Beach sights in Kaua'i
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Lydgate Beach Park
Families flock to the clean, safe, conveniently located Lydgate Beach Park, with calm waters in a large seawater pool protected by a stone breakwater. It's ideal for shallow swimming and beginning snorkeling. Beware of the open ocean beyond the pool, where currents are strong. Amenities include changing rooms, rest rooms, showers, drinking water, picnic pavilions, lifeguard and ample parking. The Eastside paved coastal path runs through the park.
In 1994 thousands of local volunteers helped build the enchanting Kamalani Playground at the northern end of the park. This massive 16,000-sq-ft wooden castle has swings, slides, mirror mazes, a suspension bridge and other kid-pl…
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Tunnels Beach
A hot spot for snorkeling and diving, Tunnels Beach is a wide, horseshoe-shaped fringing reef with fantastic underwater life viewable during calm summer seas. During such conditions, you can start snorkeling near the east point and let the current carry you westward. It's more adventurous (and less crowded) than Ke'e Beach.
In winter, high surf conditions mean a tubular break (hence the name Tunnels) for expert surfers and perilous risk for the rest of us. Dangerous rip currents prevail from October to May. It was here on October 21, 2003 that competitive surfer Bethany Hamilton, then 13, lost her left arm in a shark attack. Undaunted, Bethany resumed her surfing career, …
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Lumaha'i Beach
If Lumaha'i Beach looks familiar, it's where Mitzi Gaynor promised to wash that man right out of her hair in the 1958 musical South Pacific. It's just as spectacular in real life. Plan to stroll this mile-long sandy beach, with jungle growth looming on one side and tempestuous open sea on the other.
Forget swimming. There is no reef barrier and waves are almost always too powerful, with perilous shorebreaks.
There are two ways onto Lumaha'i Beach. The first and more scenic is a three-minute walk that begins at the parking area 0.75 miles past the 4-mile marker on the Kuhio Hwy. The trail slopes to the left at the end of the retaining wall. On the beach, the lava-rock ledg…
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Larsen's Beach
The long, golden sands of Larsen's Beach, named after L David Larsen (former manager of C Brewer's Kilauea Sugar Company), is good for solitary strolls and beachcombing. Although shallow, snorkeling can be good when the waters are very calm, usually only in the summer. Beware of a vicious current that runs westward along the beach and out through a channel in the reef.
When the tide is low, you might share Larsen's with Hawaiian families collecting an edible seaweed called limu kohu. The seaweed found here is considered to be some of the finest in all of Hawaii. Otherwise, it will be you, the sand and the waves.
To get here, turn onto Ko'olau Rd from whichever end (ie wher…
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Hanalei Beach Park
Often dubbed simply 'Hanalei Pier,' due to its unmistakable landmark, the stretch of sand shaded by ironwood trees at Hanalei Beach Park is popular mainly with surfers. The sandy-bottom beach slopes gently, making it very safe for beginners. Lessons are typically taught here, just west of the pier, where you find surf schools lining up big ol' softboards and rashguards daily.
In summer, swimming and snorkeling are decent, as are camping and kayaking. As always, take extreme caution during periods of high surf as dangerous shorebreaks and rip currents are common.
At the eastern end of the park the mouth of the Hanalei River opens into the beach and you'll find a small boat …
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Donkey Beach
An easy 10-minute walk down from the highway takes you to golden Donkey Beach, Kaua'i's best-known nudist beach. But nudity is illegal on Kaua'i and police occasionally bust those in the buff. No surprise, the site is also popular as a gay beach.
Summer swells are manageable here but from October to May dangerous rip currents and a powerful shorebreak take over. Blustery winds whip ironwood trees away from the shore, which are bent so low they resemble shrubs. Naupaka and 'ilima, native ground-creeping flowers, add dashes of color to the sand. Shade is minimal so bring sun protection.
To get to the beach, stop at the paved parking lot at the ocean side of Kuhio Hwy, about …
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Salt Pond Beach Park
Salt Pond Beach Park is one of Kaua'i's best family beaches - and even better because it remains untouristy. Beyond the long stretch of sand, the water in the cove reaches up to 10ft deep and works well for swimming laps (four times across equals 0.5 miles) and also for windsurfing. Both ends of the cove are shallow and good for kids. Along with a lifeguard, amenities include picnic tables, barbecue grills, showers and campsites.
