Hawaii
snorkeling
oahu
http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/oahu_snorkeling.html
Kuilima Cove
The best place for beginner snorkeling in the islands
Kahe Point Beach Park
Definitely my favorite snorkeling beach on Oahu
Sharks Cove
One of the most famous snorkel and dive beaches on the North Shore
Hanauma Bay=
Probably the most fish in one place in all of Hawaii
Kaena - Blue water... white sand... postcard perfect
big island
http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/big_island_snorkeling.html
Mauna Kea Beach, Kaunaoa Bay
On the Travel Channel's "World's All Time Best Beaches" list
The City of Refuge, Puuhonua O Honaunau
My favorite Big Island snorkeling beach
Kahaluu Beach Park=
The perfect beginner snorkeling beach. Convenient, calm, loads of marine life.
maui
Black Rock at Kaanapali Beach
Famous for it's high volcanic ocean cliff which brave divers jump from, Black Rock is a wonderful place to snorkel and swim. The ocean is usually calm in this resort area inviting the masses to swim here. Off of the point, there are sometimes strong currents, so use caution. The beach is large and long with multiple hotels along it. Lifeguards are present, but you'll not find any restrooms unless you're staying at a hotel. Black Rock Maui can be found in the West in the middle of Ka'anapali Beach. Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving at Black Rock are all amazing because of the abundant coral, bright tropical fish, and gentle sea turtles.
Kapalua Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches in Maui is Kapalau Beach. At the Kapalua Resort, this beach is the kind of tropical perfection you expect from Maui. It has great swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving all around this area. Another Kapalua Beach is Ironwoods. This beach is often uncrowded, but the water here isn't great for swimming. The reef is shallow from the shore all the way out. It's dangerous to be in the water here especially during the winter swells. But, in saying this, the beach is breath-taking.
Puamana Beach County Park
Another great spot on the way to Lahaina is Puamana Beach. It has all the facilities you may need with picnic tables, bbq grills, and restrooms. A popular Maui surf spot for longboarding, Puamana Beach Park is a great place to swim and snorkel as well.
body surfing
Oahu
Waikiki Beach (South Shore)
Lifeguard on duty? Yes For beginning/experienced bodysurfers? Both, but best for beginners.
Conditions are almost always good somewhere on Waikiki's beaches for bodysurfing ... especially for beginners. The simple rule here? Always take note of and obey posted warnings regarding surf conditions before heading into the waves. ====Becoming knowledgeable about the 5 best Oahu bodysurfing beaches is a must if you plan on visiting this tropical, carefree destination at a future date. From the challenging Makapu'u Beach to the daring Sandy Beach, there are many great places for bodysurfing in Oahu.
Makapu’u Beach
The Makapu'u Beach is one of the best Oahu bodysurfing beaches. According to the University of Hawaii, Makapu’u Beach is the perfect beach for “experienced” bodysurfers as it features strong currents and an equally strong undertow. Along with boasting key requirements for bodysurfing, Makapu'u beach also features blue crystal clear waters, over-towering cliffs in the distance and tropically cool waters.
Pounders Beach
The naturally beautiful Pounders Beach is another one of the best Oahu bodysurfing beaches. According to the University of Hawaii, Pounders Beach is one of the most popular bodysurfing beaches on Oahu. If you want to beat the crowds, be sure to visit during a weekday morning when most people are either too busy with work or school.
Ehukai Beach Park
The Ehukai Beach Park is the place to be if you’re an adventurous, risk taking type of guy. The National Healthy Beaches Campaign reports that Ehukai Beach is one of the world’s most famous surf sites, making it an excellent location for bodysurfing. According to Hawaii Beach Safety, traffic is very heavy everywhere on the north shore especially during the winter surf season, so be sure to steer clear of this place during the winter season if you don’t like crowds.
Waimanalo Bay Beach
If you’re looking for the perfect family friendly bodysurfing beach, then look no further than Oahu’s very own Waimanalo Bay Beach. Accrding to the National Healthy Beaches Campaign, this beach features a shallow sandbar at the water’s edge that provides good waves for bodysurfing and body boarding. This is a great place if you’re a beginner at the sport of bodysurfing.
Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach is another one of the best Oahu bodysurfing beaches. The University of Hawaii reports that the currents on Sandy Beach can be quite strong, so it’s not recommended to go into the water unless you’re an experienced body surfer. If you’re not an experienced bodysurfer, steer clear of this place as it’s only for professional, experienced bodysurfers.
Big Island of Hawaii
Hapuna Beach (South Kohala Coast, off Queen Kaahumanu Hwy)
Lifeguard on duty? Yes For beginning/experienced bodysurfers? Both.
The Big Island’s most popular bodysurfing beach is also one of its most beautiful—a half-mile stretch of white sand dunes with the most crystalline surf on the South Kohala Coast. Surf here is almost always ideal for bodysurfing. Beginning bodysurfers, however, should stay out of the water during occasionally higher surf sets.
Maiu
Hamoa Beach (West Maui outside of Hana, off Haneo'o Road)
Lifeguard on duty? No For beginning/experienced bodysurfers? Both
Conditions for beginning bodysurfers are best here during the summer and fall. Larger winter and early spring surf, however, should be left to the more experienced.
Maluaka Beach & Po'olenalena Beach (South Maui, off Makena Road)
Lifeguard on duty? No For beginning/experienced bodysurfers? Both
Among a string of white sand beaches along the coast of the Makena Resort area, these two are the best for bodysurfing when the waves are up.
Lanai Hulopoe Beach (South Shore, adjacent to Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay)
Lifeguard on duty? No For beginning/experienced bodysurfers? Both
On a recent trip to Lanai, we found the island’s best beach for all manner of water activities (snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving) also one of the best we'd seen for beginner bodysurfing.
