The Most Beautiful Beach In America Is Hiding In Hawaii
By Megan Shute|Published September 21, 2017
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
With approximately 750 miles of stunning coastline, the Hawaiian Islands are easily home to some of the best beaches in the country — if not the world. And while all of Hawaii’s beaches are gorgeous in their own way, some are certainly prettier than others. According to Country Living’s “27 of the Most Beautiful Places In America,” one of the best beaches in the country also happens to be one of the most remote. Carved into a valley on Kauai’s rugged Na Pali Coast, the popular magazine named Honopu Beach as one of the country’s most breathtaking spots, and we certainly agree.
The rugged Na Pali Coast is said to be one of the most unspoiled natural beauties in all of Hawaii: thousand foot cliffs are eroded to create vaulted valleys and hidden beaches, including the gorgeous Honopu Beach, a drop-dead gorgeous slice of paradise nestled between Kalalau Beach and Na Pali’s open-ceiling cave.
With striking blue waves crashing against a stretch of fine white sand, Honopu is surrounded on three sides by towering 1,200-foot sea cliffs. This landscape almost looks too gorgeous to be real.
While the beach is absolutely stunning, it's not the crowned jewel of Honopu Valley — that would be the 90-foot sea arch that connects the two sections of sand. You’ll also find grassy sand dunes and a waterfall in this sacred Hawaiian valley.
What’s the catch, you’re thinking? How can somewhere with such unspoiled beauty exist? Due to the valley’s spiritual history and ceremonial grounds, boats — including kayaks — are not allowed to land here, and the only other way to visit this breathtaking beach is to swim… yes, we’re serious.
Honopu Beach is one valley past the famous Kalalau Valley and Beach, which is only accessible via a strenuous 11-mile backpacking trip. Once at Kalalau Beach, some choose to strap on their fins, grab a snorkel, and make the 400-yard swim to Honopu. The swim is only possible in the summer months, only during low tide, and only before the winds have picked up. You can also jump off a nearby boat and swim to shore.
Because of the remote nature of this breathtaking slice of paradise, the majority of people will never witness the beauty of Honopu Beach for themselves. The closest most people will get is viewing the beach from afar — either from a boat or helicopter tour.
Luckily, we can live vicariously through the adventurers who took these jaw-dropping photographs, as well as films like the 1976 remake of King Kong, the third Jurassic Park film, and the 2011 installation of Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides, because of course, Hollywood film productions have been able to land at this stunning beach.
For an up close and personal glimpse of the famous Honopu Sea Arch, check out this mesmerizing footage from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
So, which of Hawaii’s countless stunning beaches do you think is the prettiest? Hanauma Bay was once voted as the best beach in America, but we’d love to hear your thoughts.
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