2 Hawaii beaches in top 20 ranking
One of the state's most dangerous beaches has been selected among the 20 Great American Beaches by editors of Travel + Leisure, a monthly national magazine.
Undeniably beautiful, Hanakapiai Beach along the Na Pali Coast on Kauai is notorious for its strong currents and has been the scene of 29 recorded drownings between 1970 and 2004.
Accordingly, the magazine cautions readers against entering the ocean there.
"The beach is a bit of a tease: Swimming is strongly discouraged, because of the violent surf," the magazine says in listing Hanakapiai among its recommended nature escapes.
Waianapanapa Black-Sand Beach on Maui also was among the editors' top picks, recommended in the "secret sands" category. The editors also urge beachgoers to visit Hasegawa General Store for its bargain surf shorts and folding beach chairs.
The issue, on newsstands June 26, includes information on each beach with tips on where to stay and what to do. The editors also present beaches in the categories of people-watching, swimming spots, and fun for everyone.
For the full list of the top 20 beaches along with readers' stories of their favorites, visit www.travelandleisure.com/specialfeatures/great-american-beaches/.