Top 7 Best Beaches in Kauai
Kauai, known as the Garden Island, has so much more than gorgeous, lush gardens. Kauai is a nature paradise, and could also take claim to having some of the best beaches in Hawaii, so many, that it is near impossible to narrow it down to a “Best of” type of list.
However, there are multiple beaches with unpaved roads, little to no parking, unsafe conditions to get in the water, or high risk to leave a rental car due to its isolated area. That being said, if willing to venture out, there are incredible spots that you can have all to yourself if you are willing to hike, bike, or get a 4wheel drive. Those beaches however, are not on this list. All of these beaches are easy to access with a regular car rental, relatively safe, and absolutely worth your time.
Best Sunset – Hanalei Bay and Beach
With a pier, 2 miles of sandy beach in a gorgeous bay, you’ll be transported into a magical wonderland. Still looking back on photos, I wonder…does this really exist? Did I really spend time there? Kauai is magic wherever you are at, but don’t miss the drive up this way to see Hanalei Bay. Preferably, make it early on in your trip, as you’ll want to return and continue to explore this beautiful spot.
If wanting to swim, then near the pier is the best. Stay away from the temptation of swimming in or by the river, as high bacteria levels are common in the rivers. Although, this isn’t a great snorkeling, you’ll enjoy stand-up paddling, kayaking, and its long expanse of golden sand for beach walking (2 miles worth!). Hanalei Bay is an idyllic spot to grab some food in Hanalei and have a picnic, play in the sand, or sun bathe. Did I mention the sunset in this north shore Kauai spot? Perfection.
Best for Views of Napali Coast without a Hike –
Ke’e Beach
Yes, you’ll have to plan ahead and get a parking pass and reservation well in advance to visit Ke’e Beach. The 30 day prior, stay up in the middle of the night to be ready to hit click and reserve your spot is no joke most of the year (Click here for the link), but for people that want to visit this beach, you’ll have to compete with the hikers trekking the Kalalau Trail. This famous trail that takes you along a journey to gorgeous views of the Napali Coast, secluded beaches, and a waterfall.
Experienced hikers will take the 2 day trek and explore deep along the coastline with steep cliffs and unparalleled sites. More casual hiker? You’ll still be breaking a sweat, but you can go:
0.25 miles to the Ke’e Beach overlook
0.6miles to Kalalau Overlook
1.5miles to the Napali View, or
2miles to the Hanakapiai Beach.
Details at http://www.gohaena.com to get parking/shuttle/hiking reservations. Since my 5 year old and I were exhausted from other hikes, my 17 year old and husband headed out on the trail, while we took the 1/4mile boardwalk to the beach and explored.
Honestly, the walk to the beach was spectacular in itself, with a walk through a diverse flat trail with a boardwalk, then serene walk through trees opening up to a beach with a clear water lagoon, lava rock contrasting with the jagged tall green coastline to the left where the hikers headed off. The calm waters here are perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Visitors can see wrasse, butterfly fish, moray eel, octopi, unicorn fish, and green sea turtles, in the lagoon area, along the edge of the reef (never outside). Please, always check conditions online prior to venturing out into the water. Use this link throughout your trip for safety conditions by beach. Frequently, surfers can be seen further out beyond the calm lagoon.
We had it to ourselves that afternoon while the guys hiked a 4mile RT to get to the Hanakapiai Beach. Due to recent rains, we felt it wasn’t safe for our youngest (or me, honestly) to hike up with the cliffs so close, and hike back down.
*Please, if doing that hike, look up current conditions on the website above, as there are frequent high tides, washouts on the trail and just prior to our trip, lots of injuries from people on the trail that went down towards that beach and sat on rocks eating a snack and the waves came in unexpectedly and threw them brutally against the rocks.
PRO TIP: Head right along beach, walk for a couple minutes and look back and you will see some of the jagged coastline that is the Napali Coast. Is this better than you’d see in a helicopter or boat tour? Absolutely not! But its a great way to get a taste of it if you don’t plan on venturing further.
Tunnels Beach is nearby here, and is often listed as one of the top beaches in Hawaii for snorkeling and diving. The beach is surrounded by a large coral reef with a diverse range of marine life. We didn’t explore this beach, as the conditions on the days we aimed for were not ideal. Parking can also be a monsterous undertaking as well. On calm days, this beach is popular for swimming and sunbathing. Bring your own supplies, as this beach has limited facilities.
