Kaua'i's Hanalei Beach and Maui's Hamoa Beach both made the annual list of the country's best beaches as compiled by Florida International University professor Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach.

Caladesi Island in Florida was named the top beach this year. Hanalei, on Kaua'i's North Shore, was first runner-up.

Caladesi ranked second in Leatherman's rankings in 2007. Most years, he has chosen beaches in Florida or Hawai'i as the top-ranked, but the number of eligible beaches in those states has dwindled because past No. 1s are removed from consideration.

He broke the Hawai'i-Florida trend last year by awarding the top spot to Ocracoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks.

The other runners-up on Leatherman's list this year were Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla.; Coopers Beach in Southampton, N.Y.; Coronado Beach in San Diego; Main Beach in East Hampton, N.Y.; Hamoa Beach near Hana on Maui; Cape Hatteras, N.C.; Cape Florida State Park near Miami; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, S.C.

Leatherman compiles his list as part of the National Healthy Beaches Campaign, and this year plans a TV special featuring the nation's best beaches, he said.