Dr. Beach’s top beach for 2014: (Hint, it’s in Hawaii)

Posted on by mihrankalaydjianblog

By Mihran Kalaydjian, CHA

Marketing/Media Writer, Strategist and Consultant

 

A Honolulu beach named for Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Olympic gold medal swimmer known as the “father of modern surfing,” has claimed the top spot in the list of annual “Top 10 Beaches 2014” released today by Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. ” Dr. Beach”. 

Hawaii and Florida beaches dominated the top 10. Surprisingly, no California beaches made the list. 

“The east end of Waikiki Beach is where all the big hotels are and that’s where most people go, but Duke Kahanamoku Beach is pretty far away, on Waikiki’s west end, near the Hilton Hawaiian Village,” said Leatherman, director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University in Miami. 

“It’s got the widest stretch of beach in Waikiki and is protected by an offshore coral reef, which makes it a good beach for families with children,” he said. 

For those who want to avoid ocean waves entirely, the nearby lagoon is also a popular spot for swimming. 

“It is also a great location to watch the Friday night fireworks,” added Les Enderton, executive director of the Oahu Visitors Bureau.

Kahanamoku Beach had the number two spot on Leatherman’s list last year and has been on the top 10 list often. What may have helped it snag the number one slot this year is that in January, Oahu made all beaches on the island non-smoking.

“Cigarette butts in the sand are disgusting,” said Leatherman. “Some people think beaches are a giant ashtray, and I don’t like that idea at all. When I go the beach, I go for nature. I don’t want to have to put my hand down on a cigarette butt someone else was smoking.” 

Leatherman has been making his annual Top 10 Beaches list since 1991 and uses 50 criteria, with rankings from 1 to 5, in his evaluation process of swimable beaches. Factors he takes into consideration include beach width at low tide, sand softness and color, wildlife, pests (such as ticks and mosquitos), available amenities and public safety. 

Once a beach reaches the top of the list, it is retired to make room for others. 

Starting next year, Leatherman plans to put extra emphasis on environmental management and beach safety and award bonus points for beaches that, like those in Oahu, are officially smoke-free.

“It’s not all just beauty,” said Leatherman. “People want clean water and clean sand. But they also want safety, parking and nearby amenities.”

Number two on Dr. Beach’s list this year is Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs, Florida., which moved up, after re-evaluation, from its number six slot in 2013.   

Located in a 342-acre county park, the beach is 8,200-feet-long and has small waves, shallow water “and if you like seashells, there are millions of them,” said Leatherman. 

Rounding out the top five are St. George Island State Park in Florida, Waimanalo Bay Beach Park in Oahu, and Hamoa Beach in Maui.

Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches 2014

1. Duke Kahanamoku Beach
Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

2. Barefoot Beach
Bonita Springs, Florida

3. St. George Island State Park
Florida panhandle

4. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park
Oahu, Hawaii

5. Hamoa Beach
Maui, Hawaii

6. Cape Hatteras
Outer Banks of North Carolina

7. Cape Florida State Park
Key Biscayne, Florida

8. Coast Guard Beach
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

9. Beachwalker Park
Kiawah Island, South Carolina

10. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park 
Naples, Florida

 

6 thoughts on “Dr. Beach’s top beach for 2014: (Hint, it’s in Hawaii)”

  1. Susanne Leist – United States – A career in writing has been an enormous leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. However, I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. I write every day and have even tried my hand at poetry. So don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late in life to try something different. It is never too late to follow your heart. THE DEAD GAME SERIES brings fantasy and surrealism to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. In addition, it offers vampires and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix. My new release, MEET ME IN MAINE, is the first book in THE BLUE HARBOR SERIES. It provides the backdrop for murder, mystery, and romance in a seaside town. Love falters and flourishes as the residents fight the persistent evil plaguing their small-town lives. Sit back, put up your feet, and let me bring mystery and romance to your lives.
    Susanne Leist says:

    Thirty years ago for my honeymoon I stayed at that Waikiki hotel. It was like paradise. It still looks beautiful.