Little Beach Maui
Maui has a couple nudist beaches of which Little Beach is the Mecca for nudists. The waves here are perfect for bodysurfing, and sometimes surfing, but depending on what day and the time of day it is, you may be dodging naked people. During a South or Southwest Swell, the surf can be good here. It offers a left hand reef break off of the South side of the beach. This beach is beautiful and as perfect as can be. On Sundays, you'll find a different atmosphere than usual with crowds unusually large for Little Beach. For sunset, everyone celebrates by swimming and cheering as a large drum circle beats away. Once it gets dark, Little Beach becomes a real spectacle. All types of people, nude or clothed, begin to dance in the circle with fire. The fire dancers at little beach are incredible. You'll sometimes find professional fire twirlers with more than one ball of fire and fancy flaming outfits. The imagination is strong at Little Beach when it comes to new and entertaining ways to play with fire. We've seen everything from heated hula-hoops to burning bras. You'll enjoy this ceremony that occurs every Sunday night. You don't need to get undressed either. Bring a flashlight to get back over the cliff at night. Lately the police have limited the event to stop around 9pm, so get there before sunset to really experience Maui's Little Beach activities.
D.T. Fleming Beach Park
Kapalua has many of the best beaches Maui offers. From Ironwoods to D.T.Flemings, you'll love the beautiful perfect beaches here. Flemings is located on the Upper West of Maui, and the North of Kapalua. It is a public beach park with lifeguards, facilities, picnic tables, barbeque grills, and great water People swim, body surf, and surf here regularly. Flemings has a good-sized parking lot and plenty of beach to lounge on. Like most beaches in Maui, Flemings can get windy in the afternoon.
beaches
Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai
Kauai Kalapaki Beach (Lihue, off Rice Road)
Lifeguard on duty? No For beginning/experienced bodysurfers? Both, but best for beginners.
The generally mellow surf on this crescent-shaped white sand beach fronting the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club is great for beginning bodysurfers. More experienced bodysurfers take to the waves when the surf is a bit higher.
by island
Lanai
Hulopoe Bay
best snorkeling on Lanai
Kauai
Hanalei Bay Beach
Maui
snorkeling
Honolua Bay - The diversity of marine life is second to none
Kapalua Bay - A calm sheltered cove, ideal for snorkeling
Turtle Town Maui & Maluaka Beach - My favorite snorkeling beach on the south shore
Kaanapali Beach - Black Rock - Rated one of the top beaches in the world
Ahihi Kinau Reserve - Protecting our marine life for future generations
Molokini - Possibly the clearest water in all of Hawaii
body surfing
http://www.mauiinformationguide.com/best-beaches.php
Ka'anapali 'Dig Me'
- Hamoa Beach. The ever popular Hamoa Beach is one of the best Maui bodysurfing beaches. Bodysurfing requires large waves and Hamoa Beach offers some of the biggest waves in all of Hawaii. There are no lifeguards on this beach so use caution when bodysurfing.
- Baldwin Beach. The beautiful Baldwin Beach is another one of the best Maui bodysurfing beaches yet it may not be around too long in the near future. According to the Hawaii PV Coalition, Baldwin Beach is one of the beaches Maui stands to lose because of rising sea levels due to carbon dioxide emissions. Bodysurfing Baldwin Beach is a must if you want to get in on the action before it’s too late.
- Mokuleia Beach. If you’re looking for the perfect beach for bodysurfing during the winter, then Mokuleia Beach is the perfect destination for you. Be sure to dress accordingly when bodysurfing during the harsh winter months as the water can get quite chilly.
- Kapalua Bay Beach. Located in west Maui, Kapalua Bay Beach is another one of the best Maui bodysurfing beaches. If you don’t mind crowds, Kapalua Bay Beach is the perfect bodysurfing destination to be.
- Honolua Bay Beach. Honolua Bay Beach is not only one of the best Maui bodysurfing beaches, it’s also one of the most beautiful boasting crystal clear waters, an abundant marine life, a rocky shore line, and lush, green vegetation. It's remote destination also makes it a great beach to bodysurf in Maui. If possible, plan on bodysurfing this area during the summertime as you’ll experience greater visibility than during the wintertime.
itinerary
Trip Information Flight Departs Arrives Details Alaska Airlines 35 Boston (BOS) 4:25 pm Fri, Feb 18 Portland, OR (PDX) 7:51 pm Fri, Feb 18 Coach · Boeing 737-800 Nonstop · % On-Time: N/A Meal: Available For Purchase§, Available For Purchase§ 2,529 mi · 6 hr 26 min Alaska Airlines 877 Portland, OR (PDX) 7:35 am Sat, Feb 19 Honolulu (HNL) 11:35 am Sat, Feb 19 Coach · Boeing 737-800 Nonstop · 96% On-Time Meal: Available For Purchase§, Available For Purchase§ 2,600 mi · 6 hr Total: 5,129 mi · 24 hr 10 min Alaska Airlines 876 Honolulu (HNL) 12:35 pm Sat, Feb 26 Portland, OR (PDX) 8:05 pm Sat, Feb 26 Coach · Boeing 737-800 Nonstop · % On-Time: N/A Meal: Available For Purchase§, Available For Purchase§ 2,600 mi · 5 hr 30 min Alaska Airlines 30 Portland, OR (PDX) 7:00 am Sun, Feb 27 Boston (BOS) 3:25 pm Sun, Feb 27 Coach · Boeing 737-800 Nonstop · 80% On-Time Meal: Available For Purchase§, Available For Purchase§ 2,529 mi · 5 hr 25 min Total: 5,129 mi · 21 hr 50 min
