Kauai Beaches
Find the Perfect Beach on Kauai
Kauai (aka the Garden Island) is the oldest, northernmost and smallest (552 square miles) of Hawaii’s major islands. Its small scale and laid back attitude distinguishes it from the other islands, and the abundance of pristine coastline makes Kauai an ideal destination for beach-goers.
While beach adventures should be at the top of your Kauai activities list, you can weave them into a wide choice of other outdoor adventures, such as hiking the cliffside trails of the lush, jungly North shore, kayaking the serene Wailua River on East shore’s “coconut coast”, and exploring the coastal cliffs and grand canyons of the South and West shores. Kauai is nirvana for active travelers.
Pick Your Beach Type
Last But Not Least — Safety First!
The ocean is powerful and unpredictable and sadly, too many visitors learn about this power, the hard way. To ensure a safe, injury free experience, select beaches with lifeguard towers, and always check for and read the signs on the beach about the water’s currents and conditions. Ask locals and lifeguards if you have any questions. Here are some quick tips:
- Never swim alone, in high surf, or in murky waters near the river mouths.
- Remember: eight days after the full moon, keep your eyes out for man-of-war jellyfish (look like blue bubbles) mostly on the East Side of the island and box jellyfish in Waikiki Bay, check the Waikiki Aquarium’s helpful schedule.
- If there aren’t any people in the water, there’s probably a reason for it.
- Never turn your back to the ocean, and always remember, when in doubt, don’t go out into the surf unless you are completely confident of your abilities.
Visit hioceansafety.com for up to date information on Hawaii’s water conditions and beaches.
Photo: Subtle Cinematics
Are You Prepared?
Make sure you’ve got all your travel essentials from sustainable swimwear, reef safe sunscreen, and coverups. Check out the Local Getaways Shop below.
