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| Polihale
State Park Beach |
| A truly
amazing beach - worth the rough drive just to
see the 15 miles wide sand beach it
is divided into 3 beaches but you won't be able
to see where one ends and the others begin.
The entire stretch is open to the ocean and
this can mean mega surf! (Beware during high
surf the waves can sometimes surge up onto the
beach and drag you in.) There are few amenities
out here so bring food and water, the showers
, bathrooms and picnic tables aren't well maintained
and are a bit grungy. Watch where you park -
the sand gets deep enough to get deeply stuck
(there is no AAA and the tow truck drivers make
a fortune dragging out rental cars). As far
as swimming I don't recommend it, there are
ferocious riptides and powerful waves just waiting
for unsuspecting tourists. |
| This beach is at the
end of Hwy. 50 on the west side. There is a
small sign showing the right dirt road to take,
be forewarned it is very rough and if it is
raining it can be very slippery too. After approx.
3.3 miles you're there. |
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Salt
Pond Park 
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| Where else can
you watch salt being made from seawater at the
same time as you swim? Popular local's beach
with nice facilities - bathrooms & showers,
lifeguards. It has a small sheltered area to
play with the kids in. |
| In Hanapepe just past
mile marker 17 turn left. |
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| Barking
Sands Beach |
| The day we were
here it was so windy we didn't even want to
get out of the car. It was one of the few places
we saw a lifeguard on duty however. It is said
that if you walk on the beach when it is very
dry(on a beach?) that you will hear a barking
sound. Legend has it that the sound comes from
9 dogs buried in the sand, they buried themselves
while barking to guide their owner home during
a storm. The fisherman couldn't find them when
he returned and to this day they bark hoping
that he will find them. |
| Right on Hwy. 50, 6
miles past the road to Waimea Canyon. |
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| Can't drive to beaches
(since I was on crutches when I visited
Kaua'i I haven't been to any of these.) |
| These beaches are accessible by boat, there are
no roads or trails that I could find. |
| Nu'alolo Kai
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| Location: 14 miles from Polihale |
| The rock you see
rearing above the valley is called "fat
man's misery", it was the route used to
reach the now deserted village. The climb was
actually worse than straight up - leaned outward.
Swimming here is only suggested during calm
seas. |
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| Miloli'i Beach & Campground |
| Location: 3 miles from Polihale |
| Fresh water is available here (although you
will have to purify it) |
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Off
Shore Dives and Nihau Dives
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| Mana Crack
Advanced |
| Location: Southwest of Nahili
Point, at the end of Hwy. 50 |
| Depth: 50 - 95 ft (15 -
29 metres) |
| Not accessible
during the summer months Mana Crack is
one of Kaua'i's most exciting dives. Most
notable is the reversed ledge that is
deeper near shore and shallower on the
ocean side. Look for plate, antler and
black-tree coral, pukas, hermit crabs,
lobsters, cowry shells, possibly eagle
rays, blacktip reef sharks and hammerhead
sharks. |
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| Niihau Arches
Advanced |
| Location: Off the island
of Niihau at East Kikepa Point |
| Depth: 20 - 80
ft (6 - 24 metres) |
| A
35 ft. archway gives this site it's name.
Located among formations such as valleys,
ridges and lava tubes up to 100 ft in
length this makes a great place to watch
large fish. If you are fortuanate you
will see eagle rays, Galápagos
sharks, blacktip sharks,wahoos,morwongs,
octopuses and maybe even a monk seal. |
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| Pyramid Point
Intermediate |
| Location: Off the island
of Niihau at Lehau Rock |
| Depth: 18 - 130 ft (5 -
39 metres) |
| This
dive has a wall that drops dramatically
from 18 ft to about 180 ft (this is a
depth beyond the recreational dive limit
so don't try it unless you are an expert)
Watch for rays, sharks, mantas and the
occasional monk seal. At hte top of the
wall you will find a channel that if you
time it right you can ride in on the tidal
current, there you can find a variety
of butterflyfish. |
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| Vertical Awareness
Advanced |
| Location: Off the island
of Niihau at Lehau Rock |
| Depth: 40 - 130 ft (12 -39
metres) |
| Advanced
dive skills are a must here to enjoy the
site to it's fullest. With a vertical
rise from 280 ft to 40 ft this is one
best explored with an experienced guide,
they will keep an eye on your depth and
air while you enjoy the dense schools
of a variety of butterflyfish, tangs,
Hawaiian and longfinanthias, mantas, Galápagos
sharks, wahoos, tunas, uluas and the monk
seal. |
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