Photo Courtesy of Everett Atlas on iStock
A beautiful hidden beach about a 1/2 walk from the Kuhio Highway parking lot north of Kapa’a.
Water Sports:
Paliku Beach is a popular surfing beach and snorkeling can be good in the small cove to the north of the beach, just over a small hill.
Shade:
A large tree in the middle of the beach provides some shade.
Food:
Food trucks in Kapa’a town offer a great selection of to-go food for the beach. Try Al Pastor Tacos or Pita’s Kauai.
Directions and Parking:
Access is a public parking area with bathrooms 1/2 mile north of the 11 mile marker, north of Kapa’a. It’s a 1/2 mile hike on a paved trail via a wonderful “tree tunnel” down to the beach. Or, better yet, rent a bike in Kapa’a and pedal to Donkey Beach via the wonderful Ke Ala Hele Makalae path from Kapa’a town, eight miles to the south.
Annual Events:
The Kauai chapter of Surfrider Foundation schedules regular beach clean ups, including Kauai’s East shore. Detail: kauai.surfrider.org/
What’s in a Name:
The Donkey Beach moniker apparently came from ’60-era hippies who saw mules and burros being used by the Lihue Plantation Company that used to own this land for sugar cane production.
