Best Family Friendly Beaches in Hawaii

Located in the northern part of the Kauai shoreline, Tunnels Beach – also called Makua Beach – is a popular half-mile-long beach with coarse golden coral sand. The travel website Big 7 Travel listed this beach as one of the best beaches in the world – in addition, Travel+Leisure magazine also listed this beach as one of the “12 Best Beaches in Kauai for Sunsets, Snorkeling, and Swimming.” This beach is very popular with families and you can see many families here, especially on weekends. 

Located in the town of Kailua Kona, Old Kona Airport Beach Park has a small and narrow beach situated in front of the incredible Heeia Bay and Old Kona Airport Park.  Old Kona Airport Beach Park is surrounded by coconut palm trees, mesquite trees, ironwood, lava rocks, tide pools, and a few small water ponds. The beach here is a well-known destination for fishing and watching green sea turtles – and surfing and bodyboarding during winter. 

Located on the western side of the Big Island on the Kohala Coast, Anaehoomalu Beach - also known as Anaehoomalu Bay Beach, Anaehoomalu Beach Park, and A-Bay - is a long and wide crescent-shaped beach with white sand.  This beach is positioned near the western edge of an upscale hotel named the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa along the shores of Anaehoomalu Bay.  It has a beautiful backdrop of a large grove of coconut palm trees and many oceanfront buildings, including opulent hotels, restaurants, and motels along the shores of Anaehoomalu Bay, which together provide Instagram-worthy views, especially during sunset.  In addition, the beach is home to two ancient Hawaiian fishponds, Ku’uali’i and Kahapapa, which are located right behind the beach, where swimming and fishing are restricted.  There are many informational plaques present near the beach that offer interesting insights into Hawaiian history.

Hanalei Bay, located on Kauai's North Shore, is one of the best beach locations in all of the Hawaiian islands, with verdant mountains, spectacular surf breaks, and timeless waterfalls. Beautifully-blue waters and golden sand add to this picturesque location, making it one of the most popular beaches in the U.S.A.

Channel your inner soul-surfer and ride one of the powerful waves on the far right side of the bay. You can also snorkel along one of the many coral reefs throughout the beach, including Waikoko Reef on one side and Pu'u Poa Reef on the other. Hanalei Pier is located on the mouth of the river where the calmest waters are found -- perfect for young children. You can kayak along the river and camp at the park nearby, complete with full amenities.

After a jam-packed beach day, it's time for some good eats and an ice-cold beverage. Hanalei's food truck network includes juice bars, island wraps, acai bowls, and more, giving the bay a unique dining scene and laidback island vibe. Kealia Poke is the new fad on the island, along with the refreshing Wishing Well Shave Ice. One thing that makes the island so carefree is the commitment to authenticity and the refusal to give in to tacky tourist attractions. For example, you'll never see a chain restaurant at Hanalei Bay -- only mom-and-pop shops are scattered throughout the island. Free of typical brand names and tacky souvenirs, you'll feel like a local yourself! Enjoy your stay at Hanalei Bay, a beachy heaven that will leave you on a breezy, tropical Cloud Nine.

Located in the northern portion of Kauai, Anini Beach – earlier known as Wanini Beach – is a two-mile-long beach with light brown sand and nearby reefs.  This beach is a part of a recreational park named Anini Beach Park.  This beach was listed as one of the “The 5 Best Snorkeling Spots on Kauai” in 2022 by Hawaii Magazine.

