ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beachgoers enjoyed Maui's Kaanapali Beach in May 2003, the day before it was officially proclaimed "America's Best Beach" in the yearly ratings by Stephen P. Leatherman. Kaanapali is now among the nation's healthiest beaches.
8 isle beaches
among nation’s
‘healthiest’The criteria included water quality
and safety and litter control
The man known as "Dr. Beach" says Hawaii has eight of the 40 "healthiest" beaches in the nation.
Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a nationally renowned coastal expert known for his Dr. Beach's 10 best beaches, released his first list of healthy beaches yesterday as part of a National Healthy Beaches Campaign.
The state's healthiest beaches are Hapuna Beach State Park and Kaunaoa Beach on the Big Island; Hulopoe Beach on Lanai; Kaanapali Beach, Kapalua Bay Beach and Wailea Beach on Maui; and Kailua Beach and Lanikai Beach on Oahu.
Those beaches include a combination of water quality, clean environment, public services, and safety and litter control, said Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.
"The water quality at these beaches are excellent," said Dennis Lau, chief of the state Department of Health's Clean Water Branch.
Lau said most of the neighbor island beaches on the list are part of resorts that have staff maintenance that care for the beaches and surrounding areas. A smaller number of tourists and residents frequent those beaches because of its limited access compared with Waikiki, which the public can easily get to.
"Not much people use the beaches unless you're staying at the hotels," Lau said.
Capt. Kevin Allen, of the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division, said Lanikai Beach, which has been designated many times as one of the best beaches in the world, is often tended by area residents who pick up any trash.
"They take pride in their beach," Allen said.
Kaanapali also topped the nation's beach rankings two months ago in Leatherman's "America's Best Beaches" list.
The National Healthy Beaches Campaign was initiated to balance recreational use and environmental management of America's beaches. Forty beaches on the list met the stringent criteria that include water and sand quality, public services, safety and litter control, and environmental quality and management.
Leatherman spent a year traveling around the country collecting data. Beaches were evaluated on 35 environmental and service-based criteria that include the Environmental Protection Agency's standards on water quality.
Florida listed the most healthy beaches in the country at 29.
Leatherman said he hopes the list will help travelers plan their vacation to determine which beach they would like to visit.
"We want to put it out now to get a start on the visitor season," Leatherman said during a phone interview from Miami.
For more information on the nation's healthiest beaches, visit www.NHBC.fiu.edu.
