Your Vacation on
the Beaches of Hawaii

by Lin Stone

Hawaii The Aloha State of Hawaii offers you several different islands and beaches.

When you go to Hawaii, you shouldn't expect to find all inclusive resorts in the Aloha state. Hawaii is known for lush luxury resorts, such as the Grand Wailea on Maui, or the properties on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.

To find more affordable options in Hawaii, you will find the Waikiki Beach area is breathtaking, fun for the entire family, and offers several different lodging options. The Waikiki Beach is shallow and water is calm almost year round, especially in the winter months when the surf stays under three feet. Waikiki Beach is also known for its gentle waves which are ideal for beginner surfers. You can rent surfboards and gear on the beach, even take lessons if you have never surfed before. There are certain parts of the beach that have a life guard on duty watching over swimmers and surfers.

Oahu Island is the most popular, home to the infamous Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, the state's capital. The island of Oahu is a dream come true. The entire family will love it here, with the island also being perfect for just a lovers vacation. If you've never had the pleasure of going to Hawaii - there is no better time than now.

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Located on the sun drenched Hawaiian Island of Oahu, Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous and well known beaches in the entire world, with luxurious hotels and beach clubs set right on the beach. The famous Kalakaua Avenue, which runs parallel to the beach, offers you a shopping paradise with fine restaurants and nightly entertainment.

At Waikiki Beach you will find outrigger canoes, surf boards, and other gear readily available for rent on the beach. For a change of venue, tennis, archery, and even jogging is available at the Kapiolani Park.

Romance

Romantic beach vacations on Oahu Island range from renewing your wedding vows to luxurious beach service at one of the several hotels. If you've never tasted pink beer or champagne, Mai Tai Bar is the place you should check out.

If you would rather spend some of your time in a more secluded area, Kahala Mandarin Oriental is 10 minutes away from Waikiki Beach and offers a long sandy beach, great service, and swimming with the dolphins - which is something everyone is sure to enjoy.

Restaurants

There are several restaurants located right on Waikiki Beach, such as Duke's Canoe Club and the Surf Room. When the evening sets in, you can enjoy a romantic dinner while you watch the sun set over the beautiful and amazing Pacific Ocean.

Waikiki Beach hotels

As you travel along the beach from west to east beginning in Diamond Head, you'll encounter several first class hotels such as Hilton Hawaiian Village, Sheraton Waikiki, Outrigger Hawai, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and several others.

The Waikiki difference

While there are several other spots for your beach vacation, few manage to capture the beauty and tranquility that Waikiki offers. If you've been looking for the ideal place for your beach vacation, you shouldn't hesitate to go to Waikiki. You can find discounts on hotel rooms at different times of the year, making it the perfect opportunity to check out everything Hawaii will provide you and your family with.

The entire island of Oahu is both beautiful and diverse. Oahu provides many different activities for the entire family. You can choose from children's programs at Waikiki Beach hotels, hands on programs, and a variety of water sports. The Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, and the See Life Park of Hawaii are just a few of the attractions the whole family can enjoy together.  Catamaran rides to and from Diamond Head are also offered by several different companies as well, with departure times varying. Other activities on your vacation include kayaking, swimming, and outrigger canoeing.

While a majority of people are drawn here to the excitement of Waikiki Beach with its colorful clubs and taste filled restaurants, the island activities around Oahu range from surfing lessons and canoeing to swimming with the dolphins and scuba diving. No matter what you or your family like to do on vacation, you can find something for everyone on Oahu island.

Those that like adventure can choose from a wide variety of water sports and land activities on Oahu. If you would like to spend your vacation in or near the water, you should try surfing, scuba diving, or windsurfing. The land activities here include hiking through rain forests, biking along the mountain ranges, even parachuting.

With plenty of options available to you and your family, vacation ideas on the beach are always something to look forward to. There are many beaches out there, all you have to do is find the one that fits your needs - and your budget.
 

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Kona Village Resort

The amazing and relaxing Kona Village Resort is located on the western coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Offering you breathtaking views and plenty of things to do, the Kona Village Resort is a beach vacation come true.

If you are planning to relax, unwind from the pressures of life, and get closer to nature, Kona Village Resort is the ideal place to go. This vacation resort caters to couples seeking romance as well as families looking to spend quality vacation time together.

The Polynesian style cottages have no phones or television sets. This way, guests can spend their days trying out new activities, exploring the rich Hawaiian marine life in the bay, or just spend time relaxing without a timeclock on the beach.