Located in Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is a beautiful and extremely popular beach  with light brown sand and nearby palm trees. This beach is located in the popular touristy neighborhood of Waikiki. The beach’s name in Hawaiian means "spouting water" - the beach received this name because in the past multiple springs and rivers used to flow around this beach – as another fun fact Waikiki Beach was used by Hawaiian nobility for surfing. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the United State and was named the 4th Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” It is important to note that Waikiki Beach is a part of a larger beach area that stetches for almost two miles that is also called Waikiki Beach – in addition to Waikiki Beach, this larger beach area is composed of seven other beaches including Duke Kahanamoku Beach (also called Kahanamoku Beach and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach Park), Fort DeRussy Beach (also known asFort DeRussy Beach Park, Gray’s Beach (also known as Grays Beach, Halekulani Beach, Kawehewehe, and Grey’s Beach), Royal Hawaiian Beach (also known as Waikiki Beach Center and Royal Moana Beach), Kuhio Beach (also known as "The Ponds", Kuhio Ponds, and Kūhiō Beach), Queen’s Beach (also known as Queen Kapiolani Beach , Queen’s Surf Beach, and Kapiolani Beach Park), and Kaimana Beach (also known as also known as Kaimana Beach Park, Kaimana’s Beach, Waikiki at San Souci Beach, Sans Souci Beach, and San Souci Beach).

Waikiki Beach is constantly threatened by erosion – some of Waikiki Beach’s parts have been significantly reduced in size due to erosion. There are multiple rocky jetties and seawalls near Waikiki Beach – the beach’s southwestern portion particularly has many rocky seawalls near it. Although most of the portions of Waikiki Beach have lifeguards, there are some portions that do not have lifeguard deployment – these portions are located near 2055 Kalia Road, in front a hotel named the Halekulani Hotel, and adjacent to another hotel named Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.  In addition to lifeguards,

Located on the island of Maui, Kaanapali Beach – also known as Ka’anapali Beach – is a long and popular beach with light brown sand.  Kaanapali Beach has been named the 23rd Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as “Mr. Beach” – it was also listed by the Condé Nast Traveller as one of the 10 best beaches in Maui and was listed as one of the best beaches in the US by TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards. 

Located in the Hawaiian island of Lanai (also known as Lānaʻi), Hulopoe Beach - also known as Hulopo’e Beach Park, Hulopo'e Bay Beach, Hulopo'e Bay Beach Park, Hulopoe Bay Beach, and Hulopo'e Beach - is a long and beautiful crescent-shaped beach with light brown sand, a sloping incline, and nearby palm trees. This beach is situated along the shores of a bay named Hulopoe Bay which has been designated as a marine preserve. Large rocks are present near both ends of the beach, creating tidepools where you can see starfish, crabs, and a variety of other fish. In addition, a lava terrace is also present near the beach’s eastern end. The upscale and beautiful 5-Star Four Seasons Resort Lanai is also next to Hulopoe Beach – it’s a four-minute walk down to the beach. This crescent-shaped beach was listed is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  

Located in the town of Waimea, Spencer Beach Park has a small, narrow, and white sand beach situated below Puʻukohola Heiau, a famous temple built by Kamehameha I. Spencer Beach Park was named after Samuel Mahuka Spencer, who was Hawaii’s county chairman for 20 years and was responsible for developing the north Kohala Coast. Spencer Beach Park is an awesome family-friendly picnicking spot with open grassy lawns, large shade trees, and a large population of birds. The beach is a popular destination for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing as it is protected by an outside reef and the harbor breakwater.

Located in the town of Kailua Kona, Kamakahonu Beach is a small and narrow beach situated in front of Kailua Bay west of the historic Hulihe’e Palace. Also known as King Kam Beach and Kids’ Beach, Kamakahonu Beach was named after a turtle eye-shaped rock as “Kamakahonu” in Hawaiian means turtle eye. The bay in front of Kamakahonu Beach features many marine creatures making it a perfect spot for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, fishing, and wildlife watching. Kamakahonu Beach is a family-friendly spot featuring gentle waves and shallow water where children can swim easily.

Located near the residential community of Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou Beach Park - also known as Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park - is a popular recreational park with a long and narrow beach with light brown sand and many nearby palm trees. This beach is known as Kuliouou Beach and Kuli’ou’ou Beach. Kuliouou Beach Park’s name means “sounding knee” in Hawaiian - this name is likely interpreted as a reference to piniu, which is a small Hawaiian drum that is tied to the knee and is used during local hula ceremonies. 

