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Let’s face it, none of us ever get out as much as we want to or aspire to. We have little time to travel to wish list places or those big ticket vacation hot spots. Therefore, the time and money we do set aside has to be spent efficiently in order to maximize the perfect getaway. Whether your goal in vacationing is to relax and escape, explore and adventure new places, or experience unique culture, with the right guide Kauai is the perfect vacation spot. This guide will help you unleash Kauai as you can experience 552 square miles of beautiful terrain. This is part one of Unleashing Kauai.

Kauai has some top notch beaches, each with different qualities that make each one unique and each worth the visit. In this section we will cover what to bring, what to do, and where to go to visit the beaches on each shore of the island.

GENERAL SAFETY

An important part of visiting any beach is safety. There are some beaches where locals know to keep a safe distance or only go during specific parts of the year. There are dangers such as rip currents, rogue waves, storms, and strong currents that catch people and can lead to danger or even death. Another condition to be wary of is to watch for a brown water advisory. After heavy rain fall the water can become polluted from chemical and sewage runoff. Yuk! If you are ever not sure if conditions are safe a good rule of thumb for extra safety is don’t go swimming anywhere where there is no lifeguard. Never leave children unattended and keep your eye out for strong waves that can catch you unexpected. Look for signs, radio stations, or information that covers current trends of water conditions. Some more information to help navigate safe conditions can be found in the book The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook .

NORTH SHORE BEACHES

Ke’e Beach: This beach is a beautiful destination spot near the Na Pali Coast. You can schedule a shuttle or drive up the north side to reach this beach also called Ha’ena State Park. This beach features good snorkeling, relaxing, and swimming. It is prone to occasional closing during the winter months which is something to keep in mind.

Hanalei Bay: Many beaches have poor or exclusive parking that can force you to walk or come back at a better hour. Hanalei Bay is one of the few beaches with moderate to adequate parking but can still experience heavy traffic. This beach is considered one of the more dangerous beaches due to stronger waves but with good conditions it can be a great destination spot for family and friends offering more activities than just swimming including fire pits, hanging out near the pier, and it is an important surfing destination. It has good waves and lots of high energy including a night life near downtown Hanalei.

Hideaway Beach: This is an example of a beach with very limited parking, and getting there early is recommended. There is also a bit of a walk to the beach itself, and the trail can be tricky to find. The path is a narrow path behind the parking lot and the trail can be slippery. The beach itself can be a great snorkeling destination in calm conditions and a great place for kids because of its generally gentle waves during the summer (Doughty, A., & Boyd, L. 2019).

‘Anini Beach: ‘Anini beach has a wide stretch of sandy banks with shallow water. It is a pretty good snorkeling spot with channels of brownish corals and a variety of fish. This is one of the safer beaches but there can be dangerous spots like the channel at the western end (Doughty, A., & Boyd, L. 2019). This is one of the best snorkeling spots in the north but snorkeling in the south is generally better. At ‘Anini beach there is camping available with a county permit(Doughty, A., & Boyd, L. 2019).

Secret Beach: Secret beach is one of the prettiest beaches but it also requires a small hike that could be tricky to spot. The trail is steep in some places and after rainfall can also be slippery. It is safest during the summer months and one of qualities to explore are the tide pools but caution is advised since there have been people who have died here. This beach is a snorkeling destination in calm conditions with a beautiful scenic view throughout the year.

EAST SHORE:

Lydgate Beach Park: This beach has lots of parking, lifeguards, corals, and family friendly activities such as picnics, swimming, playgrounds, snorkeling, and safe ponds open year round. This beach encapsulates the idea of beach vacationing. This is a busy and fun spot for everyone that includes a pretty view with a long beach walkway.

SOUTH SHORE:

Shipwreck Beach: This beach has lively waves that allows for great surfing and boogie boarding. This beach has strong waves that during poor conditions can be unsafe. This was the best beach for boogie boarding and offers an incredible sunset.

Po’ipu Beach: This beach, like Lydgate beach, is a family friendly, busy, excellent beach. The water on the left side is more protected and is considered a safe swimming area with lifeguards. The right side isn’t as sheltered but offers some of the best snorkeling on the island.

WEST SHORE:

Glass Beach: This beach offers the most unique experience for any beach hoppers looking for adventure. This beach, located by more industrial buildings, seems out of place and more of a random location. This beach features glass sand. The glass came from broken bottles and auto glass that was dumped and as result became a beautiful shore with a glittering “colorful tapestry of sand and multicolored glass” (Doughty, A., & Boyd, L. 2019). Another defining characteristic of all of Kauai are the abundant wild chickens everywhere. We left our car door open here and a chicken decided it would have a PECK around.

Citations of additional resources

Doughty, A., & Boyd, L. (2019). The ultimate Kauai guidebook: Kauai revealed. Lihuʻe, Hawaiʻi: Wizard Publications, Inc.