Secret Beach

Kauapea Beach, Kalihiwai & Kīlauea, Hanalei

Facilities

No lifeguard; no formal facilities

Break

Exposed beachbreak; heavy winter shorebreak

Surf / Body / Boogie

Not ideal; only on very calm days

Access

Steep/ slippery trail; limited roadside parking

Family / Baby

No (hazardous currents/shorebreak)

Bottom

Sand with rocky pockets near points

Rip Current

Strong year-round; worst in winter

Snorkeling

Poor (exposed)

Restaurants

Kīlauea town (short drive)

Bathrooms

No

Parking

Very limited roadside near trailhead

Special Access

Trail easement; respect private property

Type of Sand

Light/golden; photogenic turquoise water

Skill

Experienced ocean users only

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Natural bluffs; residences upslope

Moloaʻa Bay

Moloaʻa, Kawaihau

Facilities

Limited; no lifeguard

Break

Fringing reefs; small surf windows when calm

Surf / Body / Boogie

Calm-weather only; avoid bay center

Access

Roadside parking pockets; beach paths

Family / Baby

Calm days only; close to shore

Bottom

Sand with reef/rock margins

Rip Current

Strong around reefs & center of bay

Snorkeling

Fair near rocks when calm

Restaurants

Kapaʻa / Kīlauea (drive)

Bathrooms

No / Portable (check)

Parking

Limited roadside

Special Access

Public shoreline access; respect residents

Type of Sand

Light golden

Skill

Beginner only when very calm

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Residential shoreline with public access

Donkey Beach

Keālia, Kawaihau

Facilities

Public restrooms (near bike path); lifeguard (per your notes)

Break

East-facing beachbreak; wind-swell prone

Surf / Body / Boogie

Good on calm days; wind days are messy

Access

Short walk via coastal bike path from parking

Family / Baby

Not on windy/swell days

Bottom

Sand with rock near ends

Rip Current

Strong during trades & swell

Snorkeling

Poor (exposed)

Restaurants

Kapaʻa corridor

Bathrooms

Yes (near path)

Parking

Public lot at bike path (walk in)

Special Access

Shared multi-use path access

Type of Sand

Light tan

Skill

Intermediate (calm); avoid when windy

Dog Friendly

Leashed per county rules

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Coastal open space/bluffs

Anahola Beach

Anahola, Kawaihau

Facilities

Lifeguard; park amenities

Break

Beachbreak; better surf toward north section

Surf / Body / Boogie

Surf north end; safer swim toward east end

Access

County beach park lots & paths

Family / Baby

East end on small days

Bottom

Sand; mixed near rocks

Rip Current

Strong in north section

Snorkeling

Poor overall

Restaurants

Anahola / Kapaʻa nearby

Bathrooms

Yes

Parking

Public park lots

Special Access

County beach park

Type of Sand

Light sand

Skill

Beginner (small) / Intermediate (north)

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Public parkland

Kalalau Beach

Kalalau, Hanalei (Nāpali Coast)

Facilities

Composting toilets; no lifeguard

Break

Exposed open-ocean shorebreak

Surf / Body / Boogie

Not advised; very hazardous

Access

Long hike; permits needed to camp

Family / Baby

No

Bottom

Sand; steep drop

Rip Current

Very strong; dangerous

Snorkeling

Poor (exposed)

Restaurants

None (remote)

Bathrooms

Composting toilets

Parking

Trailhead only (not at beach)

Special Access

Permit & trail access

Type of Sand

Coarse tan

Skill

Advanced hikers; not a swim beach

Dog Friendly

No

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Wilderness coastline

Hanakapiʻai Beach

Hanakapiʻai, Hanalei (Nāpali Coast)

Facilities

None; no lifeguard

Break

Very steep shorebreak

Surf / Body / Boogie

Do not enter in rough conditions

Access

Hike-in only

Family / Baby

No

Bottom

Sand; powerful undertow

Rip Current

Extreme; multiple fatal incidents reported

Snorkeling

No

Restaurants

None (remote)

Bathrooms

No

Parking

Trailhead only (not at beach)

Special Access

Trail access only

Type of Sand

Golden coarse sand

Skill

Not suitable for ocean entry

Dog Friendly

No

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Wilderness valley mouth

Lumahaʻi

Lumahaʻi Beach, Lumahaʻi, Hanalei

Facilities

No lifeguard; limited pullouts

Break

Open-ocean shorebreak; safer only at east end on small days

Surf / Body / Boogie

Not recommended except small days/east end

Access

Short unmarked trails from roadside

Family / Baby

No (generally unsafe)

Bottom

Sand; steep gradient

Rip Current

Frequent/strong

Snorkeling

Poor (exposed)

Restaurants

Hanalei (drive)

Bathrooms

No

Parking

Roadside pullouts

Special Access

None

Type of Sand

Light golden

Skill

Advanced ocean awareness only

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Natural coastline

Pine Trees (Hanalei Bay)

Hanalei Bay, Waiʻoli, Hanalei

Facilities

Limited; no lifeguards

Break

Beachbreak & reef peaks; shore rocks

Surf / Body / Boogie

Great surfing spot; crowded at times

Access

Beach drive-in; high-clearance/4×4 often needed

Family / Baby

Small calm days only

Bottom

Sand with rocks

Rip Current

Moderate–strong with swell

Snorkeling

Fair (outer bay on calm days)

Restaurants

Hanalei town

Bathrooms

Limited/portable (check)

Parking

Beachfront sand lots / roadside

Special Access

Beach-drive access (conditions vary)

Type of Sand

Fine light sand

Skill

Intermediate–Advanced (surf)

