*This story was originally published on Jan. 22, 2019, and updated in September 2025. It’s early on a Thursday morning, the sun is just beginning to rise over North Kohala and I’m staring up at the king himself. Standing regally with his right arm outstretched, the King Kamehameha statue looks out over the small […]
Hawaiʻi Island is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, rightly earning its nickname, the Big Island. I’m always impressed not only by the sheer size of the island, but also its unique terrain, from lush tropical forests in Hilo to otherworldly lava fields in Kona and the snow-capped summit of Mauna Kea
When you think of Hawaiʻi, you think of beaches—and the Islands are home to some of the world’s best. Putting together a list of the best beaches is nearly impossible—so we asked our readers. The results are in, and here are the best beaches from around the Islands that HAWAIʻI Magazine readers love the most in
Trying to decide on what the best beaches in Hawaii Island are is no easy task. Fortunately, HAWAIʻI Magazine readers did the hard work for us by voting in our 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, choosing their five favorite beaches in this all-star list of Big Island coastlines. 1. Hāpuna Beach One of the longest stretches
Stretching across a massive 4,028 square miles, Hawaiʻi Island is the largest and youngest of the Hawaiian archipelago. It boasts a diverse and awe-inspiring landscape, from active volcanoes to cascading waterfalls, from black-sand beaches to lush valleys. But despite its size and diversity, it’s an island often overlooked by travelers to the Islands—and it’s an
Bust out the reef-safe sunscreen and plan a beach day. When you’re deciding on which beach to go to, consider amenities like clean restrooms, keiki-friendly waves and easy parking. Here are our favorite beaches that make for a fun day out for the whole family. Hanauma Bay (Honolulu, O‘ahu) Fun for the whole family, Hanauma
It comes as no surprise that Hawaiʻi has some of the best beaches in the U.S.—if not the world. And that point has been proven once more in Tripadvisor’s annual Traveler’s Choice Awards, which are a lot like our own Readers’ Choice Awards. Hawaiʻi beaches won big during this year’s awards, with four local shorelines
Hapuna Beach Residences, set directly on the beach and rated as one of the best hotels in America, offer an unparalleled lifestyle at the iconic and beloved Mauna Kea Resort. Lucky owners will also find themselves ideally situated for delightful excursions on Hawai‘i Island, where they can enjoy a number of otherworldly adventures. At the
While the west side is arguably the most popular Hawaiʻi Island destination, it is most certainly the driest side. Here, you can find long stretches of barren lava rock formations, relatively uncrowded beaches, world-renowned Kona coffee—on nearly every corner!—and plenty of marine life. This itinerary takes you a bit beyond the main visitor hub of
You shouldn’t be surprised that Hāpuna Beach on Hawaiʻi Island was named the best beach by “Dr. Beach.” You already knew that! You voted for the white-sand beach on the Big Island’s western shoreline as your favorite, too, in our 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. Read More: The 5 Best Hawaiʻi Island Beaches in 2021 And
The beaches on Hawaiʻi Island are some of the best in the state—and there are a lot of them. Due to the island’s ever-growing coastline and massive size, there are hundreds of beaches dotted along the Big Island, some of which can’t be found in magazines or on websites. Even the ones that are easy to
Trying to select top beaches in Hawaiʻi, which is known for its almost unending list of postcard-perfect coastlines and seashores, is an impossible task. There are just too many dazzling shorelines for us to choose from. Fortunately, our readers have given us their opinions on the pressing matter and we’ve compiled a list of the
