Lanikai

Lanikai Beach has appeared on nearly every list of the world's best beaches, and one visit makes the case for itself. A narrow ribbon of powdery white sand lapped by calm, clear water, with the twin Mokulua Islands rising from the turquoise sea just offshore, it is as beautiful in person as it appears in photographs. The community behind it is small, quiet, and almost entirely residential, a handful of streets lined with homes that back directly onto the sand or sit just moments from it. Kayaking out to the Mokuluas, watching the sunrise paint the Ko'olau Mountains pink, and walking to Kailua town for coffee and breakfast are the rhythms of a stay here. Gather's luxury vacation rentals in Lanikai offer direct access to all of it, in one of the most coveted addresses on the windward coast.