Kauai Beaches

Kauai beaches are treasures in themselves, but majority of them are hidden so you have to know where they are. The most popular of Kauai's beaches is Poipu Beach on the island’s South Side. Poipu Beach is widely acclaimed as Kauai’s safest beach, but it can be a bit crowded compared to other Kauai beaches.

Calm water surrounds the sandy promontory of Poipu Beach. This is due to the presence of an offshore reef that causes the waves to break before reaching the beach. These breaking waves provide excellent opportunities for surfing, while closer in there are calmer waters safe for children.

Poipu Beach is popular because it offers safe swimming and wading, as well as surfing, opportunities. The offshore reef also attracts fish between the reef and the coast, making it one of the best beaches on Kauai for snorkeling.

Many variety of fish can be seen here, especially Triggerfish, Pufferfish, and Angelfish. Many snorkelers feed these fish so they’re often extremely tame and attracted to snorkelers (they expect to be fed).

You should also know there’s an on-going local debate as to exactly what food is harmful and what is healthy for the fish.

To the east end of Poipu is the pristine white sand beach of Mahaulepu Beach. Only a few visitors have ever heard of this Kauai beach, which only means privacy and seclusion as you walk along the sandy shoreline.

To get there, drive past the Hyatt Hotel and continue east on the dirt road until you reach the T-junction where you want to turn right. From there, head toward the ocean until you encounter a guard booth staffed by the sugar plantation company, who’ll ask you to sign in and sign a waiver.

Mahaulepu is favored by locals, wind surfers, as well as sunbathing and relaxing visitors. Besides having pristine sand and blue water, the beach has a legendary history because King Kamehameha from Oahu landed there in an attempt to capture Kauai.

There are several others Kauai beaches deemed safe for swimmers. Baby Beach (or Hoona Beach) is so-called because it’s ideal for very young children just learning to swim. The beach offers tranquil waters in a small cove behind offshore lava rocks.

SAFETY TIP: Before going out in the water, check for daily weather conditions and warnings. If the reports say its okay but you see that the waves are rather high, then just don’t go out. After all, the island has much more to offer on a Kauai vacation than just beaches and water.