Dog Friendly

Leashed per county rules

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Bayfront open sands

Kalihiwai Bay

Kalihiwai, Hanalei

Facilities

Portable toilets; picnic-friendly shade

Break

Slow-rising waves over gently sloped sandy bottom

Surf / Body / Boogie

Good for small-board freestyle & bodyboarding

Access

Ample parking; easy to find

Family / Baby

Good family beach on small days

Bottom

Sandy

Rip Current

Rips possible when larger

Snorkeling

Fair (calm)

Restaurants

Nearby fish market; Kīlauea/Hanalei

Bathrooms

Portable toilets

Parking

Lots of parking

Special Access

Public shoreline access

Type of Sand

Light sand; wide strand

Skill

Beginner–Intermediate (small)

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

River mouth bay with shade trees

Keālia Beach

Keālia, Kawaihau

Facilities

Restrooms; picnic tables; lifeguard (check status)

Break

Beachbreak over moving sandbars

Surf / Body / Boogie

Good for both when bars are set

Access

Public lots along beachfront

Family / Baby

Small days only

Bottom

Sand; shifting bars

Rip Current

Break changes fast with bars

Snorkeling

Poor (exposed)

Restaurants

Kapaʻa corridor

Bathrooms

Yes

Parking

Multiple public lots

Special Access

Public beach park frontage

Type of Sand

Light sand; wide beach

Skill

Beginner (small) / Intermediate

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Highway/beach park corridor

Wailua Bay

Wailua, Kawaihau

Facilities

Limited

Break

Mainly wind swells; choppy

Surf / Body / Boogie

Occasional sessions; often windy

Access

Small pullouts/parking

Family / Baby

Generally no

Bottom

Sand; shifting bars

Rip Current

Strong with wind/swell

Snorkeling

Poor

Restaurants

Wailua/Kapaʻa

Bathrooms

Limited

Parking

Limited roadside

Special Access

None

Type of Sand

Light tan

Skill

Intermediate (when workable)

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Windy open shoreline

Hanamāʻulu Bay

Hanamāʻulu, Līhuʻe

Facilities

Basic; no lifeguard

Break

Small, protected bay waves

Surf / Body / Boogie

Limited; more of a calm-water bay (often murky)

Access

Local road/park access

Family / Baby

Water often murky; use caution

Bottom

Sand; river influence

Rip Current

Generally low; heed river outflow

Snorkeling

Poor (murky)

Restaurants

Līhuʻe area

Bathrooms

Yes (check status)

Parking

Local park lots

Special Access

None

Type of Sand

Brown/tan river-influenced

Skill

Beginner (small); not a surf draw

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Harbor/river-influenced bay

Lāwaʻi Kai (Lāwaʻi Bay)

Lāwaʻi Bay, Lāwaʻi, Kōloa

Facilities

None public on beach; no lifeguard

Break

Outer-reef surf

Surf / Body / Boogie

Advanced only; outer reefs

Access

Across/private areas; access constraints

Family / Baby

No (access & reef hazards)

Bottom

Reef

Rip Current

Strong near channels

Snorkeling

Good near reef (calm days)

Restaurants

Poʻipū / Kōloa

Bathrooms

No

Parking

Very limited; check garden access rules

Special Access

Private property interfaces (respect rules)

Type of Sand

Narrow sand pocket

Skill

Advanced (outer reef)

Dog Friendly

No

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Adjacent to Allerton Botanical Garden

Brennecke Beach

Weliweli, Kōloa (Poʻipū)

Facilities

Public restrooms; near Poʻipū park

Break

Steep face shorebreak

Surf / Body / Boogie

Excellent bodysurf/bodyboard when right

Access

Public beach access paths

Family / Baby

No during bigger surf

Bottom

Sand with some rocks (watch high tide)

Rip Current

Strong on big days

Snorkeling

Poor (shorebreak)

Restaurants

Poʻipū resort area

Bathrooms

Yes

Parking

Public lots & roadside

Special Access

County beach area

Type of Sand

Golden sand

Skill

Intermediate–Advanced (body surf/board)

Dog Friendly

Leashed where permitted

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Resort/park frontage

Shipwrecks (Keoniloa Bay)

Keoniloa Bay, Pāʻa, Kōloa

Facilities

Public restrooms nearby

Break

Steep-face wave over rock ledges

Surf / Body / Boogie

Good bodysurf/bodyboard; ask locals about hazards

Access

Public coastal paths/parking

Family / Baby

No during swell; not for small kids

Bottom

Rock ledges; shallow in places

Rip Current

Strong with swell

Snorkeling

Poor (exposed)

Restaurants

Poʻipū resort strip

Bathrooms

Yes (park)

Parking

Public lots (busy)

Special Access

Coastal public access along resorts

Type of Sand

Golden sand

Skill

Intermediate–Advanced

Dog Friendly

Leashed per rules

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Resort coastline with public shoreline access

Honopūwaiakua (Honopū / “Cathedral Beach”)

Honopū, Hanalei (Nāpali Coast)

Facilities

None; no lifeguard

Break

Exposed; powerful shore/reef energy nearby

Surf / Body / Boogie

Not a recreational surf spot

Access

Only swim-in access (strictly conditions-dependent)

Family / Baby

No

Bottom

Sand with nearby reef formations

Rip Current

Bad rip tides at high tide

Snorkeling

No (hazardous/remote)

Restaurants

None (remote)

Bathrooms

No

Parking

None at beach (remote coast)

Special Access

Swim-in only; no land trail

Type of Sand

Light sand pocket

Skill

Advanced ocean proficiency; generally avoid

Dog Friendly

No

Fire Pits / Fires

No / Not allowed

Land Context

Remote sea-cliff amphitheater