Discover The Island Of Kauai,
Hawaii
Life is a Beach and Kauai has Plenty of Them
As the fourth largest island in the Hawaiian chain
of islands and the one island with the most number of beaches, can you just
imagine how much fun you can have in Kauai’s beaches? And the great thing
about it is that 45% of these beaches are mostly secluded, so there’s less
crowd to tackle with and more beach to enjoy. If you want a stretch of sand all
to yourself, just pick anywhere you like. But if you want the ultimate privacy,
then head on to Polihale State Park – a two-mile long beach with very few
folks around.
Wherever you go, remember that there are only seven
beaches in Kauai that are protected by lifeguards. These beaches include
Anahola Beach Park, Lydgate Park, Wailua Bay, Po’ipu Beach Park, Pine
Trees, Hanalei Beach Park Pavilion and Salt Pond Beach Park.
There are
a few unguarded beaches that can be dangerous, such as the Lumahai on the North
Shore, the Polihale on the West Side, the Kealia on the East Side, and the
Hanakapiai on the Na Pali Coast.
Next to Poipu Beach, the second most
popular is the stunning Lumahai Beach. This fine-sand beach is located around
the bend from Hanalei Bay on the north shore with two different accesses. The
first access is closest to Hanalei Bay where you take an easy hike from
roadside parking. This beach was made famous years ago when it was featured in
the movie “South Pacific.”
Further up the highway is the
Lumahai Valley River Mouth. This is the second entrance to the beach. The river
provides calm, fresh water for swimming. There’s a small bridge just
across the river mouth. Just for safety sake, don’t try to dive off here
or from the rocks nearby because the water can be pretty murky and hides
submerged rocks and tree branches.
Kauai Beach Safety Tips
Watch the ocean at least 20 minutes before entering. You can tell hazardous
conditions by the telltale signs of water moving rapidly. Also constant
swirling in seemingly calm water and waves breaking far offshore can be another
sign that water may not be right for swimming.
Always swim or snorkel
with a buddy.
The most frequent and dangerous hazards are strong
currents near shore. Areas near river mouths are particularly dangerous.
At least two of the island’s beaches have been widely promoted as
nude beaches. Nudity is not permitted on Kauai’s beaches, but don’t
be surprised to see more skin than usual.
HINT: The Kauai Ocean Rescue
Council (KORC) has published an excellent beach safety guide. Copies are
available at airport kiosks and at most hotels. |
