You never need an excuse to plot a trip to Hawaii. It’s literally always a good idea. But, if you need a story to send to your travel partner to convince them to book a ticket too, then keep reading and hit that share button. 

Every year, the World’s 50 Best Beaches ranks the absolute top-notch stretches of shoreline across the globe. And a serious amount of work goes into every selection.

According to the list’s methodology, the selection process begins by reaching out to “thousands of the world’s most experienced travel professionals and asking them to vote for what they think is the best beach on Earth.” This first round of experts is not given any specific criteria for picking their beaches. Instead, they are asked to justify their choices and explain why they feel their beach picks are the best. 

However, the “final list is not based purely on votes cast,” the team explained. “The number of votes a beach receives is a contributing factor to its appearance on our list as well as its ranking. In order to be included in our annual list, a beach must receive at least one vote.”

Then, the internal team reviews the submissions and debates each selection before deciding the final rankings, which are indeed now based on specific criteria, including each destination’s uniqueness, the surrounding wildlife, its ease of access to the water, how many people frequent the beach, and the “Soundtrack of Nature,” aka “at this beach, the only thing you will hear are the sounds of the ocean and nature.” After considering all of this data and information, the team named Lanikai Beach on the island of Oahu the No. 14 best beach in the world, and the No. 1 in the United States. 

“While the gorgeous Lanikai Beach on Oahu is admired for its incredibly clear, turquoise waters and fine, powdery sand, the most iconic feature is the view of the Mokulua Islands, two islets offshore,” the editors shared of their selection. “Visitors love to come here to relax under the towering palm trees and enjoy stunning views of the horizon. Despite its popularity, Lanikai Beach maintains a serene environment that feels private. The calm waters are perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking, with the scenic backdrop of the twin islands enhancing the experience.”

And, perhaps most importantly, they noted that the beach is perfectly positioned for visitors to come sit on the sand and watch the sunrise.

As for other U.S. destinations to make the list, Kapalua Bay Beach on Maui came in at No. 40, along with Henderson Beach in Florida at No. 44.

See where else you can explore all around the world at worlds50beaches.com.