It's a great day!

Aloha!

It’s a great and exciting day! I just went to dinner at the Hanalei Dolphin (highly recommended restaurant on the North Shore) and met a wonderful couple ~ Judy and Bill. We got to chatting and it turns out they knew about 30 beaches in 30 days because the people who sat behind them on their flight were talking about it!

Thanks to everyone who has been following and for spreading the word. I hope that my blog/Facebook/twitter posts are helping you see, experience, and enjoy our Garden Island.

Though I did get to 30 beaches in 30 days, I haven't finish blogging about all of them ~ so stay tuned as there are more delightful beaches, directions, and tips to come!

Thanks again for tuning in, it is an honor to live on this island and to share its beauty.

Mahalo, Jamie

[photo of Hanalei at sunset]

Google Map

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Facebook: www.facebook.com/KauaiBeaches

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Beach Bag Necessities

My Favorite Beach Bag items are…

 

Beach Tote from LL Bean

Beach Towel from Land's End

Complete! for wind and sun burn  from Greenlee Natural Products

Kindle from at Amazon.com

Baseball Cap from MLB online

Sunblock

 

What do you love to take to the beach?

 

Click here for my Google Map of 30 Beaches in 30 days

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Kahili Beach

Kahili Beach (aka Quarry Beach or Rock Quarry), Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii

Early morning is amazing at Rock Quarry with the sun glittering off of the waves as they roll into the shores.

Soft thick sand warms your toes and makes for an easy stroll.

The ocean boasts rolling waves in quick succession, not too calm, not to0 rough creating the perfect place for the early morning surfers.

The beach offers two hidden surprises… the river to the left and the extra beach accessed by crossing the rocks to the right.

Popular & friendly dog walking beach.

Great place to spend the day relaxing!

Amenities: None Parking: Dirt parking area at end of the road (parking for about 10-12 cars)

Directions from Kapaa: Highway 56 toward the North Shore, turn right on Wailapa Road between mile markers 21 and 22), drive about 4/10 of a mile, turn left on unnamed dirt road, follow road to the end

Directions from Princeville: Hawaii 56 through Kilauea, turn left on Wailapa Rd between mile marker 22 and 21, drive about 4/10 of a mile and turn left on unnamed dirt road, follow road to the end/parking area

(May also be accessed from the Kilauea side of the river for more parking options)

Google Map

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Playgrounds Beach

Playgrounds Beach, Lihue, East Side, Kauai, Hawaii

Beautiful soft sand creates a narrow beach that is great for a long walk as it stretches in one direction to Lydgate and to Nikoli'i in the other.

Rolling and crashing waves make the waters rough for swimming but soothing a magnificent to the ears!

Seems private, as I spotted only one other person on the beach today.

Great spot if you would like to BBQ and hang out on the beach and definitely a good place to check out the sunrise.

Amenities: Bathrooms, open area Picnic Benches, BBQ

Parking: Ample parking amongst trees

Directions: Highway 56 to Leho Drive (between Kapaa and Lihue / mile markers 5 and 6), turn towards ocean onto Nehe Road, drive to end and park

Google Map

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Waimea State Recreational Pier

Waimea State Recreational Pier, Waimea, Kauai, Hawaii

Black Sand! Who knew? Silky soft dark sand… the only dark or black sand I have seen thus far on Kauai.

Though I wouldn’t recommend this beach for swimming (red dirt in the water) it would be the ideal place to view a sunset.

The pier is beautiful and the beach would make for a great stroll after dinner or your walk through Waimea town.

Amenities: none

Parking: limited area for parking at the end of the street

Directions: Highway 50 to Waimea, in Waimea Town, take Moana Road, ends at beach

Google Map

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Larsen's Beach

Larsen's Beach, aka Ka'aka'anui Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Take a 7-10 minute walk down steep trail of large rocks and narrow path to Larsen's Beach

There was an immense feeling of privacy here today as I was the only one on the beach!

This is a long beach lined with large rocks along most of the shoreline and slightly coarse sand that is easy to walk on.

Added bonus: there are great shady spots to relax and read a book!

Be careful and swim at your own risk as the waters appear calm, but are known for strong currents and can be quite dangerous.

Amenities: none

Parking: Dirt area at the end of Larsen's Beach Road

Directions: Highway 56 between Anahola and Kilauea, turn onto Koolau Road (there are two, turn on the one on the Princeville side closer to mile marker 20 to follow these directions), drive about 1.1. miles and turn left onto dirt road (no sign but this is Larsen Beach Road), road immediately turns right and then left to head toward the ocean, follow to the end and park (there are a couple roads entrances at the beginning of Larsen's Beach Road, so when in doubt, stay left). Trailhead is at the end of the road facing the ocean.

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Kauai Beach Videos

Check out my videos of Kauai Beaches on You Tube!

www.youtube.com/jamiefriedman

Enjoy!

