Kauai Beaches: Beach Names

I would like to send a HUGE MAHALO to all following along! I love your questions and your feedback!

This journey to see 30 beaches in 30 days is definitely just as exciting the second time around! I love the opportunity to visit new beaches (ones I missed in the 2010 series) as well as to return to my favorites.

I thought I should drop a line to let you know a few things about our beaches, particularly about our beach "names".

Finding the beach names has proven to be very entertaining and quite interesting, especially to determine beach names for the smaller sandy ones.

Some beaches have a clear name but others have names that vary depending on where you look and there are even some that have a "surf" name, but not a beach name.  Even more interesting, there are a couple of beaches (on opposite sides of the island) that have the same name (like Baby Beach in Kapaa and Koloa)!

I have decided that for "naming" each beach I look at a couple of different resources (books, maps, internet), ask a few friends, then select the name most frequently used (or just the one I like the best).

Hope you continue to follow along and enjoy this journey as much as I do!

Mahalo, Jamie

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Polihale Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

30 beaches in 30 days 2011

Polihale, Kauai, Hawaii, June 2011

Oh my, oh my! I love so many beaches on Kauai, but this one lives up to the hype and just might be the most beautiful one I have ever seen in Hawaii!

Beautiful silky, soft, sparkling, white (HOT) sand and a super wide beach that stretches seemingly forever! Easy to walk on and miles to enjoy plus the views of the Napali coastline are astounding! (I believe this beach is about 17 miles long)

Water can be rough and had strong competing multi-directional currents, makes for great sounds of the ocean waves crashing against the shore, but not an easy swimming beach at all!

This is an all day adventure, so I definitely recommend that you take snacks and drinks, + sun block as well as an umbrella as I found shade to be a necessary relief from the sun.

I should mention it’s a trek to get there, particularly the last 4 + miles of dirt road ~ but don’t give up, it's well worth it!

Amenities: parking, shower, bathrooms, pavilions (remote location, no cell service, no lifeguards)

Directions: take Hwy 50 toward the West Side, keep travelling (seemingly forever) past Kekaha Beach, continue on (even further) until you see the Polihale sign on the main road, turn left there onto the dirt road. The dirt road is approximately 4.9 miles to parking area w/pavilions and bathrooms ~ though there are other access points, if headed to the main parking area, be sure to stay to the right at the big tree and again when the road gives you the choice between left and right (these hints should make sense when you get out there). The road has numerous ruts and potholes and it is definitely a bumpy ride, could cause damage to vehicles, please use caution and proceed with care ~ may take about 30-45 minutes to travel this section, but well worth the trip.

Google Beach Map

Click here to view Beach Videos

Follow on Facebook www.Facebook.com/KauaiBeaches and Twitter too! @kauaibeaches

*Drive slowly and with care, your vehicle will thank you!  Of note, if you have a rented vehicle, your rental contract may prohibit or restrict you from travelling on certain roads and likely this one to Polihale, please read the terms of your agreement.

 

30 beaches in 30 days 2011!

Aloha! The adventure begins again! I so enjoyed my 2010 journey to explore 30 beaches in 30 days that I have decided to do it again. Believe it or not, visiting 30 beaches in 30 days in 2010 left some beaches untouched by my toes! I hope to check those out and revisit some of the best of 2010 as well. Join me in the coming days to explore Kauai and see the magnificent sands, surf, and shores. Jamie