Dr. Beach is at it again.

Hanalei Bay, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, topped Dr. Stephen Leatherman’s annual list of the best beaches in America.

According to Leatherman, Hanalei Bay is one of his favorite getaway beaches, notable for its crystal-clear waters that generally remain calm and tranquil in the summer months.

The 19th annual Top 10 Beaches list relies on 50 criteria, including water temperature and sand softness, rip currents, number of sunny versus rainy days, cleanliness, and maintenance.

Previous winners are excluded from consideration, such as last year’s winner  Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida. Hawaii has topped the list 12 times since 1991, including Maui’s Fleming Beach Park and Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu.

Dr. Leatherman is Ph.D. coastal scientist, professor of environmental studies and Director of the International Hurricane Research Center, part of Florida International University.

The top 10 list for 2009 is:

1. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
4. Coronado Beach, San Diego
5. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
6. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
7. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, North Carolina.
8. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida
9. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Visit www.drbeach.org for more information.

By Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.

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