Kauai Beaches and Rescue Tubes
Rescue Tubes have been installed on Kauai’s beaches to help distressed swimmers in areas where lifeguards are not stationed, or at times when they are not on duty. Because of strong rip currents around the island, more people on Kauai have died in the ocean than on the highway.
Since the Rescue Tube Foundation installed the first tube more than two years ago, 37 Rescue Tube saves have been reported. Rescue Tubes stand guard 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
In 2009, 67 tubes were installed, and 7 lives were saved.
In 2010, 107 tubes were installed, and 15 lives were saved.
In 2011, 162 tubes were installed, and 15 lives were saved.
Rescue Tubes are there for all of us. When you see a Rescue Tube, take a closer look and become familiar with it. Explain them to your family, friends, and visitors. Visit Rescue Tube Foundation for more information. Enjoy our beautiful beaches and stay safe on Kauai. Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out. Check our Kauai Surf Report.
Kauai Beaches and Haena Beach Park
Heana Beach Park is another great reason to visit the North Shore of Kauai. Located near the end of the road, the park sits at the edge of the Na Pali coast, and the presence of Mount Makana looming directly behind the beach is the major factor contributing to the magnificent look of the beach. Haena Beach Park is a favorite camping spot for both visitors and locals. It is a small park (about 5.5 acres) which offers a grassy picnic area with tables and benches, restrooms, cold showers, shady trees and camping spots.
The wide bay offshore is bordered by two large reefs, Makua Reef to the east and Hauwa Reef to the west, but the beach itself is completely exposed to the open ocean. During periods of high surf, waves funnel unchecked directly into the beach, creating dangerous water conditions – particularly a pounding shore break, and powerful rip currents. The sudden drop off and undertow make swimming in the winter months pretty much out of the question, but there are lifeguards on duty to advise you. Better swimming and snorkeling is just a short walk to Tunnels Beach and can be enjoyed year round.
Waikanaloa Wet Cave, with a large and still water pool, and its counterpart the Maniniholo Dry Cave is also near the beach. Limahuli National Tropical Garden is also nearby. The garden is a great treasure of rare native Hawaiian plants built in terraces. The trailhead to the Kalalau Trail is also just north of the park.
Good for picnics
Camping with permit
Beachcombing
Showers
Restrooms
Swimming
Surfing
Bodyboarding
Directions: Haena Beach Park is located only about a mile from Ke’e Beach (the end point of highway 56).
Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Check our Kauai Surf Report.
Kauai Beaches and Maha’ulepu
Maha’ulepu Beach on the South Shore of Kauai is remote, historical, beautiful, and a great place for outdoor fun and exploring. Maha’ulepu Beach is an beautiful stretch of golden sand that feels truly remote, due partly to the two mile trip down a dirt road to get there. The black mountain is Ha’upu, the same ridge that is visible in Lihue while traversing Kau’muali’i Highway (Route 50).
Maha’ulepu Beach is separated into three different sections – Gillin’s Beach, Kawailoa Bay, and Haʻula Beach. This two mile stretch of coast has sand dunes, limestone hills, sinkholes, caves, and is unlike any other on Kauai. Remains of an ancient settlement, evidence of great battles, and the discovery of a petroglyph field (now underwater) indicate that Hawaiians lived in this area as early as 700 AD. Fossils of extinct birds have been found in sand dunes along the shoreline, including the Kauai Stilt-owl (Grallistrix auceps), a flightless rail, and three species of goose, while close to the beach is the Makauwahi Cave filled with paleontological evidence.
Much of this coastline is unprotected and rocky, but there are three beach areas with sandy-bottom swimming. Maha’ulepu Beach is an ideal spot for walking, sunning, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, and snorkeling when calm (the south shore experiences calm seas during the winter).
- No Lifeguards
- No facilities
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Exploring
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Beach walking and Hiking
Directions: Follow Poipu Rd past the Kauai Hyatt until it eventually becomes dirt. The road continues unpaved for another 2 miles. Turn right. There will be a security shack posting beach opening and closing hours. This road belong to Grove Farm and they close the gate at 6:00pm sharp.
Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Check our Kauai Surf Report.
Kauai Beaches and Hanalei Bay
Hanalei Bay Beach is consistently rated one of the best beaches in Hawaii. With over two miles of golden sand ringing the crescent bay and a backdrop of waterfalls and mountains up to 4,000 feet high, Hanalei Bay is considered by many visitors and residents to be the most beautiful beach setting in Hawaii. Hanalei means “lei-shaped bay” in Hawaiian, and is a fitting description of this almost perfectly circular bay.
Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on Kauai and is located between Hanalei River to the east and Waipa River to the west. The ocean bottom slopes gently, and large coral reefs are found at the ends of the bay, Pu’u Poa Reef to the east and Waikoko Reef to the west. Three beach parks are located on Hanalei Bay: Black Pot Beach Park, Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park, and Wai’oli Beach Park. Each of them has restrooms, showers, and parking. Black Pot Beach Park borders the mouth of the Hanalei River and is also the site of a public boat ramp and a 300-foot-long pier.
Hanalei Bay is excellent for a wide range of activities – from swimming to kayaking to boating to surfing. It is subject to high surf and strong currents in the winter months. High surf from September through May creates strong rip currents and pounding shorebreaks. Swimmers should go to the northernmost part of the bay where the water remains calm throughout the year. Check with lifeguards before going in the water.
Black Pot Beach Park, at the eastern corner of the bay, has for many years been the traditional gathering place for residents of Hanalei. The area was named after a large, black community cooking pot that sat in the park for many years, and although the pot is now long gone, residents still use the name and continue to congregate there. Hanalei Landing, the long pier at the west end of the park, was constructed in the early 1920s when interisland steamers were still the primary means of transportation.
- Long, sandy beach
- Lifeguards
- Restrooms and showers
- Grass and shady areas
- Picnic facilities and pavilions
- Pier and boat ramp
- Good swimming and snorkeling
- Good surfing and boogie boarding
- Windsurfing and sailing
- Kayaking and canoe paddling
- Fishing
Directions: From Princeville, drive down Highway 56, over the one lane bridge, past the taro fields, and into Hanalei. Take a right on Aku Road, and continue driving until you reach Weke Road. Take a right and go to the end to reach Hanalei Bay Beach Park.
Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Check our Kauai Surf Report.
Kauai Beaches and Polihale
Polihale Beach is the last beach on the West Side of Kauai at the end of a long dirt road. If you include the extension of Barking Sands Beach to the south it becomes Hawaii’s longest beach with 17 miles of golden sand. At the northern end of Polihale marks the beginning cliffs of the NaPali Coast.
Polihale Beach is characterized by rough waves, and rip currents even along the shore. There is no reef barrier that protects the waves from the open ocean. The only safe place for a swim is at Queen’s Pond, which is located at the south end of the beach. Polihale Beach Park is more popular as a remote camping and picnicking beach.
Because of its remoteness and because of the eerie quality of its beauty, this beach has been named Polihale, which means ‘the home of the underworld’ in Hawaiian. The sand dunes along this beach can reach up to 100-feet in height. To reach Polihale State Beach Park, you have to drive along a 6-mile long cane road filled with ruts and potholes. Using a 4WD is recommended, but not a requirement.
Hawaii’s longest beach at 17 mile long and 300-foot wide
Very remote and away from civilization
Views of Niihau and NaPali cliffs
Beautiful sunset views
Poor swimming conditions, except on Queen’s Pond
Unprotected beach with dangerous currents and surf
No lifeguard
Facilities at Polihale State Park include:
restrooms
showers
picnic tables
campsites
drinking water
Directions: Take Highway 50 past the towns of Waimea and Kekaha. Follow signs. The last 6 miles are dirt road. Polihale Beach Park is at the end of the road.
Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Check our Kauai Surf Report.
Kauai Beaches and Rock Quarry
Rock Quarry Beach is located on the North Shore of Kauai where the Kilauea Stream empties into the Pacific Ocean. This small beach is bordered by a densely vegetated hill and an abandoned rock quarry, which overlook the bay. The stream hits a sand bar as it reaches the sea and forms a large pool good for swimming and fishing (when the water is calm and clear).
This beach is off the main road and down a dirt road, and therefore more secluded and less frequented. Rock Quarry Beach doesn’t have a reef barrier to protect it from high ocean waves, and becomes a popular surf spot especially during the summer when the rest of the North Shore is quiet. Many people also enjoy kayaking in the river, fishing, or snorkeling.
Dirt-roadside parking
No facilities
Secluded beach
Swimming
Snorkeling
Fishing
Surfing
Bodysurfing
Directions: Driving North on Highway 56. After mile marker 21, take a right on Wailapa Road. Continue for half a mile, then take a left. Drive until you reach a dead end. Park on the road and walk to the beach.
Please remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Check our Kauai Surf Report.
