A local's beach guide to Hawaii: Black sand or crystal clear waters, here are the beaches you need to visit

For centuries, the place where the ocean kisses the land has been of incredible importance for the people of Hawaii. These days, Hawaii's beaches continue to be the main draw for visitors, surfers, divers and many others looking to relish in the islands' warm waters and soft sand (which sometimes come in red, green and black.) With stunning shorelines across the archipelago, there is no shortage of beaches in Hawaii for people to enjoy.

I've been fortunate enough to grow up on Oahu and visit each of the four main Hawaiian islands to experience their own set of unique and stunning beaches. If someone asks me which beach to go to while on the islands, a few come to mind, but for the most part, just about any beach in Hawaii is beautiful and you really can't go wrong. I only ask that you be respectful and neither litter nor bother wildlife. Here are my favorite beaches to recommend:

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Lanikai Beach

Looking for picture-perfect views? Check.

Crystal clear, swimmable waters? Check.

Soft white sand (arguably so fine, it sticks to everything?) Check.

Located on the windward side of Oahu, Lanikai Beach is one of those Hawaiian beaches so pleasing to the eye, it's used as computer desktop backgrounds. There's rarely any surf so the beach is almost always swimmable and family-friendly – I often bring fins and a mask to dive around the small reefs just offshore.

In the distance, you can see the iconic "twin islands," or Mokolua Islands. In fact, you can rent a kayak and paddle out to the islands, which are bird sanctuaries. Otherwise, go ahead and just relax.

Yokohama Bay

Located at the very end of the road heading along the northwest side of the island of Oahu, Yokohama Bay is a captivating beach. Mountains tuck the beach away, making it one of the most remote on the otherwise bustling island.

The sprawling beach leaves plenty of room for groups to spread out their towels, pop open their beach tents and hang out. Another plus is that the west side of Oahu is often sunnier than the rest of the island, so a perfect beach day almost always awaits.

My only note is that the beach catches the winter swells, meaning the surf can sometimes be too intense for most swimmers – seriously, if in doubt, don't go out. It's still worth the hourlong drive from Honolulu, though, since wintertime means humpback whales are migrating south and their majestic breaches can be seen from Yokohama Bay's shores.

Wailea Beach

If you're visiting Maui, definitely make a stop at Wailea Beach – known as Big Beach to locals. Made up of five croissant-shaped beaches, this place is like a playground for those looking to enjoy the pristine Maui waters.

Families can snorkel, boogie board, paddleboard and more in the clear water that's often teeming with sea turtles. I think it's easy to spend all day here. There's also a "Wailea Walk" pathway if you're hoping to get your steps in, and easy access to food trucks and restaurants at the nearby resorts.

Waimea Bay

If my friends and I are planning to do a big beach day, it's likely that we're heading out to Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu. Although parking can get very crowded if you don't arrive early enough, finding a space and making the trek by foot to the beach is well worth it.

The bay is gorgeous, located at the seaside mouth of the culturally historic Waimea Valley. During the summertime, the bay is calm and you can see people jumping off the 25-foot-high rock.

I like to bring my dive gear and check out the marine life below the surface if I'm not tanning on the sand. In the winter, the scene completely shifts and the bay is firing with big waves and brave surfers. In this case, sit on the sand and watch in awe as the surfers defy gravity, either during a competition or not.

Punaluu Beach

One of the many natural wonders of the Hawaiian islands includes colored sand beaches. I would be remiss if I failed to mention one. Punaluu Beach on the southeastern coast of the Big Island is famous for good reason – the mystical black sand in lieu of your typical white sand.

Lava flows into the ocean, which then cools and turns into basalt, a type of rock. The ocean rushes over, grinds the rocks down and they collect on the shore, creating black sand beaches. While this isn't a very swimmable beach, definitely relax for a picnic lunch, watch the honu (sea turtles) from a safe distance, and take in the natural beauty of Hawaii.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hawaii travel: A local's guide to which beaches you need to visit