By Sam EiflingA tourist-friendly beach named for a Hawaii surfing legend has been dubbed the best public
beach in the United States in this year’s Dr. Beach ranking.
Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Honolulu, a well-groomed crescent of blond sand and palm trees near the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, beat out more than 600 other beaches for the distinction.
Stephen Leatherman, a Florida International University coastal science professor who goes by the nickname Dr. Beach, said the cleanliness, safe conditions and amenities pushed Duke Kahanamoku to the top of his 24th annual list.
"It’s safe for kids and families," he said. "The water quality’s great. The vistas are right off the scale for that place.
Also big for him: Smoking there is banned, as it is on beaches throughout Oahu.
"I hope Hawaii sets the standard and the wave moves eastward to the mainland," he said. "South Beach is a hot beach in Miami but sometimes there I count 10 cigarette butts in a square meter."
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