Romantic & Secluded Beaches

Kauai’s pristine beaches offer clear water, sheltered lagoons and miles of uncrowded coastline, with shaded areas for relaxing and romantic moments.

Kauai has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but the waves can be powerful. Stay away from the water if it looks choppy, rough or has sizable waves. Wading or swimming could be dangerous. When in doubt do not go out and stay off rock ledges during high surf. Winter produces powerful waves on the North Shore and in summer the big waves can hit the South Shores. The East Shore may have waves and rip currents when the trade winds blow. South, West and some North Shore Beaches offer sunset views and the Eastside for sunrise.

East and Northeast:

Kealia Beach, the first beach past Kapaa Town along the highway has a safe inner lagoon on the north end. There are lifeguards (from 9am-5pm), bathrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Rip currents and rough waves are common.

Donkey or Paliku Beach is a secluded, sandy cove, located 1.5 miles north of Kealia beach. A pasture there was once home to sugar cane pack mules. Donkey’s is not visible from the highway. There is a public access sign on the Hwy about 1 mile past Kealia. The beach is steep and can yield high surf creating dangerous conditions. Don’t go in if there are waves of size.

Moloaa Beach, at the end of Moloaa Rd. is a secluded crescent bay that curves a quarter mile on the shore. Windblown debris accumulate here making it great for beach combing. On calm days swimming, snorkeling, and diving are excellent, but high wind and surf can generate dangerous ocean conditions and rip currents.

Larsen’s Beach, past Moloaa, is a narrow ribbon of sand and shallow reef. Parking and a public right-of-way was open to Larsen’s, where a trail leads down to the beach. But recently a private landowner erected a fence so it may not be easily accessible. It is great for beach combing and wading in the lagoon. Ocean conditions can be dangerous during the winter. Strong rip currents can sweep the lagoon creating unsafe conditions.

Northshore:

Rock Quarry Beach is south of Kilauea Town. Turn right onto Wailapa Road, then left down a dirt road to the beach. Rock Quarry a sandy bottom bay at the mouth of Kilauea River, which creates a fun surf spot. However, rip currents can occur.

Kalihiwai Bay, just past Kilauea is at the mouth of the scenic Kalihiwai River. From the Hwy, turn right onto east Kalihiwai Rd, north of Kilauea Town. Kalihiwai is a popular for fishing and winter surfing. It’s a picturesque beach, with a river mouth at the north end, where a sand bar allows body surfers and boarders to ride shore break waves. There can be riptides in the pounding shore breaks and forceful backwash. The waves out at East Point are for expert surfers in the winter. The summers are usually calm and great for swimming in the bay or paddling upriver.

Secret Beach is located at the same road as Kalihiwai. After turning onto east Kalihiwai Road, the road curves to the left. Take the second right onto a dirt road, to the end of the road for parking. Follow the path down to find Secret Beach. Secret’s is pristine and wide beach with exquisite views of Lighthouse Point. It has dangerous wave conditions in the winter and no lifeguards.

Anini Beach Park offers a large grassy lawn and shade trees. From the Hwy take the first right past Kalihiwai Bridge. Veer left to Anini Road, you’ll pass a few small beaches to the County Beach Park, with picnic pavilions and a boat ramp. An outer reef shelters the clear shoreline water, with channels running through it. The ocean bottom gently slopes to deeper depths at the edge of the reef, making for great snorkeling. The beach park and surrounding area activities include boating, kayaking, windsurfing and surfing. The park has lawns and shade trees, restrooms, showers and camping facilities.

Hideaways Beach lies just before the St. Regis Princeville Resort. A steep and slippery dirt path leads down to a scenic cove known for its seclusion and beauty, sunsets, snorkeling and surfing. Beware during high surf, there are no lifeguards. The trail down the cliff is difficult, especially when wet. Another beach is accessed by a public, cement, stairway path, to the left of the Resort, which leads to a narrow beach that offers snorkeling and reef surfing.

For Hanalei Bay, Lumahai Beach, Tunnels, Cannons & Ke`e Beaches reviews, see our Table of Contents “Beautiful Beaches of Hanalei & Beyond”.

Hanakapiai Beach requires a rugged, scenic 2-mile hike, on the Na Pali Coast Trail. It is a pristine beach with a river mouth at one side and a small cave on the other. In the winter it has dangerous and powerful waves. If the surf is up do not go near the ocean.

South and West Shores:

Shipwreck Beach in Poipu, at the Hyatt Resort, is a small beach that offers body surfing and boarding for experienced wave riders, with a lawn, bathrooms and showers. Pounding shore breaks and strong rip currents with shallow water make it dangerous. The bluff area next to the beach is known as Keoneloa (Hawaiian for “the long sands”). It has ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs, carved into the limestone and is a great coastal hike to, Maha`ulepu Beach, which is at the end of a dirt road past the Hyatt. It’s a wilderness area, with a geological site in a cave in the sand dunes, located on the west end above the beach, across a stream. Those interested in science, ecology and archeology will take special delight here. There is coastal hiking, windsurfing, body boarding, surfing, snorkeling, beach-combing, diving and fishing options. It is a private entrance with the gate closing about 6pm. No restrooms or lifeguards are available.

Poipu Beach Park is an easily accessible beach park, with a lawn, bathrooms, pavilions and showers. It is located between Brenneke’s Beach and Waiohai. A sheltered lagoon makes it an excellent area for kids, with Lifeguards on duty.

Out west, does not offer a lot of beach options. Salt Pond Beach Park in Hanapepe, has swimming and is generally safe inside the lagoon. Do not swim outside the protected lagoon. Lifeguards are on duty and it has a lawn, pavilion, showers and bathrooms.

At the end of the road is Polihale State Park, is the longest sand beach in Hawaii. It runs 15 miles past Kekaha, to the US Navy Pacific Missile Range and beyond. From the highway, it is a 10-mile, bumpy, dirt road drive to Polihale Beach. It is at the start of the Na Pali Coast and worth the drive. It’s a wide and remote beach with mesmerizing sunsets. Swimmers and surfers should be aware that winter rips, waves and currents are extremely dangerous. Never venture past the shore if the ocean looks rough.