Lumahai Beach

Lumahai Beach, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

Beautiful! By Far the largest (widest) beach I have ever seen, ever…

Though Lumahai Beach is definitely a sight to behold, it is not a place for swimming ~ the waves are large and crash hard and close to shore!

The beach is wide enough and long enough to walk for hours with silky soft sand that your feet melt into. It may be a bit heavy for walking but closer to the shore the sand gets a little rockier in consistency and walking becomes far easier.

Trees line the beach for shade, if that’s what you prefer.

Not to be redundant, but swimming is NOT recommended!

*Featured in the movie South Pacific

Amenities: none

Parking: dirt area amongst the trees

Directions: Highway 560 through Hanalei, continue on 560 past, beach is located between mile marker 5 and 6 with the beach access and parking closer to mile marker 6

Google Map

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Lawai Beach

Lawai Beach, Koloa-Poipu, South Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

Beautiful small crescent of beach by the side of the road in Sunny Poipu!

Relax and take a swim in the cool waters. Reef offshore keeps the waves mild. Known for snorkeling and spotting turtles.

Perfect location to enjoy the sunset!

Amenities: Parking on the side of the road

Directions: Highway 50, turn left at Maluhia Road, turn right on Koloa Road (at end of Maluhia Road), first left on Poipu Road, at rotary (traffic circle) take second right onto Lawai Road toward Spouting Horn, continue on Lawai Road and when in doubt stay to the right on the main road. Lawai Beach will be on your left just past the Beach House restaurant

Google Map

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Salt Pond

Salt Pond Beach Park, Hanapepe, West Side, Kauai, Hawaii

Salt Pond Beach Park is a fabulous crescent of beach ~ a pleasant surprise in Hanapepe!

Lava rocks create a break, making gently waves and calm waters.

Great place to play in the waters, enjoy the view, and just relax! Pleasant and easy to walk on the sand.

The park has picnic benches, restrooms, shade, and ample parking. The perfect place to spend the day!

*Natural Salt Pond where sea salt is still created by descendants of ancient Hawaiians

Amenities: Plenty of Parking, grassy park area, trees for shade, picnic benches, pavilions, BBQs, restrooms, lifeguard stand

Directions: Highway 50 to Hanapepe, turn left on Lele Rd, right at Lokokai/Salt Pond Rd, stay right towards park. Google Map

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Ke'e Beach

Ke'e Beach, Haena, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

Known for being the beach "at the end of the road" and boasting the most astounding views of the Napali Coastline!

Sand that stretches for miles, snorkeling, hiking, and more can be found at this special location.

Swimming can be rough, so pay attention to the signs and stay close to the lifeguarded area.

Fairly wide beach and plenty of trees line the sand for those who prefer to relax in the shade.

Sand is soft though walking is easier closer to the water. For a longer walk, you can head down around the bend to Haena Beach Park and Tunnels.

One of my personal favorites!

Amenities: Limited parking so get there early! Bathrooms, Shower

Directions: Highway 560 to the end of the road

CLICK HERE to see beach videos on YouTube

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Kepuhi Beach

Kepuhi Beach, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

Turquoise waters and stretches of beach that you could walk on forever… round the bend to Tunnels or down the other way towards Wainiha!

Gentle tumbling waves close to shore ~ they break further out due to the reef and the water is shallow near the shore. The current can tend to pull strongly, so pay special attention not to float away as you swim out from the shore or go in the water further down the beach.

The sand here is on the softer side, larger granules and a little damp today. The challenge of the day was that my feet sunk like they were in quicksand while walking the beach and entering the water.

Great place to appreciate privacy and enjoy the changing shades of blue of the water from horizon to shore.

Amenities: Roadside Parking (could walk down the beach to the Napali Art Gallery and Coffee Shop at Hanalei Colony Resort)

Directions: Highway 560 through Hanalei, between mile marker and turn on Alealea, turn on Alamoo, parking is on sides of the road, please don’t block driveways. The paths to the beach are located on both ends of Alomoo Road and have signs to guide you.

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Secret Beach

Secret Beach, Kilauea, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii also known as Kauapea Beach

WOW! I am stunned! This beach is amazing. Takes about a 5 - 7 minute hike down a steep trail to get there, but well worth the trip! [I wore sneakers and though the trail was covered in needles and leaves, it would have been navigable in slippers, aka flip flops, or sandals]. Trip back up takes about 7 to 10 minutes.

The water was rough, especially for summertime, so not a great swimming beach, but it was cool and refreshing to play in the water when it hit the shore. There was a pool that formed between the rocks that was great for the kids and wading.

The sand was soft and the beach was incredibly wide and stretched along the coastline ~ estimated between a mile and two miles. Sand was hot and my feet sunk when I walked, closer to the water it was sloped but firmer and easier to walk along.

Just sit back, relax and enjoy the outstanding views of the lighthouse and coastline.

