The beaches of Kauai: one of the islands of Hawaii

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Kauai is one of the greatest places in the world for beaches. At many places around the nearly circular island, 33 miles long and 25 miles wide, broad beaches define the shoreline. Kauai’s many white sand beach have been backdrops for filming industry.

Here are just a few:

SOUTHEAST BEACHES OF KAUAI:

Kalapaki Beach, in Nawiliwili, lies in front of the Westin Kauai Hotel, where there’s safe swimming, as well as small-wave riding and windsurfing.

SOUTH BEACHES OF KAUAI:

Poipu Beach Park and nearby Brennecke’s Beach offer great bodysurfing, as well as catamaran rides and windsurfing.

Salt Pond Beach Park in Hanapepe is named after the ancient Hawaiian salt ponds that still used today to derive edible salt from evaporated sea water.

EAST BEACHES OF KAUAI:

Anahola Beach Park is a quiet stretch of beach that offers wonderfully calm water ideal for swimming. The scenic bay curves out towards the backdrop of the Makalena Mountains. The heat is much less intense here than on the west side of the island, so this is an ideal spot for a leisurely picnic.

Lydgate State Park, behind Kauai Resort, is a great beach for kids.

NORTH BEACHES OF KAUAI:

The beaches of Hanalei have been made famous by South Pacific and other popular films. Kauai has become the place that Hollywood comes to when it wishes to re-create scenes from paradise and two of the most photographed beaches are that at Hanalei Bay and Lumahai (filmed in “South Pacific”). Other beaches in the north side of the island are: Anini Beach Park, a protected beach with year-round snorkel, Tunnels Beach and Haena Beach Park, located across from Maniniholo Dry Cave.

Ke’e Beach, at the road’s end, is a pleasant little strand on which to sunbathe or stroll. It is also the beginning of the challenging hiking trail to spectacular Kalalau Valley on the Na Pali Coast.

WEST BEACHES OF KAUAI:

Kekaha Beach Park, a long beach, stretches for miles, and at the end of the road the Polihale State Park a 15 mile beach with dunes with “barking sands”.

Kauai: waterfalls, canyons and spectacular coasts.

Na Pali Coast: a wild and spectacular coast.

Waimea Canyon: the Pacific Grand Canyon.