The park is named for its famous salt ponds toward the east, where Hawaiians have traditionally made rock salt from seawater. Often, this alae salt is tinted red from adding a bit of Kaua'i's ubiquitous iron-rich earth.
To get here, turn left just…
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Ke'e Beach
Picturesque Ke'e Beach can't be beat for colorful snorkeling and easy access. A reef protects the right side of the cove and, except on high surf days, waters are calm and pleasantly swimmable. The left side is open and can have a powerful current, particularly in winter.
On the downside, Ke'e Beach is insanely popular due to both the outstanding snorkeling and the adjacent Kalalau trailhead. From the beach, you can behold the Na Pali Coast by walking the first 30 minutes of the Kalalau Trail . Parking can be a problem (go early and avoid summers and weekends) and break-ins are rampant.
Find showers, drinking water, rest rooms and a pay phone in the woods behind the parkin…
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Po'ipu Beach
The Sheraton Kaua'i Resort scored big-time with its location at Po'ipu Beach, which runs east to Po'ipu Beach Park . An offshore reef tames the waves enough for swimming, snorkeling and moderate windsurfing, bodyboarding and surfing.
Cowshead, the rocky outcropping at the west end of the beach near the Sheraton, offers Po'ipu Beach's best bodyboarding breaks. For experts only, challenging offshore surfing spots include First Break, in front of the Sheraton; beginners should always remain inshore. Waiohai, at the east end of the beach in front of the sprawling Marriott Waiohai Beach Club time-share, also sees major swells.
To get here, drive to the end of Ho'onani Rd.
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Kalihiwai Beach
With a wide, deep bay, Kalihiwai Beach is popular for many activities, such as swimming and, when the winter northwest swells roll in, daredevil bodyboarding and surfing along the cliff at the east end of the bay.
If you enjoy kayaking, the Kalihiwai Stream, which empties into the bay, offers perhaps the prettiest scenery of the island's rivers. Launch at the bay and paddle up into Kalihiwai Valley, where you can see or hike to Kalihiwai Falls. Note: the falls are on land leased by Princeville Ranch Stables and you might be shooed away). The beach has no facilities.
To get here, take the first Kalihiwai Rd, 0.5 miles west of Kilauea.
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Hanalei Bay
Captured in countless photographs, the perfectly curved Hanalei Bay is always scenic, but not always swimmable. The wave action here is changeable: flat in summer and pounding in winter, when surfers arrive in droves. The best beaches are at Hanalei (Black Pot) Beach Park and Wai'oli (Pine Trees) Beach Park, which both have rest rooms, showers, drinking water, picnic tables and grills.
Another easy-access public beach is found at the Hanalei Beach Park Pavilion (also with facilities) on Weke Rd near Aku Rd. Conditions are best for surfing and bodyboarding; swimming is less than ideal due to the shorebreak.
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Secret Beach
While no longer a secret, the gorgeous, golden-sand Secret Beach backed by sea cliffs and jungly foliage is still frequented mainly by Kaua'i's alternative community - perhaps because it's accessible only by a steep (and slippery) 10- to 15-minute hike. Also known as Kauapea Beach, its waters are swimmable only during summer.
To get to Secret Beach, turn down Kalihiwai Rd 0.5 miles west of Kilauea and then turn right onto the first dirt road, which is just 0.1 miles from Kuhio Hwy. Less than 0.5 miles down, the road ends at a parking area where the well-defined trail begins. Don't go during rainy periods.
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Rock Quarry Beach
Broad and sandy, with a pretty fringe of ironwood trees, Rock Quarry Beach (also called Kalihi Beach) is a river mouth for Kilauea Stream, so the water can be murky. Nevertheless, it offers rich fishing and, on occasion, surfing. If the waves are big enough to ride, swimmers should take extreme caution with strong near-shore currents.
Public access is via Wailapa Rd, which begins midway between the 21- and 22-mile markers on Kuhio Hwy. Follow Wailapa Rd north for less than 0.5 miles beyond Kuhio Hwy and then turn left on the unmarked dirt road (4WD recommended) that begins at a bright-yellow water valve.
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Shipwreck Beach
Expert surfers, bodyboarders and bodysurfers flock to the half-mile-long sandy Shipwreck Beach at Keoneloa Bay, which fronts the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort & Spa. The pounding shorebreak and high surf are ideal for advanced riders but novices and swimmers should go elsewhere. A couple of near-shore breaks attract local board surfers as well. Toward the left of the bay, daredevils leap off Makawehi Point, the gigantic rock cliff.
