Kaua’i visitors and residents who particularly like Po’ipu Beach aren’t alone. Po’ipu Beach Park ranks No. 1 in the annual survey of America’s best beaches, according to a Florida professor known as “Dr. Beach.” The beach, reknown for its golden
Kaua’i visitors and residents who particularly like Po’ipu Beach aren’t alone.
Po’ipu Beach Park ranks No. 1 in the annual survey of America’s best beaches, according to a Florida professor known as “Dr. Beach.”
The beach, reknown for its golden coral sand, crystal-clear blue water and pulsating surf, is one of six Hawai’i beaches – including a second one on Kaua’i, Hanalei Beach at No. 4 – ranked in the top 20 of Stephen Leatherman’s 11th annual survey announced Friday.
“Hawai’i is America’s paradise. It’s where the mountains meet the sea,” said Leatherman, a Florida International University coastal geologist who compiles the list as Dr. Beach.
Florida scored seven beaches in the top 20, sharing one with Alabama, while the rest of the best are found in North Carolina, New York, California, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Po’ipu Beach is great for swimming, snorkeling and body surfing, and offers crystal blue water with a visibility of 90 to 100 feet for divers, Leatherman said.
“The beach itself is a golden coral sand. It’s beautiful,” he said.
The high marks for Po’ipu and Hanalei will be put to good use in promoting Kaua’i to tourists, said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau.
“We’ll put the information on our Web site, you bet,” Kanoho said. “A lot of people do pay attention to these kinds of rankings when they’re making their vacation plans. Any time we’re rated this high it’s a good thing. We’re proud and thrilled.”
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, along Florida’s Panhandle southwest of Tallahassee, ranks second in the survey. Leatherman said the combination of its pure quartz crystal sand, emerald green water and availability of small cottages helps make it a memorable outing.
He announced this year’s selections at Cape Florida State Recreational Area on the southern tip of Key Biscayne, just southeast of Miami. Cape Florida’s beach ranked No. 9.
Leatherman uses 50 criteria in three categories to rank the beaches, including sand size, water temperature, number of sunny days, wildlife and amenities such as nearby hotels and restaurants.
Hawai’i beaches have won the top spot for the past six years. Last year, Mauna Kea Beach earned the top ranking. Top winners are excluded from the next 10 surveys.
Leatherman also rated the country’s best regional beaches:
– Northeast: East Hampton Main Beach, New York.
– Southeast: Cape Florida State Recreational Area, Florida.
– Northwest: Cannon Beach, Oregon.
– Southwest: Santa Barbara East Beach, California.
Leatherman said he visits more than 100 beaches every year, including two trips to Hawai’i, to compile the annual survey.
“It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it,” Leatherman said.
Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report.