The resort offers 125 individual bungalows that are spread out across 82 tropical acres. They are all different in style, size, and view. The south side of the resort offers palm trees and tropical foliage, while the lagoon side features wildlife, and the north side features a unique lava flow.

When it comes to dinner, you'll have a choice of two oceanfront restaurants. The cuisine is light with an emphasis on fresh island vegetables and fish. On Friday, the resort hosts the infamous and legendary Lu'au, which has been a Hawaiian tradition for many years.

The Kona Village Resort is located on 82 acres of tropical heaven with a large beach - private for guests. You can explore the resort bay that is teeming with wildlife, including the Hawaiian grean sea turtles and blue tangs.

If you visit the resort between December and April, you may even catch the North Pacific humpback whales as they migrate from Alaska to Hawaii -right off the beach. Almost every night at the resort, you can see the manta rays swim into the light in front of the Hale Moana restaurant.

There are several different activities to choose from here as well, including snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing. The Kona Village resort will even organize daily volleyball games and glass bottom boat tours. If you choose, you can even play tennis, go fishing, or even scuba diving - in the crystal clear Hawaii water.

The Kona Village Resort in Hawaii is another fine example of everything Hawaii has to offer you on your beach vacation. If you've been looking for the ideal vacation spot, Kona Village may well be where you'll want to spend almost all of your time.

MAUI

Throughout the West Coast of Maui, you'll have many choices for your beach vacation. If you plan to enjoy golf, the Kapalua Resort is a great choice, as guests will receive 30% lower golf rates than those who don't stay at the resort. The resort also includes the Kapalua Bay Hotel, Kapalua Villas, and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.

The island of Maui is home to some of the most amazing beaches. Some beaches offer swimming all year round, while others are best for surfing or snorkeling during certain times of the year. Depending on where you choose to stay, there are always some famous beaches nearby.

One bay over from the Kapalua Bay is the Napili Kai Beach Resort, which is a low rise family resort that offers comfortable beach front condos. The Napili Kai also offers complimentary programs for children ages 6 - 12 from mid June to the end of August, during Easter and Christmas. The condos are seconds away from the beach, and they include kitchens as well as laundry facilities.

If you prefer a more secluded area, the Maui Prince hotel is located in a quiet setting surrounded by two scenic golf courses and a large sandy beach that kids never seem to get enough of.

Located on the southwest side of Maui, the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui overlooks the amazing waters off of Polo Beach. The beach here is the center of all water activities such as snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, and even windsurfing.

Visitors here can play on any of the Wailea Golf Club's three championship golf courses or enjoy a game of tennis at any of the 14 courts the tennis center offers. Parents that are tired can get some personal time with a massage at the Spa Kea Lani.

The resort accommodations are either suites or villas, so there is no need to squeeze your entire family into a tiny room. There suites here are a minimum of 840 square feet and offer a separate living room and marble bathroom with a separate tub for soaking.
The private two levels villas here are minutes away from the beach and are between 1,800 - 2,200 square feet as well. The villas are ideal for larger families as they offer a full service kitchen and a private courtyard with a plunge pool and barbecue for grilling out.

Polo Beach - Hawaii The Polo Beach of Hawaii is a sandy beach with clear water, making it ideal for swimming and also snorkeling. It's located in South Maui and fronted by the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, which is a luxury beach vacation resort.

Keiki Lani is also the hotel's activity center for kids as well. It's a state licensed facility for children between the ages of 5 and 13, giving parents a break from watching their kids. Here, children can enjoy painting coconuts, building sand castles, exploring the tide pools, learning how to dance hula, and even making real flower leis. The activity center can accommodate up to 19 children, so be sure to call ahead and reserve a space for your children.

Maui offers you several luxury resorts, 16 golf courses, and a 10,023 foot volcano. Molokai and Lanai can both be reached by ferry from Maui, or you can simply fly there from Honolulu.

Rates

The rates for stay start at $325 per night for a suite. One of the benefits of a family vacation here is the special deals that are almost always available. The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui has several packages available for family vacations.

If you are planning to explore the island with the kids, you'll save a lot of money by taking a package that includes a free rental car. This way, you can explore the island at your will without having to worry about paying any extra money.

For a family vacation, Maui is truly a one of a kind destination. There are many different things to do here for everyone in your family, even if they are indeed hard to please.