This is definitely not one to be missed or skipped on your visit!

Amenities: Ample parking

Directions: Highway 56: turn on Kalihiwai Road* and take the first right (about .1 mile) onto a dirt road. Follow down to the parking area by the house. Path is at the end of the parking area to the left of the house. [*there are two Kalihiwai Roads, this is the first one when coming from Kilauea/Kapaa area]

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Anini Beach

Anini Beach, Kilauea, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

Anini has a fabulous long stretch of beach with minimal wave action due to the large reef offshore.

The soft sand, which is cooler by comparison to some other beaches, is easy to walk on.

Water is refreshing but shallow ~ great for wading and water activities like snorkeling and floating that that don't require big waves!

Amenities: Parking, Bathrooms, Picnic Benches, Shower, Grassy Area

Directions: Highway 56: turn Kalihiwai Road*, turn left on Anini Road and follow down to the beach [*there are two Kalihiwai Roads, this is the second one when coming from Kilauea/Kapaa areas and closer to Princeville]

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Kalihiwai Beach

Kalihiwai Beach, Kilauea, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

What a refreshing way to start a morning… a crescent of sand hugged by tropical Kauai flora and fauna!

Beautiful soft sand, great for walking, and gentle rolling waves today.

Cool water, comfortable temperature and still very refreshing.

Trees line the beach providing ample shade if that's what you like.

Amenities: parking along the road amongst the trees

Directions: Highway 56: turn on Kalihiwai Road and follow down to the beach [*there are two Kalihiwai Roads, this is the first one when coming from Kilauea/Kapaa area]

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Kekaha Beach MacArthur Park

MacArthur Park, Kekaha Beach, Kekaha, West Side, Kauai, Hawaii

I love a new discovery! Miles of beach and more of ocean to enjoy! Plus views of Niihau!

Sunny, Sunny, Sunny and hot as the west side is known to be.

The beach was super wide and super long with plenty of room to walk but the sand was definitely hot on the toes ~ this would be the perfect beach for walking on an overcast or rainy day.

Waves were mild and it appeared to get deep fairly quickly, but fine for me. The water was a wee bit on the warm side, still refreshing though.

Amenities: Parking, BBQ, bathrooms (port-o-potties), Picnic Bench Pavilions, Shower, grassy area, truck/vehicle access to beach

Directions: Highway 50 to Kekaha, Park is on the road, just past mile marker 27

CLICK HERE to see Kekaha Beach video

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Tunnels Beach

Tunnels Beach, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

Silky soft sand and calm waters ~ known for its snorkeling and large reef close to the shore.

Fairly wide beach in between Haena Beach Park and the Hanalei Colony Resort, so you can walk forever if you like!

Great option when you are looking for for a dip in the water and just lounging around reading too.

Shady areas make it a great option for an all day stay!

Amenities: None [bathrooms, showers, parking, etc at Haena Beach Park just down the road]

Directions: Highway 560 to Hanalei, past mile market 8 and turn down either dirt road OR, follow directions to Haena Beach Park and walk to Tunnels

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Haena Beach

Haena Beach Park, Haena, North Shore, Kauai, Hawaii

I loved this one! Haena Beach Park to the left and Tunnels to the right (see next blog).

Haena Beach Park is almost to the end of the road and nestled in magnificent landscape with the Dry Caves across the street.

Steep slope to water and strong waves make swimming for the novice a challenge. In the summer, stroll about 1/2 mile down to the right toward Tunnels Beach for gentler swimming.

Sand gets hot and a section of the sand is formed by crushed shells ~ not painful, but invigorating for the feet. Big bonus is that my feet are super soft, feels like a free pedicure, from walking on the crushed shells!

Amenities: Plenty of Parking, Bathrooms, Covered Picnic Benches, Shower, * can be busy on the weekends and holidays

Directions: Highway 560 past Hanalei, just after mile marker 9 on your right is the park (if you get to Ke'e, you have gone too far)

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Kalapaki Beach

Kalapaki Bay Beach, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii

One of my personal favorites! Great for swimming, lounging in the shade, a gentle stroll, reading away the afternoon…

Soft, level, comfortable sand, great walking plus gentle waves, perfect for swimming or just floating along.

Grassy areas and shade available too!

Amenities: Parking, Bathrooms, Marriott Shower

Directions: Rice Street to Nawiliwili Harbor, free public parking, pay parking or access via Marriott Resort

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Kealia Beach

Kealia Beach, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii

Long Stretch of beautiful soft sand and the perfect place to see the Sunrise on Kauai!

The beach is wide enough for everyone to have a space and you can walk forever (though sand tends to sink a little when walking).

Rolling waves makes for popular surf spot but more challenging swimming.

Amenities: Ample parking, Bathrooms, Picnic Bench Pavilians, Shower

Directions: Highway 56 just North of Kapaa

CLICK HERE to see video on You Tube

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