Rip Current Formation
Beach safety on Kauai requires an understanding of how rip currents form. Rip currents are fast-moving belts of water traveling offshore that develop from interactions between waves and currents, waves and water levels, waves and the shape of the nearshore bottom, as well as wave to wave.
Rip currents can occur along any coastline that features breaking waves. As waves travel from deep to shallow water, they eventually break near the shoreline causing an increase in water level, generating currents that flow along the shore. One of the ways this water is funneled out to sea is through rip currents flowing offshore against the incoming waves.
Under certain wave, tide, and beach profile conditions the speeds can quickly increase to become dangerous to anyone entering the surf. The strength and speed of a rip current will likely increase as wave height and wave period increase. The seaward pull of rip currents varies: sometimes the rip current ends just beyond the line of breaking waves, but sometimes rip currents continue to push hundreds of yards offshore.
It is important to understand that changes in rip current velocity can occur very rapidly with random increases in incoming wave heights and water levels. Water depths can rapidly increase in rip current channels, catching unwary beachgoers and swimmers off-guard.
Rip currents can be extremely dangerous, dragging swimmers away from the beach. A person standing waist deep in water can be dragged into deeper waters, where they can drown if they are unable to swim or become exhausted while fighting the ocean current. Taking time to understand rip currents can help protect you and your family when visiting Kauai beaches.
Kauai Beach – Lumahai
Lumaha’i Beach is located on the North Shore of Kauai just around the bend from Hanalei Bay. This beach is nearly a mile long with a nice sandy shoreline for beach walking, and can be accessed from either end.
The eastern end requires a short 100 yard walk through the jungle. The trail drops you right out onto a beautiful tropical scene who’s stardom came when Mitzi Gaynor “washed that man right out of her hair” in the musical South Pacific. Lava rocks and green vegetation are scattered around the beach turning this area into its own little crescent-shaped cove called Kahalahala, and separating it from the rest of the beach.
One mile down the road there is dirt parking under ironwood trees with Lumaha’i Stream on the left and several hundred feet of sand down to the ocean. But, the serenity stops at the ocean. Since there are no protective reefs off shore, the beach is totally exposed to the open ocean. Powerful rip currents, hard shore breaks, and strong waves make it one of the most dangerous beaches on Kauai.
This beautiful beach is great for beachcombing, sunbathing, or picnicking. The Lumaha’i Stream is calm, and the eastern end of the beach is sometimes calm in the summer, but make no mistake about it, the surf conditions are dangerous here. Even small waves that look relatively harmless can be incredibly powerful and carry you out to sea. There are no lifeguards, and Rescue Tubes have been placed at either end of the beach.
- Sandy beach
- Shady areas
- Swimming is usually dangerous (especially in winter)
- Swimming is calm in the Lumahai Stream
- No facilities
- No lifeguards
- Rescue Tube at either end
Directions:
Take Highway 560 (Kuhio Highway) north past Princeville and Hanalei. Approximately .75 miles past mile marker 4 is a sharp bend in the road with dirt parking on the right and a trail down to the eastern end. One mile further just before you get to Lumahai River you can park on the right underneath the ironwood trees at the western end of the beach.
Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Kauai Beach Safety
The beaches of Kauai offer the opportunity for just about any beach activity or water sport, but wind, ocean, and current conditions can range from extremely safe to extremely dangerous. Be safe:
- Talk to lifeguards to determine the safety level of the ocean.
- Find out about surf and wind conditions for the day.
- Find out about strong currents and waves that surge onto beaches.
- Find out about waves that break directly on the shore (shore break).
- Find out about hidden rocks.
- Be extra careful at unguarded beaches.
- When in doubt… don’t go out.
Before entering the water, remember to SOAK:
- Study the conditions before entering the water.
- Observe the activities of others in the ocean.
- Ask the lifeguards about current conditions.
- Know your limits in the water.
Waves make currents that can be dangerous. Rip currents in the surf zone can carry you out to sea. A wave rushing up a beach (wave surge) can knock you down and drag you into the ocean. Large waves on rocky shores can knock you into the ocean.
