SUMMER IN STYLE:
- Hot Beaches
- Cool Suits
- Diet Divine
- Buff for the Beach
- Face Finesse
- Best Beach Books

Where the Beautiful People Go
API celebs share their fave beaches and fantasy vacations
By Fiona Ma

BEST BEACHES
“The Pacific side of Baja somewhere below Ensenada and above La Paz.”
-- Greg Watanabe, actor

“Kauai, Hawaii -- so many magical secret places to explore and Newport Beach -- miles of white sand.”
-- Cynthia Gouw, KPIX news reporter

“Mah’ulepu Beach on the south shore of Kauai, Hawaii. A long and bumpy drive through a cane field keeps this spacious beach secluded and empty. If there are more than half a dozen people there, it’s considered to be crowded.”
-- Tony Wong, assistant to U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos

“St. Lucia, in the Caribbean. Great place to horseback ride on the beach and scuba dive.”
-- Myrna Lim, San Francisco small business commissioner

“I like nude beaches like Black Sands Beach [in Marin County] -- without the naked men.”
-- Esther Lee, co-chair of the Alice B. Toklas Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club

“Red, White and Blue near San Gregorio beach in Half Moon Bay and the Bare Bottom Beach north of Capitola, near Santa Cruz.”
-- Howard Fong, jack-of-all-trades.

“I recently shot my 2000 Swimsuit Calendar in Paradise -- Oahu, Hawaii -- and it was a struggle to get myself to finally leave. The air in the island is moist and clear. The kind of air that gives you glowing flawless skin. It’s like getting a facial on a daily basis!”
-- Esther Hwang, model.

“Any place where men do not wear Speedos.”
-- Burt Bulos, actor

“A tropical island, the beach with clear blue waters, white sand, palm trees -- and ice-cold fruity drinks with straws!”
-- Rebecca Delgado, member of San Francisco Democratic Central Committee.

SUMMER MUSINGS...
“Summer means three showers a day, incessant whining about wanting to cut my hair all off; sleeping with no clothes on cool marble floors; the smell of sickeningly sweet Hawaiian Tropic in the air.”
-- Tamlyn Tomita, actress

“I remember my Dad woke me up early one morning, and we drove all the way to Fashion Island and we cut in line to see the third Star Wars movie. It reminded me of getting up to go fishing up in Mammoth. The movie wasn’t that great, but this was the last time my dad and I did something like that.”
-- Greg Watanabe, actor

“I have always viewed summer as a time that was made as an excuse for play. Working long hard days does not stop just because it is summer -- actually work usually increases. So longer, warmer days and more consistent good weather in which to plan activities gives even the over-worked a time to kick back. Summer brings to mind comfy clothes and an attitude of ‘Hey, let’s try it.’ I love that about summer.”
-- Esther Hwang, model

...AND FANTASIES
“Going topless. In my convertible, that is!”
-- Cynthia Gouw

“To have life pass like in slow motion, watching Asian American surfer boys flick back the water from their hair as they come up from the surf and to look as fabulous as Bo Derek in 10. Background music in my head: Kool and the Gang and Earth, Wind and Fire. No talking necessary.”
-- Tamlyn Tomita

“My boss at City College is spending a month in Europe. He asked me what souvenir I wanted. My request: “Someone tall, dark, good looking, with thick dark curly hair.”
-- Myrna Lim

My favorite summer fantasy is to take the whole summer to cruise around the Mediterranean with some of my best girlfriends. We would have no set plan other than to work our way around the coast, stopping at any port we please and experiencing every possible food, people, and culture for as long as it takes to get our fill.”
-- Hwang

BEST GETAWAYS
“The Mandarin Phuket Yacht Club (Thailand) -- the club is very exclusive, the beach is out of this world and the food is incredible! The President’s Suite has a huge jacuzzi tub that overlooks the ocean and the little Phi Phi Islands. Black Tie cocktails every night.”
-- Mayeda, business executive

“I’m going to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu for some relaxation, culture and spiritual healing.”
-- Judge Lillian Sing, San Francisco Superior Court

“Bali, Bali and more Bali, bungee jumping at the Hard Rock Café on the tip of the beach in the middle of the cool morning, or enjoying a relaxing massage and a rose-petal bath in the mounts of Ubud!”
-- Hwang