The Westside is renowned for its unrelenting sun and vast beaches. At the west end of Kekaha town, this long stretch of sand is best for beachcombing and catching sunsets. It lacks lacks reef protection so check with a lifeguard whether it’s OK to swim before you jump in. The currents are extremely dangerous in high surf, but under the right conditions it’s good for surfing and bodyboarding. Facilities include outdoor showers, restrooms and picnic tables.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
21.65 MILES
Hanalei Bay is Kauaʻi's postcard-perfect beach, embracing surfers, paddlers, bodyboarders and beach bums alike. It's a perfect crescent of golden sand…
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
27.66 MILES
The gloriously scenic wildlife refuge that marks the northernmost tip of the major Hawaiian islands protects both nesting seabirds on the coastal cliffs…
19.71 MILES
Perhaps the most beautiful spot on an island of unsurpassed beauty, this magnificent garden is a must-see stop on any North Shore itinerary. Besides…
19.58 MILES
Long renowned as one of the North Shore’s most glorious beaches, lovely Ke‘e Beach, beside the Kalalau trailhead at the end of Kuhio Hwy, has been given a…
National Tropical Botanical Garden
16.33 MILES
Two superb gardens in lush Lawa‘i Valley, run by the National Tropical Botanical Garden, are open to visitors. Allerton Garden, spreading back from a…
10.9 MILES
Besides the two Na Pali lookouts at the end of the paved highway, Koke‘e State Park is the starting point for almost 50 miles of outstanding hiking trails…
8.09 MILES
This magnificent scenic drive traces the entire length of Waimea Canyon’s western rim and continues into Kokeʻe State Park, climbing 19 miles from the…
Black Pot Beach Park (Hanalei Pier)
22.36 MILES
The short easternmost stretch of Hanalei Bay, alongside the rivermouth, usually offers the calmest surf among the wild North Shore swells, and is popular…
Nearby Waimea Canyon & the Westside attractions
1. West Kauaʻi Technology & Visitor Center
3.9 MILES
Waimea’s friendly visitor center holds modest but interesting exhibits on Hawaiian culture, Captain Cook, sugar plantations and the US military. Its gift…
3.9 MILES
The evocative skeleton of this 19th-century sugar mill still looms over Waimea. Pumping out sugar from the Westside, it fueled Kaua‘i’s economy until 1945…
3. Waimea United Church of Christ
4.03 MILES
What’s now the Waimea United Church of Christ was originally erected in 1847 by Reverend George Rowell. Protestant missionaries had lived in Waimea for…
4. Waimea State Recreational Pier
4.05 MILES
Flecked with microscopic green crystals called olivine, this wide, dark-tinged beach stretches between two scenic rock outcroppings and is bisected by the…
4.18 MILES
Sunday’s Hawaiian-language mass at this simple low-slung church makes an interesting way to connect with local culture. Waimea’s first Christian…
4.25 MILES
This small grassy park at Waimea’s main intersection holds a statue of Captain Cook. Display panels explain local history.
4.26 MILES
A statue of Captain James Cook stands on Waimea’s central green space. When his ships Resolution and Discovery sailed into Waimea Bay in January 1778,…
4.27 MILES
Waimea’s plantation-era core offers some interesting architecture. Take a short stroll to admire the neoclassical First Hawaiian Bank (1929), the art deco…