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What Island and Resort in Hawaii do I stay at?

I'm looking for the whitest sand, the calmest water, Prettiest beach, and nice Resort right on the water. (in Hawaii) Anyone?

Public Comments

1. Lahaina is a gorgeous place!
2. I've search the best resorts in hawaii for you. Check it out and pick your choice. ENjoy! http://search.travelchannel.com/travel/Top%20Resorts%20Hawaii
3. If you are staying in Maui I recommend these three resorts: 1. Grand Wailea 2. Four Seasons 3. Fairmont Kea Lani
4. Manele Bay on island of Lanai (it is a four seasons)
5. * Your parameters rule out the Big Island, as it is too new to have a lot of coral, the best beaches on this island are more untamed black sand beaches and the water is fairly rough because coral lagoons haven't formed along the coastline yet. * Maui has amazing beaches, but it does not have the "prettiest" beaches, the incline angle is rather steep, particularly Kaanapali. This is because Maui is also not very old. In fact, the main volcano (Haleakala) is still active. There is an "older" side to the island (Maui is actually formed by two volcanoes, and one is extinct) with a beautiful beach, Kapalua. But it is rather remote from everything and less coconut trees here (great hotel...the Ritz Carlton). Wailea/Makena have amazing 5-star resorts and are pretty but the beach is not outstandingly beautiful compared to other Hawaiian beaches (too small). And I don't like Kihei with its line of condominiums all along the shore the "most beautiful". * The prettiest beaches that you expect are on Kauai and Oahu. White sand in a long crescent along the shore, blue calm water and coral where you can snorkel to see tropical fish in the lagoon. The reason is that these are the geologically oldest islands, so the coral reefs have grown up and protect the coastline and of course produce the white sand. * On Oahu, the prettiest beaches are Lanikai and Kailua beaches on the windward side in Kailua. Absolutely sugar-white sand and blue water. However, the locals in this side of the island have successfully kept resorts out of the neighborhood, so no where to stay except a few B&B's! The next best is Hanauma Bay (a sunken volanic caldera that is open to the ocean on one side..but too CROWDED), Waimea Beach on the North Shore (famous surfing area), but again no hotels on this beach. Waikiki is the only area on Oahu with hotels along a spectacular beach, and contrary to what some people say it is a beautiful, glamorous crescent of sand (more beige than white however)...just very urban, exciting and CROWDED..not the isolated tropical getaway if that is what you are looking for. * That takes us to Kauai. I think Poipu Beach is what you are looking for. Spectacular beach and coral lagoons, with fabulous hotels. Check out the Grand Hyatt. http://kauai.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp There are even more spectacular beaches on the windward (wet, tropical) side of Kauai at Hanalei. This is the South Seas vision of your dreams, where they filmed the movie South Pacific, and filmed Jurassic Park. The beach at the end of the road (the road does not go all away around the island of Kauai) is Ke'e Beach, amazingly beautiful, where they filmed the love scene on the beach in Thorn Birds. The problem: again no hotels on the beach (!!), but a beautiful resort on a cliff overlooking the beach at Princeville. I think on the main visited Hawaiian islands, the Hyatt on Poipu is what you are looking for. There is a Four Seasons Resort on the beach on Lanai that is supposed to be spectacular, but this is VERY isolated. I have never been there. http://www.fourseasons.com/manelebay/