Located in the island of Hawai'i (popularly known as Big Island), Hapuna Beach - also known as Hapuna Beach Park and Hāpuna Beach - is a large and popular half-mile-long beach with light brown sand nearby and dense forests. Hapuna Beach is situated along a portion of the Hawaiian coastline named "Kohala'' after the nearby Kohala Mountain. This beach is a part of a state park named Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area. A rocky promontory is also present near the beach - this promontory is named Ihumoku. The beach and the nearby bay (named Hāpuna Bay) are named after Leina-Hāpuna, who was an ancient Hawaiian noble.  This beach changes its size depending on the season - during summers Hapuna Beach can become very wide (reaching up to 200 feet in width), while in winters, Hapuna Beach can see a massive size reduction. Hapuna Beach is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The name of the beach (Hapuna) means "spring of life" in the Hawaiian language. A coral reef is present in the water near the southern end of the beach.

Located in eastern part of Kauai, Kalapaki Beach - also called Kalapaki Beach Park - is an immensely popular quarter-mile long arc-shaped beach with light brown sand, nearby rock jetties, and nearby trees and grass.  The beach is situated along the shores of a bay named the Kalapaki Bay and near the entrance of a harbor named the Nawiliwili Harbor.  There is also a hotel near this beach named Marriott’s Kaua’i Beach Club.  Two streams named the Nawiliwili Stream and the Hule'ia Stream flow through the area near the beach - once these streams pass the area near the beach, they flow into the Pacific Ocean.  As an interesting fact, Queen Liliʻuokalani - who was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii - attended a grand luau ceremony that was held around the beach in 1891.  In addition, legendary surfer Duke Kahanaonku also visited this beach - Kahanamoku had also offered a swimming demonstration in the nearby Nawiliwili.

Located on the island of Oahu, Kuhio Beach - also known as “The Ponds,” Kuhio Ponds, and Kūhiō Beach - is a small and popular beach with light brown sand and nearby palm trees.  This beach is a part of a larger beach area named Waikiki Beach.  Multiple rocky breakwaters are located near the beach, and a seawall divides the beach into two portions.  In addition, there is also another separate seawall near the beach’s southern end - this seawall is called the Kapahulu Groin (and it is also known as the Waikiki Wall).  A recreational park named Kuhio Beach Park is also located near the beach.  Kuhio Beach received its name from Jonah Kuhio  Kalanianaole, who was a prince of the Hawaiian Kingdom and who became a renowned statesman after Hawaii’s annexation into the United States - the area around the beach was once the site of Pualeilani, which was Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole’s home.  Multiple statues and public artworks are located near Kuhio Beach - these statues and artworks include the statue of legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku that was created by Jan Gordon Fisher and the statue of Prince Jonah Kuhio created by Sean K. L. Browne.  In addition, there is another landmark near Kuhio Beach named the Stones of Life  (which is also called Kapaemahu) – this landmark has four large stones that signify four legendary Ancient Hawaiian healers. 

