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Kauai Beach Guide
Hideaways Beach, Kauai North Shore
Kauai has literally dozens of beaches on all coasts of the
island. Unfortunately, most of the beaches are not well marked
and most are not labeled by any road signs at all. Luckily, we
have documented most of the beaches on the island and will ensure
you find the best ones. Some of Kauai's beaches are long
expanses of sand stretching around an entire bay and others are
smaller, more secluded strips of sand in a remote cove or under a
desolate cliff - that is part of Kauai's charm. One thing I
noticed on my first trip to Kauai - there are beaches everywhere!
Never more than a few miles you will travel before you drive past
another stunning beach that draws your longing gaze. Before
setting off for a day at the beach, read our
Kauai Ocean Safety
article.
View Kauai Beaches in a larger map
Our Favorite Kauai Beaches
(Clockwise from the North Shore)
North Shore Beaches
Beaches on the north shore of Kauai are
numerous. The island is a wealth of crystal clear waters, sandy
shorelines with inlets, private coves and more outcrops than other
islands. Of the many beaches on the north shore, there are three
that offer beauty and recreation that others cannot match.
Hanakapi'ai Beach
 This
beauty of this remote beach lures visitors over a hilly 2 miles hike
(each way). The only way to get to this beach is to hike the
first two miles of the famous Kalalau Trail - it is inaccessible by
car. During our hike
on the Kalalau, we were very surprised at how
 many people we came
across that were hiking the steep trail just to get to this beach. The beauty
is indisputable - the beach is tucked away in a steep valley, at the
mouth of a river. The bright white sand contrasts with the
lush green vegetated hills immediately behind it. There are no
facilities here - make sure you wear sure-footed shoes (no flip
flops) and bring plenty of water, apply sunscreen before your hike
and wear a hat - hiking back in the late afternoon, the trail is
exposed with the hot beating sun right on your back. Park your
car at Ke'e Beach (Kalalau Trail trailhead) and start walking - come
early because this parking lot fills up quick!
View map.
Ke'e Beach
 One of the most popular beaches on the island is Ke'e Beach in the northwestern corner
of the island. Situated at the end of Route 560, Ke'e is also
the start of the famous Kalalau Trail 11.3 mile hiking adventure. Ke'e boasts white sand with a ring of
 shady trees. There are no facilities to mention other than several port-a-potties in the
parking lot. But, what Ke'e is famous for is a large shallow
reef that provides a relatively protected swimming area and a great
opportunity for snorkeling. Amateur and advanced snorkelers
alike will enjoy Ke'e. This is a very popular beach and
the parking lot is very small - so come
early, or park some distance away and walk.
View map.
Haena Beach Park
 Haena
is the next beach just to the east of Ke'e Beach Park. Unlike
Ke'e, Haena has a large parking lot and full facilities including
bathrooms and outdoor showers. Haena offers a large crescent
of white sand beach with some trees along the fringe and a grassy
 area near the parking
lot where you can camp. Haena is a very pretty north shore
beach and the scenery is dramatic with lush green mountains rising
high out of the ground immediately to the south.
View map. I lost my sunglasses somewhere on the road while
attempting to photograph the beach - if you find them, please email
me!
Tunnels Beach (Makua)
 Tunnels
is another pretty beach on the north shore of Kauai. It is
situated immediately to the east of Haena Beach Park. Tunnels
beach is a band of white sand wrapping around a point of land with a
large shallow-water reef if front of it. Tunnels is a
 very
popular beach for
the beautiful scenery, and a very popular spot among snorkelers and
SCUBA divers. The shallow reef forms a giant shelf stretching
out for some distance blocking most of ocean's waves. There
are several channels on either side (west and east edges) of the
reef that will allow divers to navigate out from the beach around
the reef to deeper water. Be very cautious and observant of
the ocean conditions - the surface may be rough and be sure to
recognize what the currents are doing. If you are not careful,
you can get into a bit of trouble here (especially near the "DANGER:
No Swimming" signs on the eastern-most section of the beach).
Parking is very limited with about three small, narrow alleys to
fight for a spot - so come early (before 10:00 AM) or park far away
and walk. You can, if necessary, park at Haena Beach Park and
walk to the east to reach Tunnels.