Once your family experiences Maui and everything there is to offer, you'll never look at beach vacations the same way again. Maui has that kind of power - especially when it comes to warm weather and pleasing people from all over the world.

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Kauai is known for it's tropical vegetation and has even been used for setting of many Hollywood movies. Hawaii's Big Island is the largest of all islands, featuring Volcanoes National Park, with its amazing waterfalls and breathtaking beaches.

West Maui beaches If you drive along the west coast of Maui from Lahaina to Kapalua, you'll see many breathtaking beaches along the coast. Kaanapali Beach will offer you over three miles of white sand with a variety of watersports, including surfing, sailboating, and even catamaran rides. On the north end of the beach is Black Rock, which is well known for snorkeling.

Visitors like the sandy beach at Napili Bay, because there are no high rise buildings around, and the bay is protected well from waves. The Kapalua Resort in west Maui is home to Kapalua Beach, Oneloa Bay Beach, and the D.T. Fleming Beach.

South Maui Beaches The rule with Hawaii and Maui is that the further south you travel, the less crowded the beaches will be.

Kihei offers you a series of beaches along the six mile coastline, some even offering lifeguards, restrooms, and picnic areas. Polo Beach and Wailea Beach offer both restrooms and equipment rentals. Or, if you prefer a more secluded beach, you should visit Maluaka Beach at the Maui Prince Hotel - where you may even encounter some green sea turtles.

A few miles past the Maui Prince Hotel is the Big Beach of Makena, which is one of the best beaches on Maui. As the name implies, the beach is quite large, and best of all - empty. It offers white sand, picnic facilities, and even restrooms.

East Maui Beaches The beaches of East Maui are unlike others in Hawaii. Surround by lush scenery, the beaches are secluded, scenic, and very colorful.

Hamoa Beach is a must visit if you plan to visit East Maui. As you approach the beach from the main road, you'll walk past colorful plants and palm trees surrounding Hamoa Beach. Just off Hana Highway is Hana Bay Beach, which offers black volcanic sand.

The Red Sand Beach is difficult to get to, you'll need to find a narrow path along the coast. The beach offers plenty of swimming and snorkeling, and you should be the only one there - which is great for those looking for privacy. Even though it is hard to get to, Red Sand Beach is truly one of a kind.

Hamoa Beach Vacation Paradise

The black sand of Hamoa Beach is one of the best beaches on Maui. The water isn't too rough, there are no rocks in the surf, the crowds are minimal, and the nearby scenery is amazing. For a beach vacation, Hamoa Beach is tough to beat.

Hamoa Beach is about a five to ten minute drive from the town of Hana. The drive is easy to make, with lots of great scenery along the way. There isn't a parking lot, so you'll need to park on the side of the road and walk down the steps to the beach. Parking isn't normally a problem because the beach is never crowded.

There is a beach hut on Hamoa Beach that rents body boards, snorkeling equipment, and even gives out towels to guests of the Hotel Hana Maui. There are also beach chairs and umbrellas that are for guests only.

Unless you are a guest and want a chair, the best spot on Hamoa Beach is on a big towel right in the center of the black sand. There's plenty of shade on the beach, so you won't have any trouble getting out of the sun when you have had your fill of it.

The water at the beach isn't rough and there are no rocks to cut you as you swim. The waves here can get quite large, although they are easier to swim in than other beaches on the island.

Hamoa Beach is an excellent beach vacation spot, offering something for the entire family. There is always something going on here, no matter what time of year you visit. For a beach vacation that never lets up - Hamoa Beach is where you need to be.

The island of Molokai is filled with empty beaches, no traffic lights, and few tourists. Many tourists only come to the island of Molokai because they somehow assumed they were going to Molokini (which is a snorkeling site near Maui).

The island of Mololai is accessible by ferry from Maui or by plane from Honolulu. The island is ideal for those who like the outdoors with a twist of adventure. When you visit here, you should not be expecting shopping malls or nightlife.

Culture

If you are interested in Hawaiian culture on your beach vacation, Oahu Island offers a selection of museums, historical attractions, and several exhibits. With several villages and culture exhibits, you can learn anything you desire about the culture of Hawaii.

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About the author:  Independently less than wealthy, Lin Stone is an author, writer and photographer living in Mena Arkansas among the gentle mountains known as Ouachita. He writes numerous travel stories for Your Vacation World.  His first book, HOW TO BUY LAND AT TAX SALES, was so good it is still selling after seven years. Check it out at http://www.talewins.com/rs002.htm

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