Kauai / Beaches

NORTHERN KAUA'I

TUNNELS

Great beach for snorkeling, though one can also sit on the beach here as well. There tend to be some sticks and such here, so be careful as you walk on the beach. The beach is nice and long, and you can walk around for a while. There is a nice coral reef just off shore, but it gets pretty wild out beyond that.

Hanalei Bay

Fantastic beach to lay out on and to get in the water. It's a big horseshoe, and tends to be a nice, peaceful beach with slow, ambling waves. Good for boogie boarding, and in the right spots, surfing as well. One of our favorite places on the entire island.

EASTERN KAUA'I

ANINI BEACH

Lots of folks tend to be at the beach, including families. There is pretty good snorkeling, as there is a big coral reef, but it's not nearly as good as Tunnels. Be careful on the beach; there are lots of large (and sometimes hidden) rocks in the sand, and you can really munch your toes if you're not careful.

MOLOA'A BAY

Another wonderful horseshoe bay, though the water is much less accessible than Hanalei. You can still get in during the right time of year, but have to be careful of rip tides. There is some good tide pooling on the edges of the bay (both directions), and it's a great place to catch a sunset. This is very near where we usually stay when we're on the island.

SOUTHERN KAUA'I

Poipu Beach

Huge touristy beach in the south part of the island. Worth going to at least once or twice, since there'll be lots of folks around and it's a good experience. There also tends to be a lot of wildlife, often with a turtle or a seal on the beach.

Gillins Beach

Big, long beach with great vistas and sunsets. When we were in Kauai in 2017, we saw an amazing rainbow form here. Be aware that it's down a private road that is very bumpy, so be careful and go slow when navigating, and make sure to leave by closing time. There are some tide pools, and the beach is fairly accessible, and south-facing.

WESTERN KAUA'I

SALT POND PARK

An awesome beach on the south western side of the island. It's a small inlet that is protected by coral, and so lots of folks bring their kids here. You can get in the water easily, and sometimes you'll see sea life as well (we saw a turtle laying on the beach last time we were there). Lots of locals.