Lumaha'i Beach
 Lumaha'i
is one of the prettiest post-card beaches on Kauai's north shore. It is the long
crescent of golden sand that is adjacent Hanalei Bay (pictured in
our masthead at the top of this page). This is a particularly
picturesque beach that is visible from the
 road. The light-colored sand is contrasted by the
surrounding tall palm trees and dark foliage. Just inland from
this beach are the lush rolling hills that remind you that on Kauai,
the mountains are always nearby. The Lumahai River empties
into the ocean at the western edge of this beach, leaving a deep
green river mouth shaded by many trees where many kids congregate
and swim. What really struck us about this beach is its length
- stretching long around the entire inlet. Keep an eye on the
ocean conditions and any warning signs posted. There are
lifeguards, large public parking lot, outdoor showers, picnic
tables, and a small camping area.
The sand at Lumaha'i is abundant and sparkling
white, the ocean glimmers in shades from turquoise to indigo blue.
Flanked by dense rainforest vegetation on the occasional lava
outcrop, this beach has been the location of many movie scenes.
Tricky access and limited parking keep the number of people on the
beach to number lower than the balmy tropical temperatures, so
seclusion and surrounding beauty can be an extremely personal
experience.
However, there are huge risks here. This beach
is not life guarded and rescue access is difficult and slow. The
winter surf pounds fiercely on the shoreline and the rip currents
are unforgivable. The summer months bring calmer water that expert
swimmers can enjoy with caution. The best way to access this beach
is to park in the small parking lot along Limahuli Stream near the
mile marker #5 and follow the trail to the beach.
Hanalei Bay
 The
most gloriously large and favorite beach along the north shore is
beautiful crescent shaped Hanalei Bay. The wide sandy shoreline,
ample access, parking and facilities make it a popular spot for
north shore residents and families who fill the beach on weekends
 and holidays. The two-mile stretch of sand is framed by flourishing
sheer volcanic cliffs where dozens of waterfalls appear during times
of heavy rain. The Makana Mountains are the backdrop of the bay that
stretches toward Limahuli Valley and are often incorrectly referred
to as Bali Hai.
 Hanalei Bay is actually a collection of three
Beach Parks, Black Pot Beach Park, Hanalei Pavilion Beach
Park, and Wai'oli Beach Park all are at the center of
ocean activities in Hanalei. An afternoon visit will likely find
canoe clubs at practice, surfers getting in a session before dinner
and others jogging along the shoreline. Over the years, Hanalei Bay
has played an important part in Hawaiian history. From regular
visits by Hawaiian royalty that included Queen Emma with her young
son Crown Prince Albert, Princess Ruth Keeliokalani with her two
white poodles and entourage of ladies-in-waiting.
Hanalei is the site of wreckage of the Royal
Hawaiian Yacht Haaheo o Hawaii that sank after hitting a reef in
1824 during a lively royal party. Pieces of the wreckage still lie
at the bottom of the bay and are sometimes washed ashore after
stormy weather and rough seas. The bay is the perfect location
for picnicking, swimming, sailing, kayaking, surfing and sunning,
but because of the mostly sandy bottom, Hanalei bay is not the best
beach on Kauai for snorkeling. However, Hanalei is a wonderful life
guarded beach complete with a pier, picnic facilities, lifeguards,
fresh water and restrooms.
Wai'oli Beach
 Wai'oli
on the north shore is probably the largest crescent beach on Kauai.
The eastern edge of this beach touches Hanalei Beach Park, at the
edge of Princeville. The bay is surrounded by palm trees and a
high ascending, densely vegetated ridge. This is an
 impressive
beach - so impressive that while driving on Route 56, we had to
immediately pull the car over to the shoulder to stare at this
immense beach (and take a few photos). Swimming can be
hazardous here, except on very calm days (due to the underwater
topography. You will often see small boats beached on the
shore here. Access this beach via Weke Road in Hanalei Town.
Hideaways Beach
 Although
not the biggest, Hideaways is probably the prettiest beach on the
island. This beach is tucked away under a towering sea cliff
literally underneath the Princeville resorts. Enter the
Princeville resorts on Ka Haku Road (the ornate main
entrance with the
 circle and fountain). Continue on this road
until just prior to the end where there is a gated entrance (that
you cannot pass through). Just prior to this on the right-hand
side is a tennis court and a parking lot right next to it.
Park in this parking lot.
View map. In between the parking lot and tennis court is a
narrow dirt path (you probably would miss it if you had not read
this) which leads to the coastal cliffs. At the cliff's edge,
there is a stone staircase with banister that helps you descend part
of the way down the cliff face (the beach is at the bottom).
The rest of the descent is aided by ropes tied to poles stuck in the
ground. As your path rounds the bend, you will begin to make
out the narrow wisp of pristine sandy beach below and off to the
right and the clear sparkling waters and reef below. Hideaways
is not large, but it is remote and the trip is well worth it.
There is a strip of trees offering shade at the edge of the beach.
