When I'm sitting at work and daydreaming about Hawaii, there's a good chance it's Hanalei I'm dreaming about. It's difficult to explain why.
On paper, there are certainly better beaches. Much of the year, Hanalei Bay is wavy & rough. It's unremarkable (or unsafe) to be in the water unless you're an expert surfer. The calmer summer months are good for swimming, but it's a huge rather flat, featureless sand bottom. Add to it the fact that it frequently rains and you have a recipe for so-so beach by Hawaiian standards.
Why daydream about it, then?
Hanalei provokes an emotional response in people. Water, land, and sky - everything in nature just seems to come together perfectly there. The steep mountains, with their cascading waterfalls, provide a beautiful backdrop. There's lush foliage, an aquamarine bay, and gentle orange sand. It hasn't been ruined by human development - the small, sleepy town with its one-land bridges and 20 mph speed limit are sedate enough not to detract from the overall feel.
My top recommendation for a visit is to walk out to the end of the pier. This is the astounding tropical scenery you came to Hawaii for. Bring your camera. Of course the pictures don't come close to doing it justice, but when you're back at work they can at least be a reminder of how it looked (and how you felt) when you were there.
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