Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pearl Harbor, with the USS
Missouri
in the background.
THE
BEST
BEACHES
•
Waikiki Beach:
This famous stretch of sand is the spot that originally put Hawaii on the
tourist map. No beach anywhere is so widely known or so universally sought as this nar-
row, 1½-mile-long crescent of soft sand at the foot of a string of high-rise hotels. Home to
the world's longest-running beach party, Waikiki attracts nearly five million visitors a year
from every corner of the planet. In high season, it's packed towel-to-towel, but there's no
denying the beauty of Waikiki.
•
LanikaiBeach:
Hidden and off the beaten tourist path, this beach on the windward side has
a mile of powder-soft sand and water that's safe for swimming. It's the perfect isolated spot
for a morning of swimming and relaxation. With the prevailing trade winds, it's also ex-
cellent for sailing and windsurfing. Sun-worshipers should arrive in the morning, as the
shadow of the Koolau Mountains blocks the sun's rays in the afternoon.