There are no facilities. Be careful on the descent, the
footing can be slippery and we don't recommend this beach for young
kids (due to the tricky hike down).
East Shore Beaches
Generally, East Shore beaches are some of the
more easily accessible beaches on the island. The condominiums,
vacation rentals, hotels and island residents in Kapaa, Wailua and
Waipouli make these beaches very popular on weekends and holidays.
These beaches are subject to onshore breezes, which make for almost
constant and windy conditions in most spots.
Moloa'a Beach
 Moloa'a
Beach is secluded and very pretty. It rings around a small
cove with green trees at one end and rocks dotting the white sand
around the edge. You probably won't find too many people here
and the beach is off the beaten track (down a winding road in the
countryside). This is a good thing because parking is limited.
There are no facilities at Moloa'a. The setting is rustic and
undisturbed and you will certainly appreciate the natural beauty at
Moloa'a.
View map.
Lydgate Beach
 The best family-friendly beach on the
island is Lydgate Beach Park in the town of Kapa'a, on the east
shore. Typically calm and clear, Lydgate Beach has several
man-made rock walls that form a barrier to the oceans waves.
The sheltered pools are a
 favorite for young swimmers and beginning
snorkelers. Shady trees and grassy areas also make for an ideal
picnic spot. Lydgate is also one of the few beaches on the
island that has lifeguards monitoring your safety. Additionally there are picnic pavilions with
tables, bike paths and plenty of public parking. Facilities include
bathrooms and showers. Right next to the beach is the
wonderful Kamalani Playground. Lydgate is baby stroller accessible.
View map.
Kealia Beach
 Strikingly beautiful Kealia beach is not difficult to find. The
panorama of the shoreline and surf is attention-getting when
traveling north along Kuhio Highway from Kapaa. The only access
necessary is a quick turn off the highway and into the parking lot.
Kealia’s surf in summer is strong and unpredictable due to an almost
constant onshore wind. During the winter, it is wild, wooly and
downright dangerous for those who are not experienced. However, for
those who are not seasoned shredders, there is a semi –protected
cove on the north end that is perfect for enjoying a calm summer
swim. Kealia has lifeguards on duty, and they should be consulted on
conditions and cautions before entering the water.
Wailua Beach
Wailua Beach stretches about half a mile from the mouth of the
Wailua River to Ala Kukui Point to the north. The beach is flanked
by the Kuhio Highway and the Wailua Bridge, where river water mixes
with seawater, and the wide sandy shore. During certain times of the
year, the sandbar completely obstructs the river from flowing into
the ocean, while during winter months powerful waves erode the sand
or torrential rains force the sandbar open allowing the river to
drain into the sea.
Bustling and busy Kuhio Highway is the main
artery along the coconut coast and on most days, more people can be
seen in cars in passing traffic than on the beach. Either way, the
beach is almost constantly subject to onshore winds making surf
choppy and soupy. However, it is wonderful spot to beach comb. The
entire area in and around the Wailua beach is extraordinarily
historical. The area is littered with human burial sites, remains of
ancient Hawaiian temples and other sacred shrines.
Kalapaki Beach
 The protected cove of Kalapaki Beach is one of the more popular and
easily accessible beaches on the island. Fronting the Kauai Marriot
Resort & Beach Club, it attracts many visitors along with many
locals from the nearby communities of Lihue and Puhi. This
well-groomed beach has a sandy shoreline, several surf breaks and
gentle conditions. These conditions make it ideal for families,
beginning surfers and swimmers. The ocean conditions also lend well
to windsurfing, body boarding and body surfing. The beach is next to
a natural harbor that serves as Kauai’s commercial harbor and cruise
ship port. During stormy periods the currents get powerful and run
off creates dark and murky water. It is important to avoid any water
activities during these periods. There is ample free shaded parking
along the waterfront off Rice Street or via the public access at the
hotel.
South Shore Beaches
The collections of beaches along Kauai’s south
shore are some of the more beautiful on the island. Sunnier than
other parts of the island, the beaches are a fine collection that
runs from Brenneke to Polihale. Each offering something more perfect
than the last and all within easy access of area resorts. South
Shore is attracts surfers, divers, swimmers and others who have an
opportunity to try one or all in search for a personal favorite.
Poipu Beach
 Poipu is one of the more popular visitor destinations on Kauai, and
this beach is the reason for all the attention. The like of
Marriott, Hyatt and Sheraton have claimed their piece of Poipu in
the form of luxury beachfront resorts. Poipu is a long swath of
beach
 that is the sunny exception on an island that has been known
as the wettest spot on earth. The beach runs the length of shoreline
between the Sheraton Kauai to the Poipu Beach Park with Nukumoi
Point or the sandy tombolo dividing the surfers from the swimmers.
