HONOLULU -- It should be huge honor, but it is bringing concern. Doctor Beach has named Hawaii's Hanauma Bay the No. 1 beach in the country. That has Hanauma managers worried that the already crowded beach will become mobbed with even more tourists.

The Florida environmental scientist known as Dr. Beach, who named Hanauma the best beach in the United States, was especially impressed by the efforts to make the beautiful coral reef thrive. Hanauma officials fear the honor may make it more difficult to protect the beautiful setting that got them the rating in the first place.

"Of course it does mean people will read this as a must go to beach and try to crowd their way into here and then we have a crowd control problem, which is beyond what we like to handle," Hanauma Assistant Manager Martha McDaniel said.

It's already crowded at Hanauma. Right now, the park is operating a full summer capacity with up to 4,000 visitors a day and the $5 admission fee isn't keeping people away.

Some Hawaii residents worry it will be it even more difficult to find parking lot limited to 300 stalls.

"It will be very frustrating. Some of us were very frustrated earlier this morning," beachgoer Ferdinand Ajel said. "I can see the concern of the park officials where they wouldn't want it to be too crowded."

Other residents see this new honor as a boon.

"I guess with all the crowds that come by, it does bring in more revenues to the state," beachgoer Craig Mishima said.

Park officials, by law, can allow only 2,000 people on the beach at any one time and they hope with the increased interest visitors will be patient and understand the limit is for everyone's benefit.

Other beaches honored this year were:

Fort De Soto Park, Fla.

Caladesi Island State Park, Fla.

Cresecent Beach, Fla.

Cape Florida State Park, Fla.

Ocracoke Island in N.C.

Main Beach in East Hampton, NY

Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Mass.

Coronado Beach, Calif.

Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii