The Oahu beach named after Olympic swimming legend Duke Kahanamoku has been listed among the top 10 beaches in the nation in an annual survey for 2010.

Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Fort DeRussy, entered the list at No. 6, and Hamoa Beach in Hana at No. 9, in this year's selection released by Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

The selection is based on a 1-to-5 rating system of 50 criteria, including sand softness, water temperature, wind and rip currents.

Waikiki Improvement Association President Rick Egged said the selection of Duke Kahanamoku Beach puts the spotlight on the importance of maintaining beaches in Hawaii.

“;We're very proud of Duke Kahanamoku Beach,”; Egged said.

Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, said she was happy to see Hamoa selected in the top 10, in light of the competition.

“;We all know Hana is a special place, and Hamoa Beach is a special place and our visitors and our residents love it,”; she said.

Last year's No. 1 beach, at Hanalei Bay on Kauai, was not listed in the top 10 since, according to survey rules, selection as the top beach automatically retires it from the list.

Kauai Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sue Kanoho said the news exposure did draw visitors to Hanalei.

“;We enjoyed the recognition last year and were happy to see Kauai recognized for its assets,”; Kanoho said.

The top beach this year came from a state usually associated with urban living: New York.

Coopers Beach on Long Island, with pristine white sand gently sloping toward a shoreline of lapping waves, convenient parking and amenities and nary a gum wrapper in sight, was selected as America's best beach.

Leatherman said the designation as the country's No. 1 beach usually brings as much as a 20 percent bump in tourism.

This year's list includes two beaches in Florida, and Leatherman said he was not worried about pollution from the oil spill affecting those locations. Siesta Beach in Sarasota took the No. 2 spot, and Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne was No. 10.