-clear water is exactly what you will be looking for when you want to swim with the marine life. And snorkelers will want to swim the mile down to Waialaea Bay to get the most marine life action.

Waialea Beach

This beach is located on Waialea Bay, not too far from Hapuna Beach. This is one of the most popular beaches on the Island of Hawaii. However, it is not a beach that is simple to access. Therefore, you must plan your visit carefully.

It is best to visit this Hawaiian beach during the summer months. The reason for this is the winter brings in strong surf, which causes the beach to erode. The tide pools are perfect for young children, and everyone will enjoy the gentle waves of the ocean during the summer.

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is another one of the fabulous colored sand beaches in Hawaii. As the name implies, the sand on this Hawaiian beach is black. It is best to wear shoes when walking along this beach because the sand gets really hot under the sun. This isn’t the best beach in Hawaii for swimming or snorkeling. But it is the perfect place to watch the Hawaiian green sea turtles as they are sunbathing.

Richardson Beach Park

Families with young children, as well as those who want to swim at the beach, will love Richardson Beach Park. The sea walls were created naturally from lava. Those walls keep the water in the pools and coves calm throughout the year. When your family is not swimming or snorkeling, you may find yourselves out in a kayak.

Honaunau Bay

The beach at Honaunau Bay is right next to Pu’uhonua o Honaunau Park. This beach can get quite crowded, so it is best to arrive early. This is especially true if you want to claim a spot on the sand. Most people spend all their time in the water at this beach, because it is the best spot for snorkeling. Therefore, if you don’t find that large of a sandy spot when you arrive, don’t worry. Simply throw your towels down and start in on the water fun!

Now that you know all the best beaches on the Island of Hawaii, you can easily determine which one will be best for your family vacation. You may even decide that a couple of these beaches in Hawaii must make your list of things to do. The good news is that since I am customizing your family vacation for you, it is easy to add everything you want to your itinerary!

So, are you ready to plan your family vacation in Hawaii?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

And if you aren’t ready to book your family vacation just yet, you can easily sign up for my newsletter here. This will allow me to send you travel information in the future, so you can gather ideas for your next family vacation!