The name comes from, yes, a shipwrecked wooden boat that washed ashore and remained for years. In 1982 Hurricane 'Iwa swept the boat back to sea.
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Kekaha Beach Park
Just west of Kekaha town, the vast Kekaha Beach Park is ideal for solitary walking. Without any shade, however, the sun is brutal. Before you jump in, watch the tide carefully. This is unprotected open ocean and when the surf is high currents are extremely dangerous; under the right conditions it can be good for surfing and bodyboarding.
Ni'ihau and its offshore islet, Lehua, are visible from the beach. An inconspicuous shower can be found just inland from the highway between Alae and Amakihi Rds; rest rooms and picnic tables are nearby.
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'Anini Beach Park
You can't ask for a gentler stretch of beach than this one at 'Anini Beach Park. The water is flat as glass within the lagoon, which is protected by one of the longest and widest fringing reefs in the Hawaiian Islands. At its widest point, the reef extends over 1600ft offshore. The park is unofficially divided into day-use, camping and windsurfing areas. While weekends might draw crowds, weekdays are low key. Facilities include rest rooms, showers, changing rooms, drinking water, picnic pavilions and barbecue grills.
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Glass Beach
Colorful bits of sea glass decorate the sand at Glass Beach, just east of Port Allen. The smooth glass 'pebbles' originated from a long-abandoned dumpsite nearby, worn and weathered after decades of wave action. Sometimes the glass is plentiful, other times most is washed out to sea.
To get to the little cove, take Aka'ula St, the last left before entering the Port Allen commercial harbor, go past the fuel storage tanks and then curve to the right down a rutted dirt road that leads 100yd to the beach.
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Anahola Beach Park
A county park on Hawaiian Home Lands, Anahola Beach Park sits at the south side of Anahola Bay. The wide bay fringed with lovely sandy beach was an ancient surfing site and the break is still popular with local surfers. To get here, turn off Kuhio Hwy onto Kukuihale Rd at the 13-mile marker, drive a mile down and then turn onto the dirt beach road.
You can also access the north end of the beach from 'Aliomanu Rd (the 'first' 'Aliomanu Rd at the 14-mile marker, not the 'second' one a mile north).
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Kapa'a Beach Park
Low-key and local, Kapa'a Beach Park is a mile-long ribbon of beach beginning at Kapa'a's north end, where there's a ball field, picnic tables and a public pool. At the south end of the beach, near Pono Kai Resort, there's a nice sandy area.
A pretty, shoreline foot-and-bicycle path runs the length of the beach park, crossing over a couple of old bridges where families and old-timers drop fishing lines. The path makes an appealing alternative to walking along the highway to and from town.
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Kalapaki Beach
Hidden behind Kaua'i Marriott Resort, Kalapaki Beach, Lihu'e's best beach, is often overlooked by tourists. But local surfers and bodyboarders trot toward the swells, while resort guests bask on golden sand lined with coconut trees. Sheltered by points and breakwaters at Nawiliwili Bay, waters are quite hospitable to swimmers.
While it might appear to be a private resort beach, it's open to the public (find free parking close to the water at the hotel's north side).
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Wailua Bay
At the mouth of the Wailua River, the sweeping Wailua Bay of golden sand is rather too visible from the highway. But swimming is possible along the edges. As always, avoid the river's mouth because currents and water depth here is unpredictable. Toward the south, a summer surf break draws locals and also surf students.
The long stretch of sand is ideal for walking and, since the bay is so centrally located, it makes a convenient stop for a quick jog or stroll.
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Kealia Beach
Mainly a locals' surf and bodyboarding spot, Kealia Beach, at the 10-mile marker, is recommended mainly for experts. The powerful waves are mesmerizing but treacherous. A breakwater protects the north end, so swimming and snorkeling are occasionally possible there - but not recommended. After rainstorms, the sand may be heavily littered with tree limbs carried down Kealia Stream, which empties at the beach's south side.
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'Aliomanu Beach
Secluded 'Aliomanu Beach is another spot frequented primarily by locals, who pole- and throw-net fish and gather limu (seaweed). It's a mile-long stretch of beach; you can get to the prettier north end by turning onto 'Aliomanu Rd (second), just past the 15-mile marker on Kuhio Hwy. Turn left onto Kalalea View Dr, go 0.5 miles and turn right at the beach access sign.
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