Located in the town of Kailua, Lanikai Beach - also known as Kaʻōhao Beach - is a spectacular white sand beach on the island of Oahu. While many people claim that the beach’s name means "heavenly sea" in Hawaiian, it is an incorrect translation. It is often said that the beach's main name (Lanikai Beach) was invented by a real estate developer named Charles Frazier and the area around this beach was earlier known as Kaʻōhao to Native Hawaiians. This approximately half mile-long beach has an amazing backdrop of palm trees and oceanfront mountains. Lanikai Beach has been named one of the Top 100 beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Located along the south-eastern shoreline of the island of Oahu, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a preserve that has a scenic bay named Hanauma Bay - this bay has a long unnamed and popular crescent-shaped light-brown sand beach along its shores. This unnamed beach is also known as Hanauma Bay Beach and is situated within a 30,000 year-old volcanic crater called the Hanauma. Many palm trees are present around this scenic beach. Hanauma Bay was earlier a recreational beach park. However, the huge influx of tourists to this popular beach caused significant damage to the local marine landscape and fragile marine biodiversity, prompting local authorities to turn this park into a preserve and take and apply stricter rules for tourist regulation. The meaning of the Hawaiian name of this bay (Hanauma) is widely interpreted as "curved bay" in English. Hanauma Bay was earlier used by Ancient Hawaiian nobles for recreational purposes. In addition, Hanauma Bay was also used by Ancient Hawaiians as a stop-over and launch point for canoes due to its calm water. Ancient fishing tools have also been found around Hanauma Bay by archaeologists. The beach in Hanauma Bay is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  Hanauma Bay has also featured in many films and television shows including Tora! Tora! Tora!, Hawaii Five-O, and Blue Hawaii. 

Located in the small town of Waimanalo, Bellows Field Beach Park has a long and wide beige-colored sand beach on the east shore of the island of Oahu.  Spread across 46 acres, Bellows Field Beach Park is a part of Bellows Field Air Force Station that was turned over to the State for public use on July 4, 1964.  Please note that Bellows Field Beach Park is only open for the public from noon on Fridays to midnight on Sundays only because military exercises are conducted here during the week.  Bellows Field Beach Park is rarely crowded and is an excellent destination for bodysurfing and bodyboarding.  Bellows Field Beach Park is home to many marine creatures including a jellyfish called the Portuguese Man o’war, a small floating snail called the pupu pani, and the Pacific mole crab called ‘ala ‘eke or commonly known as sand turtles. 

Located in the small town of Waianae, Poka’i Bay Beach Park has a long, wide, and rocky beige-colored sand beach north of Nanakuli Beach Park that is spread across 40 acres.  Spread across 15 acres, Poka’i Bay Beach Park is situated between the small boat harbor in Waianae and is a very calm and protected beach because of breakwater offshore.  The beach is a family-friendly beach as children can swim here and is also an incredible destination for beginning surfers and divers. Poka’i Bay Beach Park was once known as ‘Malaea’ which means calm and is named after the Hawaiian chief Poka’i who is said to have brought the first coconut palm tree to Hawaii.  Poka’i Bay Beach Park is situated on the south side of Kepuhi Point and in front of Poka’i Bay making it an awesome destination for fishing. 

Located in the eastern part of the Kauai shoreline, Lydgate Beach Park - also called Lydgate Park - is a large and immensely popular recreational park that has a large and two-and-a-half-mile long beach with a large amount of driftwood, a few pebbles, and many nearby trees. This beach is called Lydgate Beach and it is situated near the mouth of the Wailua River. The ocean water near the northern part of Lydgate Beach Park is enclosed by multiple artificial rocky breakwaters - this enclosed double-section pool of ocean water is locally known as the Lydgate Pools (it is also alternatively known as Morgan’s Ponds) and it was built during the 20th century. The idea for a double-sectioned pool (a pool that has two portions) near Lydgate Beach was originally envisioned by Albert S. Morgan Sr. and there is a plaque around the beach that recognizes his contribution to the construction of the pool - Albert was a local resident who became inspired to build a protected swimming pool near Lydgate Beach Park when he encountered a similarly protected saltwater pool during his trip to Italy in 1958. 

It is important to note that while some people may refer to this park as Lydgate State Park, this name is misleading and incorrect because the park is not managed by the Division of State Parks (which is a part of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources). Lydgate Beach Park is named in honor of Reverend John M. Lydgate, who was a prominent local community leader and the former pastor of the Lihu’e United Church and the Koloa Union Church. Reverend Lydgate was also the managing director of the McBryde Sugar Company and the Garden Island newspaper before his death in 1922. Lydgate Beach Park has been featured in many movies including the 1962 movie Diamond Head and the 1961 Elvis Presley movie Blue Hawaii.