There’s no hiding the fact that the Hawaiian archipelago has several of the best beaches in the world. Hawaii’s beaches has been featured in movies, TV shows and media, and the beauty of the tiny tropical state in the Pacific is undeniable. Here we feature some of Hawaii’s best beaches.

Lanikai

Kaanapali Beach

Poipu Beach

Hanalei Bay

Hanauma Bay

Hapuna Beach

Ke’e Beach

Kapalua Bay

Photo Credits:
Lanikai – http://www.flickr.com/photos/paula_marina/
Kaanapali – http://www.flickr.com/photos/29242822@N00/
Poipu – http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibik/
Hanalei – http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremyhall/
Hanauma – http://www.flickr.com/photos/cateyes/
Hapuna – http://www.flickr.com/photos/xeven/
Ke’e – http://www.flickr.com/photos/argonsart/
Kapalua – http://www.flickr.com/photos/brookfield/

In the 2011 Travelers’ Choice Beaches Awards byTripAdvisor, Boracay was named as the 2nd Best Beach in the world, after Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. The list was based on reviews and ratings of TripAdvisor users, which are mostly based in North America.

Note that most of the beaches that made the list have high accessibility to high-end accommodations, restaurants and bars, which reflect the preference of the TripAdvisor users.

It’s not surprising that Boracay made it but we’re still glad to know that the Philippines has made this list as the 2nd best. With this recognition there’s still the perennial issue of sustainable development of beaches in the Philippines, in which the government has to get its act together.

How to go to Kaanapali? Just navigate through the map below and find your way to this famous beach destination. Use the zoom controls for better view.

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Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos is a group of volcanic islands west of Ecuador. These are the islands that Charles Darwin explored and it is the home to the most exquisite and interesting creatures on earth.

Easter Island
This island in the south Pacific is known for the monumental sculptures known as moai, which were constructed by the Rapanui people. The monuments are cloaked in mystery, much like the stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, which only adds to Easter Island’s charm.

Lover’s Island
There are several heart-shaped islands in the world, but this particular island in Croatia is so well-defined that the owner changed its name from Galesnjak to Lover’s island. A name that suits it since it has no inhabitants and is practically a desert island.

Palm Islands
The Palm Islands of Dubai are awesome, in the way that it is an engineering feat. Tons of rocks and sand were hauled and moved to the project location in which engineers have to precisely measure the island’s dimensions with sophisticated tools. The islands are yet to be completed but it can already be seen from space.

Gukanjima Island
Gukanjima is an abandoned ghost island in Japan. It was a coal mine settlement built in the 19th century. In the 1970s the coal deposits have been depleted and the settlement was abandoned. What remains in the island are eerie and dilapidated buildings. The government of Japan until now bans anyone from visiting this island.

Photo credits:
Moai photo by miguelyn
Bartolome Island Galapagos photo by Laura Travels
Guukanjima photo by Yuji Saiga

Pick your piece of heaven right here on earth with the ten most beautiful beaches of the world.

Turtle Beach in Yakushima Island, Kagoshima, Japan
The first world heritage site of Japan, this beach is an egg-laying site of loggerhead turtles, hence the name.

Abel Tasman, New Zealand
Abel Tasman is a national park in New Zealand with interesting flora and fauna. It was named after the Dutch voyager who discovered Tasmania and New Zealand.

Anse Source D’Argent, La digue Island, Seychelles
This destination is known for its smooth granite rocks that are scattered along the pink sandy shores.

Tulum Beach, Mexico
A popular destination in the Yucatan Peninsula, Tulum is known for its gorgeous beach and the picturesque Mayan ruins that overlook the sea.

Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Located in Whitsunday Island, this beach has a sloshy appearance that looks as if a smoothie was dumped between emerald-green hills. This is due to the tides that shift the sand.

Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Located in the flattest nation of the earth, Soneva Fushi offers great diving and snorkeling spots.

Lanikai Beach, Oahu
Touted as the best swimming beach in Hawaii, it has gentle waters protected by reefs off the shore. Translated into English, Lanikai means “heavenly sea.”

Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas
The Pink Sand Beach in Bahamas has been voted as the world’s best beach by various travel publications. The sand’s salmon color is due to red plankton in the white powdery sand.

Pantai Teluk Belanga (Emerald Bay), Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Emerald Bay sits on a private island in Malaysia’s west coast. The crescent-shaped bay has fine golden sand and calm waters.

Miniloc Island, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Miniloc Island is one of the several beach destinations in the Philippines. But what sets it apart is that the waters that flow into two lagoons create awesome natural pools beside jungle-clad limestone cliffs.

Photo credits:
Miniloc Island, Philippines photo by dekoy
Abel Tasman, New Zealand photo by arka D
Yakushima Island, Japan photo by ippei + janine
Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles photo by karstn
Tulum Beach, Mexico photo by joiseyshowaa
Whitehaven Beach, Australia photo by chiccalo73
Maldives photo by dmitrimone
Lanikai Beach, Hawaii photo by kpriceWicked
Pink Sand Beach, Bahamas photo by ramona.settle
Pantai Teluk Belanga, Malaysia photo by Vladimir Zakharov