For any ocean activity, it’s also important to distinguish between onshore and offshore winds. Onshore winds (blowing toward the shore) create more choppy conditions but are safer for some activities since you will get blown back to shore in the event of trouble. Offshore winds (blowing away from shore) make for calmer conditions near shore since the waters are being sheltered by the land. However, getting beyond the protection of the land puts you on a windblown path out to sea.
National Trails Day 2010
National Trails Day 2010 is Saturday June 5, 2010. It is a celebration that brings awareness to trails and recognizes many people for their support and hard work, including volunteers, land agencies, and outdoor minded businesses. It is also a day to introduce people to the many joys and benefits of trails. With 200,000 miles of trails in America, we have access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and good physical and mental health.
National Trails Day evolved from President Ronald Reagan’s Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. This recommendation became the impetus behind several parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.
It takes many hours of planning, labor, and negotiating to develop trails, and there are many groups involved to thank: American Hiking Society, Nature Valley, Backpacker magazine, Fetzer Vineyards, Merrell, YMCA of the USA, REI, American Park Network, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
With already 76.7 million people hiking, 13.5 million backpacking, 40.4 million trail running, National Trails Day has grown to inspire many more people to enjoy our trails. The Directory of Kauai continues to list organized hikes around the island on our Kauai Events Calendar, and we continue to produce videos and written descriptions of Kauai Hikes for you to enjoy.
Hawaii Surfing Reserves
Hawaii has some of the most famous and beautiful surf sites in the world, and now two of Hawai‘i’s most important and well-known surfing areas on Oahu are Surfing Reserves. The executive order formally “acknowledges the cultural, sports and historic significance of important surf sites in Hawai‘i,” and “raises public awareness about the importance of protecting, nourishing and developing Hawai‘i’s world famous surf sites.”
Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Reserve – which includes surf breaks bounded by the Ala Wai and the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium
North Shore Surfing Reserve – which includes surf breaks from Ali‘i Beach in Hale‘iwa to Sunset Beach
Surfers and spectators from all over the world come here every winter to experience the 25-foot spectacular waves at spots like the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. The executive order does not provide any funding, but enables the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is responsible for managing all waters and coastal areas of the state, to receive donations for identifying, nourishing, and protecting the Hawaii Surfing Reserves.
Kauai Hike – Okolehao Trail
The Okolehao Trail on the North Shore of Kauai offers scenic views surrounding Hanalei Bay. The red clay trail begins along the remains of an old dirt road used when okolehao (a Hawaiian liquor) was being distilled from the roots of ti plants. You can see ti and other native plants as the trail gains 1,235 feet up to a plateau and overlook. A bench has now been added here to rest and enjoy the sweeping views of Hanalei, Hanalei Bay, taro fields, Princeville, and the Kilauea Lighthouse. If you are content sitting here and enjoying the view… then this is as far as you need to go. If you want to hike father along Kaukaopua Ridge for another half mile you will enjoy subtle elevation loss and gain and more sweeping views including the mountains in the center of the island like Namolokama (4,420 feet). You will also begin to see the endemic Ohi’a tree with its bright red blossoms.
If on the other hand, you are an adrenalin junkie, and a hike is not a hike unless you return sweaty, muddy, bloody, and exhausted… then continue on at your own risk. Sharp vegetation begins to encroach on the trail ripping at skin and clothing, and at times the trail narrows to only a foot wide as it follows along a knife-edge ridge which drops straight down on both sides. There is a false sense of security along the ridge with fern growing out on either side, but this is just ‘green air’. You will come to several ropes to help you navigate down slippery slopes, and then comes rope after rope to assist you straight up several very steep pitches to the twin peaks of Hihimanu (2,400 feet).
Directions: Traveling north from Princeville, proceed about one mile to the bottom of the hill and turn left immediately after the one-lane bridge crossing the Hanalei River. This is Ohiki Road, which takes you through the taro fields. Drive 1/2 mile to the parking lot on the left, and the trailhead is across the street at the foot bridge with the Okolehao Trail sign.
Trail Length: 2.25 mi.
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult (or Strenuous)
Elevation: 1235 ft
