Best family friendly beaches in Hawaii

Kids can always find a way to have a good time at the beach, but the adults who accompany them — and fellow beachgoers — will breathe easier if the surf, sand and surroundings are age-appropriate. On all the major Hawaiian islands, you'll find strands known as "Baby Beach," which generally offer shallow, protected waters with a flat or gradual entry. But the best Hawaiian beaches for visiting families provide that and a number of these other ideal features:

• Easy access: Long drives that include bumpy, unpaved roads or hiking down steep trails to a secluded beach with sketchy parking may appeal to the adventurous, but children and those carrying their gear tend to appreciate a quicker payoff for seaside play.
• Restrooms and outdoor showers: Granted, facilities at state and county parks are not always well-maintained. Still, it's a lot easier to extend a pleasant outing and have a comfortable trip back to your lodgings if everyone can answer nature's call and wash off sand.
• Shade: Perhaps you have room in your luggage to lug a beach umbrella with you; given baggage fees and the cost of sunscreen, staking a shady spot is cheaper and may be more comfortable (unless you're under the rare beachfront coconut palm that still has falling coconuts.)
• Room to play: Pocket coves can be romantic. Kids, however, will enjoy longer and/or wider beaches where they can run around, ideally with an adjacent lawn or play area to move to when they tire of wading. And it's nice to have a place to picnic without sand blowing across your sandwich.
• Nearby vendors: Parents know to pack snacks, cold drinks and sunscreen, yet it's easy on vacation to forget something at the hotel, or to want to extend an excursion. So it can be a relief to know there's a convenient source for necessities — whether it's a taco truck, cafe or hotel gift shop — that doesn't require piling back in the car.

The beaches in front of many hotels may meet most of these criteria, but nonguests will find that spacious lawns and bathrooms are usually off-limits, or the beaches may have steep drop-offs or strong currents with no lifeguards on duty. It's also important to recognize that even the "safest" beaches can be hazardous under certain conditions; be sure to check what the daily ocean conditions (online, in the newspaper or with a hotel concierge) before heading out.

With that in mind, here are some of the best stretches of sand for all travelers — not just resort guests — who have young ones in tow.

KAUA'I

Po'ipū Beach Park on the Garden Island's South Shore is hardly a secret, which is why the large parking lot (on two sides of Ho'owili Road) can look full by mid-morning. Its three distinct beach areas (including the body-surfing Brennecke's Beach) and long lawn can accommodate a lot of visitors, though. Small fry will appreciate wading in the jetty-protected "baby beach" on the east end of the central cove and watching the famous wild chickens scrounge for crumbs.

Endangered monk seals also occasionally haul out on the populous beach — a good opportunity to teach kids to stay at least 150 feet away, even if they see curious adults breaking the law. Reward them with a trip to the nearby Brennecke's Beachside Deli, which carries shave ice, cold drinks, sandwiches and convenience store items.

To the west lies a more secluded cove known as Baby Beach, with no parking lot, facilities or lifeguards (unlike Po'ipū Beach Park); little snorkelers may also want to try narrow Lāwa'i Beach a little further west, which at least has restroom/changing facilities, a small parking lot and snack shop. Click here for maps and details on all the Po'ipū beaches.

Closer to Princeville, 'Anini Beach Park generally offers calm waters even when big surf is pounding the rest of the North Shore, thanks to a 2-mile-long fringing reef. The long and winding beach itself can be fairly narrow, but that just means the shady trees are closer to the water, so adults can stay cool while the kids frolic; there's also a large grassy area where they can stretch their legs. A popular campsite, 'Anini is sometimes visited by a taco truck, but it's best to stock up in Kilauea (if you're coming from the south) or Hanalei/Princeville (if heading from the north) to ensure you'll have what you need.

O'AHU

Generations of kids have happily splashed in the waters of Waikīkī, but its beach can be very narrow — and very crowded — in places, with the surf sometimes breaking higher than little heads. A wider, less crowded and more protected swath lies at the eastern end: Sans Souci Beach, also known as Kaimana Beach. Backing up on shaded Kapi'olani Park, it has a shallow, sandy bottom protected by a wide reef. If you forgot something, pop into Russell's Store in the adjacent New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, which is also home to the highly rated beachfront Hau Tree Lanai restaurant. A beach trip here also pairs well with a visit to the kid- and budget-friendly Waikiki Aquarium.

Those willing to drive about 35 minutes from Waikiki (depending on traffic) will find a welcoming oasis at Ko 'Olina Resort; just let the gate security know you're going to the beach. Actually, there are four artificially created oceanfront lagoons, all within a short walk of public facilities; the one designated for a beach park is Lagoon Four, closest to the Ko 'Olina Marina and its convenience store, but families can sun and swim at any of the well-manicured lagoons. (Perhaps that's why Disney's first non-theme-park resort is being built here.)

Walk the 1.5-mile paved trail to the end of Lagoon One, home of the JW Marriott Ihilani, and the kids will enjoy seeing rays, hammerhead sharks and tropical fish in the hotel's shallow ponds. Walk a bit farther west and you'll come to one of the natural lagoons—not safe for swimming, but fun for beachcombing.

MAUI

Kama'ole Beach Park in Kīhei is really three family-friendly beaches, often called "Kam 1," "Kam 2" and "Kam 3," which offer restrooms and showers, lifeguards, picnic facilities, ample parking (go early at peak periods) and easy access to cafes and convenience stores. (No wonder so many condos are nearby.) Kama'ole Beach Park III, as it's formally known, also boasts a large grassy field that's popular with locals on weekend; in calm conditions, kids can also try snorkeling near the rocks that separate the beaches from each other. Landlubber adults will also enjoy the views of Kaho'olawe.

If you don't mind the lack of toilet facilities (and please don't assume the beach makes a good substitute), Pu'unoa Beach, also known as Baby Beach, north of Lahaina provides a far less crowded alternative to the Kama'ole beaches, with a lovely view of Lā'na'i. It's also less busy and shallower than Kā'anapali, which is much easier to visit if you're a resort guest. (There's also a "Baby Beach" in Pā'ia, but it can be quite windy and is farther from most lodgings.) For directions and a detailed description of Pu'unoa, click here.

HAWAI'I

Hā'puna Beach is the longest and widest sandy beach on the Big Island, so it's a good thing a state park lies along its southern half, rather than more of the typical pricey Kohala resorts. And yet it's not a bad thing that the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is along its northern half, preventing a long trip back to Kailua-Kona if you left something behind. The state park also includes an inexpensive snack bar and A-framed cabins for rent.

Normally, the safest spot for children to play is in the sand-bottomed cove at the northern end, where the water is at its shallowest; the surf can get very high in winter, particularly at the southern end. Ask a lifeguard if you're unsure of the conditions.

No lifeguards are on duty at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, but it's much closer to Kailua-Kona, with easy parking — the former runway — and the usual park and picnic facilities. While much of the beach is rocky, children will like exploring between the shallow fingers of lava, home to turtles and other protected marine life; it's best for them to wear reef shoes. For a sandy tidepool, head to the eastern end, near the lighthouse at Kuka'ilimoku Point, where local families bring their kids for a dip.

Jeanne Cooper is the former Chronicle Travel Editor and author of SFGate's Hawaii Insider (www.sfgate.com/blogs/hawaiiinsider), a daily blog about Hawaii travel and island culture.