Canyons, sea cliffs, waterfalls, the greenest native plants and jagged coastlines are among the features of a coastal walk on Kauai. The Garden Isle is not only home to the wettest place on earth but 90 miles of scenic coastline for plenty of walks, from dawn till dusk.
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Hanakapiai Beach is the reward for those hiking the first two miles into the Kalalau Trail. The captivating Na Pali Coast, with its wild waves crashing against the sandy beach are a sight to see as you walk along one of the world’s most rugged and adventurous pathways. Adventurers can continue 2 miles upstream from Hanalapiai to Hanakapiai Falls.
Polihale State Beach Park is one of the best beaches for its beauty and the road to get to it, a dirt path that could be measured not by miles but bumps. After an eventful ride, a legendary white sand beach of 17 miles awaits. Grand dunes and equally grand sunsets, surround views of Niihau and Na Pali’s sea cliffs. Polihale is Kauai’s westernmost point and because it’s a beach in a most natural and remote setting, use caution and mind your safety and your coastal walk will be entirely about the beauty of Kauai. Nearby are Queen’s Pond and Barking Sands Beach.
Poipu Beach Park on Kauai’s sunny South Shore is an easy pick and one that has won the acclaim of both coastal experts and travelers. A family-friendly beach, the white sands and clean waters make for a lovely coastal walk on your own, with a loved one or with the kids. It’s a wide and vast beach, with views of Nukumoi Point where you may find a monk seal resting. Spend the day enjoying snorkeling, swimming or windsurfing—participating in any of these or watching and enjoy a coastal walk on this inviting Kauai beach.
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Ke’e Beach is a popular beach, as it is near the Kalalau Trail head at the end of the road on Kauai’s North Shore. Red sand intermingled with white yields a rich color; greens from the coconut palms, guava and ironwood trees, and foamy white surf are a few features that outline this scenic coastal walk. Very clear waters, a reef along the lagoon, and nearby heiau also make this coastal walk worthy of exploration. A side note, The Thornbirds movie featured a scene on Ke’e Beach.
Maha’ulepu Beach is a treat with three sequential beaches in one, including Gillin’s Beach, Kawailoa Bay and Ha’ula Beach. Located on the South Shore near the resort area of Kauai, the coastal walk here is an archeological heritage walk of sorts. It’s more remote than other beaches, so crowds are generally not a factor. Sea cliffs, Maha’ulepu cave and the occasional horseback rider or angler are all part of the setting.
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A sixth beach mention, one for the souvenir-collecting traveler, is Glass Beach.
Glass Beach is for those interested in the fascinating acts of the ocean, which takes a couple of decades to smooth out all kinds of glass to form pretty pieces of sea glass. Named for the results it yields from the constant lapping of waves over items made of glass strewn on the beach, it’s a neat way to take home a few mementos. Glass Beach is in Hanapepe Bay near Port Allen Harbor.