We just returned from an almost two week stay in Hawaii, and checked out three of the clothing optional beaches on the islands.

We first did a short visit to Hana's Red Sand Beach on Maui. The access trail is probably the most challenging aspect. It is not long, but it is eroded and footing is treacherous. The beach itself is small, but beautiful, with a sheltered swimming cove and amazing rock formations. There were a handful of other people coming and going, most staying for 15 to 20 minutes, then moving on. There was some nudity, but the majority of visitors stayed clothed. It is a unique beach, and worth a visit if you are pretty sure-footed.

We later visited Little Beach on the other side of Maui. It was the largest and busiest beach of the three, and the most nude. There were boogie boarders working the surf, but almost 90% of the people parked on the sand were fully nude. The access to Little Beach is over a lava headland from Makena Beach (clothed) but it is a short climb and pretty easy. It is a climb, so don't plan on dragging a lot of coolers and paraphernalia. The sand and surf made for easy relatively safe swimming. A very comfortable place to be nude.

Our last stay was on the Big Island of Hawaii, in a cottage steps from Kehena Beach. Kehena Beach is small black sand beach that is very much a busy local hangout. From where we stayed, we could see the parking area, and there were always some and often many cars parked there. The access is again a steep climb, easier than Red Sand Beach, but a bit more challenging than Little Beach.

It is the locals that "make" Kehena Beach. There is a very free-spirited and social scene there....Sundays are a big beach party with drum circles, etc. There are kids and dogs, young men and women, gays, wide eyed tourists, seniors and everything in between all on a relatively small beach. Nudity is not the majority use, but it is completely accepted as part of the Kehena scene. It would be rare to be the only nude on the beach, but if you were, it would not feel uncomfortable because of the tolerant vibe.

The surf here is dangerous for swimming, with a nasty shore break and some rocks in the water. The locals know how to manage the conditions, and you'll always see people swimming, but your mileage may vary. Mine did. After three or four days of swimming without incident, I got banged up on some rocks trying to get out one of the days that the surf was up. All in all, though I loved this beach for the people and beauty, and the opportunity to be nude in a "community" that accepted nudity as they accepted any other difference.