Kauai Beach Adventures
A Hawaiian beach adventure is a delightful outing for all types of visitors. Be sure to take the necessary precautions: check the local weather and surf advisories before venturing out into the ocean, be wary of riptides and rocky shore lines, especially at high tide. Many of Kauai’s beaches are prone to giant shore breaks and strong undertow. Remember to slather on the sunscreen. The sun may be a lot stronger than you realize and it’s easy to get sunburned, even on a cloudy day. While some of the island’s beaches are more dangerous than others, it is wise to remember that they are all dangerous and deadly. Hawaii watermen advise that visitors only swim in locations with a lifeguard, and only to go in the water after you have reviewed current advisories and have asked the lifeguard which portion of the beach you should be using, as conditions vary daily. Kee Beach State Park A favorite of visitors and locals alike, Kee Beach, where the road ends on the North Shore, is a delightful beach blessed with reddish-gold sugar sand, almost too beautiful and pristine to be real. Kee Beach is located at a reef-protected cove at the base of massive fluted volcanic cliffs. While it is safe to snorkel and swim inside the protected reef, outside the protection of the reef, North Shore currents can be deadly. Kee Beach has a channel to the open ocean, and if you go beyond the reef, it is easy to misjudge the strength and size of the waves, and rip currents can pull someone hundreds of yards down the coast without notice. If this happens, there are no beaches nearby. Even if a person could make the swim to shore, they would only find sheer cliff faces. Net Beach Located in Kilauea on Kauai’s North Shore, Net Beach is the island’s unofficial nude beach. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Polihale Beach Listed by Travel and Leisure Magazine as the world’s finest secluded beach, Polihale Beach has seven spectacular miles of shoreline, sand dunes up to 100 feet tall and a broad, sugar sand beach. Although it is not easy to get to, necessitating a 30-minute drive on a washed out sugarcane road to reach the shores, the remote beach is well worth the trip. Polihale Beach has no lifeguards, public services or cell phone service. Kehena Beach Kehena Beach is another beach where clothing is optional. However, it may not be for everyone. The path to the beach is steep, and the ocean presents strong currents. The beach is popular as it secluded with dense foliage. While it may be a great place to sunbathe, the currents make it a dangerous place to swim or snorkel. There are no lifeguards or public services. Lumahai Beach Although the waters of Lumahai Beach appear serene, this beach does not have a protective reef, which leaves the coastline exposed to the open ocean. Strong shore breaks, riptides, and high surf make it one of most dangerous beaches on Kauai. While the scenery is spectacular, visitors are advised to stay at least a 100 feet from the shoreline.