    Reply
  2. mihrankalaydjianblog – San Diego, CA – Mihran Kalaydjian On a personal note, I love the outdoors, comedy, bbq, reading and traveling. I worked in the beer industry in college so I love talking about good beer. I used to be a competitive runner so (like all runners) if you make the mistake of asking me, I'll tell you about my entire career and PRs. I also spent my youth working in restaurants, so if you've done the same, we can swap stories. The five items I can't live without: Everything, infinity, wanton boredom, limitless limits, change. Mihran Kalaydjian, A proven ability to articulate a company's brand culture as well as key strategic initiatives and delivery of desired results. Outstanding leadership, communications and project management skills. A committed individual with strong organizational skills that believes leading by example is key to building a strong team to achieve high guest satisfaction results and cost control measures. Mihran Kalaydjian provides visionary leadership and management oversight of the sales, marketing and revenue strategies for Classic Hotels and Resorts. Mihran Kalaydjian suggest: Your energy should be focused on finding a solution, quickly and effectively. I am at my best when I have a tight deadline, but every aspect of the project is planned, organized and working in excellence.
    mihrank says:

    It will always remain the same memory and forever!

    Reply
  3. Carol Balawyder – Hi- Thank you for stopping by. I am the author of the Getting To Mr. Right Series which includes Missi's Dating Adventures, Café Paradise, Not By Design and The Longest Nine Months. I also wrote Mourning Has Broken , a memoire on grief. I am currently using my experience as a criminologist to write crime novels. I am mostly interested in domestic crime and noir fiction. You can read my first psychological suspense novel Warning Signs and my second novel Just Before Sunrise. Being a messy and unorganized writer I wrote two author notebooks to keep me focused on my character traits and my settings. I also blog regularly on my website. I hope to see you there at www.carolbalawyder.com/blog. You can check out my books on my author profile at: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Balawyder/e/B00QYYX008%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share I wish you all peace and success.
    Carol Balawyder says:

    Visiting Hawaii is on my bucket list! This photo is very tempting! 🙂

    Reply
  4. mihrankalaydjianblog – San Diego, CA – Mihran Kalaydjian On a personal note, I love the outdoors, comedy, bbq, reading and traveling. I worked in the beer industry in college so I love talking about good beer. I used to be a competitive runner so (like all runners) if you make the mistake of asking me, I'll tell you about my entire career and PRs. I also spent my youth working in restaurants, so if you've done the same, we can swap stories. The five items I can't live without: Everything, infinity, wanton boredom, limitless limits, change. Mihran Kalaydjian, A proven ability to articulate a company's brand culture as well as key strategic initiatives and delivery of desired results. Outstanding leadership, communications and project management skills. A committed individual with strong organizational skills that believes leading by example is key to building a strong team to achieve high guest satisfaction results and cost control measures. Mihran Kalaydjian provides visionary leadership and management oversight of the sales, marketing and revenue strategies for Classic Hotels and Resorts. Mihran Kalaydjian suggest: Your energy should be focused on finding a solution, quickly and effectively. I am at my best when I have a tight deadline, but every aspect of the project is planned, organized and working in excellence.
    mihrank says:

    Thank you Carol – It’s a amazing area for relaxation and joy:)

    Reply
  5. Vashti Q – My name is Vashti and I am a fiction writer. My first novel "The Basement" was released August 20th, 2013. I finished my 2nd novel "Lilith" a fantasy aimed at a YA/Adult audience. I'm in the middle of writing my 3rd novel "Dracul" (Fantasy for YA/Adult). Obviously I love reading and writing, but I also love traveling, animals, nature, hiking, kayaking, watching basketball, good movies, UFC, cooking, dancing and spending time with family and friends. I have an adventurous spirit and love to have fun and laugh. I love traveling to new and exciting destinations and meeting new people.
    Vashti Quiroz-Vega says:

    Wow Mihran, that’s gorgeous! I hope to visit Hawaii one day. 😉

    Reply
    1. mihrankalaydjianblog – San Diego, CA – Mihran Kalaydjian On a personal note, I love the outdoors, comedy, bbq, reading and traveling. I worked in the beer industry in college so I love talking about good beer. I used to be a competitive runner so (like all runners) if you make the mistake of asking me, I'll tell you about my entire career and PRs. I also spent my youth working in restaurants, so if you've done the same, we can swap stories. The five items I can't live without: Everything, infinity, wanton boredom, limitless limits, change. Mihran Kalaydjian, A proven ability to articulate a company's brand culture as well as key strategic initiatives and delivery of desired results. Outstanding leadership, communications and project management skills. A committed individual with strong organizational skills that believes leading by example is key to building a strong team to achieve high guest satisfaction results and cost control measures. Mihran Kalaydjian provides visionary leadership and management oversight of the sales, marketing and revenue strategies for Classic Hotels and Resorts. Mihran Kalaydjian suggest: Your energy should be focused on finding a solution, quickly and effectively. I am at my best when I have a tight deadline, but every aspect of the project is planned, organized and working in excellence.
      mihrank says:

      it is one of the most relaxing places to consider, beside Milan, Italy!

      Reply

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