Best Beaches for Kids – Lydgate Beach
& Poipu Beach Park
Lydgate Beach
Lydgate Beach in Lihue is popular for a reason. In fact, many reasons. It is safe year round, with amazing swimming and snorkeling for kids – 2 pools are ideal for this, with man-made rockwalls to easily define the area. This was the best kid snorkeling area we found, and with the high salt content, calm waters and tons of fish, we couldn’t get our kid out of the water! If we had planted ourselves at a hotel nearby, we would have been happy just coming down to this beach every day. Beautiful spot for sitting on driftwood and watching the sunrise or a peaceful evening, stroll along the beach, or walk/bike the 2+ mile long paved Lydgate multi-use path. There are lifeguards, restrooms/showers, an outdoor pavilion, playground, picnic tables, and a ton of parking.
PRO TIP #1: Wear watershoes and watch out for portuguese man ‘o’ wars if near the rocks at the far end. Bring a picnic, lots of water, and make a day out this beautiful park and beach.
PRO TIP #2: Rent snorkel gear from Kapaa Beach Shop, they are friendly and helpful, and will make sure you get the best fit and set. We even rented the yellow floating device for Reese that is in the picture at Ke’e Beach.
Poipu Beach Park
Great easy swimming on the left side for the tots and snorkeling on the right side, with a lifeguard on duty. Shade, restrooms/showers, picnic tables, and shade make Poipu Beach Park a popular spot. Children and adults alike will enjoy watching surfers further out, while exploring the calmer water near the shore. Several sea turtles can be found swimming in the shallows and resting on the beach. As always, stay clear of them and give them space.
Beloved by tourists and locals alike, Poipu Beach Park can get crowded during high season. Brenneke’s Beach Broiler is a popular restaurant just across the street for when you get hungry. There is a “Monk Seal Resting Spot” to the west side of the beach, keep your distance, but if you’d like to see the Hawaiian monk seals, this is your spot.
PRO TIP: Wear water shoes if swimming out near the coral.
Best Beach for All Day Fun – Kalapaki Beach
Kalapaki Beach in Lihue is a perfect calm cove with the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort in the background. You can even rent a cabana for the day from the resort through http://www.resortpass.com and really sit back and relax. Although it may look like this is a private beach for the resort, it is not. It is a public beach that all are free to enjoy…and enjoy you will!
With its pristine sand, several great restaurants nearby, restrooms/showers, and perfect water conditions, Kalapaki Beach is right up there in my top 3 beaches of all time. A popular beach, but rarely feels crowded, you can easily carve out a spot to land for the day and relax.
Swimming – Yes! It is a the local spot for Kids Ocean Safety Courses – fun to watch if it is going on at the time you are there.
Activities – SUP, Kayak, Boogie Boarding rentals available. Watch airplane, as the airport is very close.
PRO TIP #1: Check out Duke’s Restaurant and eat with the beach as your view. Great for a lunch break while staying on the beach. Classic beach fare – try the hula pie and grab a cocktail with an umbrella. You have arrived.
PRO TIP #2: Rent a cabana for the day from Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort by going to http://www.resortpass.com and get to enjoy the huge pool, large kids pool with a waterslide, a spacious cabana on the beach and personal service for food/drinks from their poolside restaurant. Think ahead and schedule this, as space is limited. Stay tuned for a full review and more pictures in a future post.
PRO TIP #3: Got a late flight out of Kauai on your last day? Drop your luggage off at the airport in the morning, keep just your beach essentials with you, and take the hotel shuttle to the Royal Sonesta to the resort, stay at the beach, and take the shuttle back to the airport for your flight.
Best Locals Beaches –
Kukuiula Harbor Beach & Salt Pond Beach Park
Kukuiula Harbor Beach –
We stumbled upon this beach and ended up returning more than once. A distinct casual, local vibe, with plenty of grassy area, a small sandy cove with large lava rocks, was perfect for a quick stop to let the kids splash around, or have a picnic and relax on the grass slightly raised above the cove. Restrooms/showers available. While we were there, snorkelers, scuba lessons, and even spear fishing was present. Great for people watching!
PRO TIP: Skip the Spouting Horn and view it from here. We found it a more enjoyable view than driving to the actual site. Bring chairs or thick towels for the grassy area – it isn’t soft grass, but pokey, wear water shoes if venturing into the water.
Salt Pond Beach Park –
Another great local vibe at this beach. A large beach with 3 sections – left is the snorkel pond, right is the baby pond, and the big main beach in the middle. Palm tree-lined with tons of space to wander. There are bathrooms/showers, and calm waters for swimming and snorkeling (best in the winter). Reports are that sea turtles and monk seals frequent this area, however, on our visit we didn’t see any.
PRO TIP: Wear watershoes if venturing deep into the water and stay cautious of jellyfish.
Needing a snack? Here’s the link to my post on Kauai’s Best Shave Ice & Other Treats for some great treats.
Beach Safety – please check conditions before you head to any beach, even if you “think” the conditions are perfect. The best resource we found for Kauai beaches was Safe Beach Day.
