White-Sand

Flamenco earns the superlatives. A mile-long horseshoe of white sand enclosing water that grades from clear to turquoise to deep blue, with a reef at the eastern end for snorkelling and surf gentle enough for children through most of the bay. The odd landmark is a rusting US Navy tank left on the sand from when Culebra was a bombing range, now covered in graffiti and universally photographed. Facilities exist - kiosks, restrooms, showers, camping - which is unusual for a beach this good. Getting there means the Culebra ferry from Ceiba or a small plane, and the ferry is the constraint.

Siesta Key’s sand is almost pure quartz rather than crushed shell, which makes it startlingly white and - the part that matters with children - cool enough to walk on barefoot at midday in summer when every other beach is unbearable. The Gulf here shelves very gradually and is usually flat, so small kids can wade a long way safely. The main public beach has a large free lot, lifeguards, a playground, concessions and shaded pavilions. The lot fills by mid-morning in season and the overflow parking is a walk.

Consistently rated the best beach on the Big Island and one of the top beaches in Hawaii with a wide stretch of white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. The beach is on the dry Kohala Coast so sunny skies are almost guaranteed. Bodyboarding is excellent here and the sand is powdery soft. Lifeguards are on duty and the park has restrooms, showers, and a snack concession. Summer conditions are calm and perfect for swimming while winter brings bigger waves for experienced bodyboarders.

One of the longest white sand beaches in Hawaii stretching nearly 3 miles along Molokai west shore. The beach is vast, wild, and almost always deserted giving families an experience of having an entire beach to themselves. The scale is impressive with wide golden sand and crashing waves. Swimming can be rough in winter but calmer in summer. The empty expanse is perfect for long walks, sand castle building, and just feeling the freedom of wide open space. Sunset here is spectacular with views toward Oahu.

A long stretch of soft white sand on the windward coast that regularly tops best beach lists but never feels crowded. The water is turquoise and the Koolau Mountain backdrop is dramatic. The beach is wide with plenty of room for kids to run and the sand is powdery soft. The surf is usually gentle making it good for bodyboarding and swimming. Ironwood trees along the shore provide natural shade. This is where many local families spend their weekends because it combines beauty with a relaxed uncrowded vibe.