However, Poipu offers outstanding conditions for snorkeling, stand
up paddle boarding and body boarding. The protected coves offer
excellent sheltered areas for small children. The beach park offers
free parking, lots of grassy areas, restrooms, showers and shaded
picnic areas. Most importantly, the beach is staffed by lifeguards
everyday of the year.
Keoneloa Bay (Shipwreck Beach)
 Located at the easternmost point of the Poipu Resort, this beach is
a gorgeous beach that is tucked between two rocky outcroppings
fronting the fabulous Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa. Popularly
known as Shipwreck beach, the rusted motor of an old shipwreck is
still buried in the sand and is often exposed after periods of
stormy weather or strong surf. The wide sandy beach is comprised of
a thick layer of sand set between the sandstone bluff known as
Makawahi and the lava bluff known as Makahuena to the west. The
beach is a favorite spot for experienced body boarders who enjoy the
strong consistent offshore break in the summer, but swimming even on
calm days is not encouraged. The sandy bottom has a deep drop off
and unpredictable currents that are simply not for children or
inexperienced swimmers.
Salt Pond Beach Park
 This amazing beach park is not hard to find. The turn off onto
Lokolai Road is well marked. The two-lane road travels through a
small neighborhood, a historic cemetery, past the salt ponds and
dead-ends at the beach park. All those who visit this place must
understand the salt ponds are off limits. Native Hawaiian still
cultivates the ponds and harvests the salt in the summer months. The
park has several picnic tables, a large grassy area and restrooms.
The park is staffed with lifeguards everyday of the year. The quiet
location and facilities make the permitted camping area in demand
all year. The sandy surface and the calm shallow shoreline is a
series of natural rock ledges and clear water that make this beach
more frequented by families and snorkelers rather than surfers.
Polihale Beach Park
 A
visit to this beach to just to see one of the largest beaches in
Hawaii is well worth the extended drive to the west shore beach.
Polihale is a vision of beauty and isolation with waters that are at
the whim of ocean currents, strong pounding shore breaks and
gorgeous sunsets. Polihale is filled with myth and mystery. Known as
the doorway to the afterlife, souls were said to jump off the sea
cliffs into the afterworld. The mystical landscape is littered with
temples or heiau. Polihale is officially a 15 mile beach that
stretches along the Mana Coastal Range all the way to Kekaha making
it one of the longest beaches in the islands. The shoreline is
roughly about 300 feet at its widest point during the summer months,
while strong swells result in a smaller shoreline during winter
months. Although there is a tiny area called Queen’s Cove, where a
little inlet offers protection from open ocean currents, Polihale is
not safe for swimming, is not life guarded and emergency access is
remote and slow to arrive. However, it still is a place that is
popular with kite boarders and wind surfers since the prevailing
winds are consistent and predictable.
Nondescript path leading to Moloa'a Beach, Kauai
Na Pali Catamaran Tour & Snorkel
 Liko
Kauai Cruises' west-side departure gives you more time for
sightseeing and snorkeling! The smooth Na Pali catamaran allows you
to view wondrous sea caves, cascading waterfalls, uninhabited lush
valleys, miles of white sand beaches and incredibly blue ocean
water. Marvel at the colorful marine life, playful dolphins and
humpback whales when in season. Dive into the most beautiful water
in the islands for an hour of snorkeling and enjoy a deli lunch with
fresh baked bread, ham, turkey, assorted cheeses and veggies, pasta
salad, fruit and dessert.
Na Pali Sunset & Sightseeing Tour
 Sightsee
the Na pali and experience a Kauai sunset on the water! Sip
champagne and enjoy delicious appetizers as you travel along Na Pali
to view waterfalls, lush valleys and sea caves (weather permitting),
all topped off with a spectacular Hawaiian sunset! This tour
is for those of you who want to see the Na Pali, but are not
interested in snorkeling.
Na Pali Coast Tour & Niihau
 Na
Pali Coast is a "must see" on Kauai. This fifteen-mile stretch of
rugged coastline on the northwest shore of Kaua'i is an
awe-inspiring sight from the sea. After sightseeing and hearing the
history of the Na Pali Coast, you will head across the channel to
the Ni'ihau. Ni'ihau is called the 'Forbidden Isle' because
only those of true Hawaiian ancestry may live there. Visiting this
part of the island chain is a very special experience. Relax, float
and watch the comings and goings of the aquatic world. You may even
see one of the curious Hawaiian Monk Seals that inhabit these
waters. After snorkeling, enjoy a delicious lunch
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