On Oahu's windward side, Lanikai — 'heavenly sea' in Hawaiian — lives up to the billing: half a mile of soft sand facing two pyramid-shaped islets, with water made for morning kayaking. It sits in a residential neighbourhood with no facilities, so it never feels like a resort. Hike the Lanikai Pillbox trail at dawn for the view, then spend the rest of the day recovering on the sand.
Featured in Ten far-flung beaches worth the long-haul flight · Beach