Hawaii Continued - Here Come the Great Beaches

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As if we could write about Hawaii and not talk about it’s fantastic beaches. Hawaii sports countless world famous beaches, and for good reason: Hawaii’s beaches are gorgeous! Whether you’re just relaxing on the sand or scouring the planet for the best waves, Hawaii’s sure to have a beach for you.

If you want a more relaxed beach, here’s some great spots for you:

Sandy Beach (Sandy’s)/Makapu’u – Two of the favorite local beaches, with great bodysurfing at both. However, unless you are actually body surfing or surfing, don’t enter the water as it’s deceivingly dangerous in terms of both the break and the current. But you will see tons of locals getting some sun if it’s out, and the beaches themselves are quite nice.

Kailua Beach – Located on the northeast side of the island, Kailua Beach is much more sheltered than the other shores. Not know for the big surf that Sandy Beach has, Kailua beach is famous for it’s beautiful white beaches. Parking can be hard to find, as it’s basically behind some neighborhoods. A great spot if you’re just trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and lounge on the beach for a few hours. Also, if you want to rent kayaks, this area is good for it since the water is relatively calm, and you can take your snorkeling gear with you.

Of course, if you want something more aggressive, what you’re really heading for is the North Shore. In the winter, the waves hit 30 feet and above, and they have many of the big wave surf contests at the following beaches:

Pipeline – A major surf spots, but not for the amateur. In fact, Pipeline has killed many surfers. Really not that great of a beach, you are solely here for the waves.

Waimea Bay – Awesome little bay with great water. There’s also a rock just off the shore in which you’ll see people climbing up and jumping off. Try it, if you dare. Waimea Bay is where they hold the Quicksilver Big Wave Invitational in the winter, when it happens. What makes this even so special is that it’s only held when the waves exceed 20 feet in height, and only the top big wave surfers in the world are invited to compete.

Finally, no trip to Hawaii’s great beaches is complete without a trip to Giovanni’s. As you drive around the island, you’ll see trucks on the side of the road advertising sweet Kahuku Shrimp. There’s a few of them, the real one, and the one you’re looking for, is the Giovanni’s truck. Definitely get the garlic and chili shrimp. The spicy one is actually spicy, so if that’s not your thing, don’t tempt fate.

This is just a small sample of Hawaii’s great beaches. With so many islands to explore, there’s no counting how many wonderful beaches you’ll find.