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Hanauma Bay ranks among Hawaii's premier beaches

BY ROSEMARY MCCLURE | Los Angeles Times

May 11, 2008

Tourists from around the world flock to Waikiki Beach when they visit Hawaii. But visitors usually aren't impressed by its sandy shore. It's too narrow, too noisy and so crowded that people who venture into its waters emerge coated with the suntan oil that washed off other swimmers.

But there's more to Oahu than the beach at Waikiki: rocky inlets with tide pools and great snorkeling; wide, uncrowded shorelines with calm waters; big-wave beaches where you can watch surfers tame giant crests. Here we profile 10 top beaches beyond the high-rise hotels of Waikiki and Honolulu.

1. HANAUMA BAY NATURE PRESERVE

The draw: This curved bay east of Waikiki is postcard beautiful.

Tall palms wave gently in the breeze, turquoise waters beckon to swimmers and snorkelers, colorful tropical fish dart back and forth along the reef. Unfortunately, it is so beautiful that it almost perished under the crush of tourism.

Now designated Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, the beach has strict regulations for visitors. You'll need to arrive early; the parking lot closes when it fills up. You'll pay a parking fee of $1, an entry fee of $5 for those older than 13, and you'll be required to watch a nine-minute film about the reef before you're allowed to enter the water.

Details: Snorkeling equipment, changing rooms and lockers available. More info: 808-396- 4229, hanaumabayhawaii.org.

2. HALONA BLOWHOLE

The draw: Some people call it Halona Cove, others the "From Here to Eternity" Beach. It's the sandy shoreline made famous by the hot kissing scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the 1953 film. You'll have to climb down a rocky cliff to reach the pretty, usually uncrowded beach. But the water can be rough and dangerous.

You may see turtles in the bay; or the Halona Blowhole, where wave action causes compressed water to shoot high into the air.

Details: No services. The turnout overlooking Halona Bay is scheduled to be closed for renovation until September, so park at Sandy Beach instead.

3. KAILUA BAY

The draw: Kailua's 2 1/2-mile-long, powdery beach on the windward (eastern) side of Oahu offers excellent swimming and kayaking, but you can just take a stroll and watch windsurfers zip around. Or head southeast to Lanikai Beach, which locals call one of the best swimming beaches. Located in an upscale residential area, it's hard to find. But its waters are shielded by an offshore reef.

Details: Kailua has facilities; Lanikai does not.

4. LAIE BEACH PARK

The draw: This pretty, unmarked beach is worth a stop if you're visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center. Called Pounders by locals, it offers bodysurfers good waves when the surf is up (that's how it got its nickname). Or walk north past the old pier pilings to a sheltered area that's often so calm it has been called Bathtub Beach.

Details: No rest rooms, but there's a sand shower and picnic tables. Laie Beach Park is just north of Haula Kai shopping center.

5. TURTLE BAY

The draw: The tony Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore charges $400 or more during the summer for ocean-view rooms, but you can enjoy the view for free. Why? Beaches in Hawaii are open to the public. This beach is small but sweet; a reef keeps the waters calm, and a grassy area offers shade and a nice place to sit. If you get hungry, have lunch at the resort's Ola Cafe.

Details: Follow the public access signs into the main parking lot. Ask the gate guard for a parking pass to visit the beach.