This 1/2 mile-long white sand beach on Kauai’s south side is named after a wooden boat wreck that graced the shoreline for many years before it was finally destroyed and buried by Hurricane Iwa in 1982. Shipwreck Beach is known as a good bodyboarding beach and also frequented by surfers though the conditions are typically […]
This relatively safe swimming beach on Kauai’s sunny south shore is one of the island’s most popular beaches. The beach is about 3 miles long and 100 feet wide providing plenty of room for tourists as well as many locals who come to Poipu to enjoy the sparkling white sand beach and ride the waves […]
Considered a living museum and heritage site, Mahaulepu is a scenic, secluded beach that is a great day hike on Kauai’s south shore. This area is home to many endangered Hawaiian species and is also very important in Hawaii’s history and culture. A great deal of scientific research has occurred here including excavations of ancient species […]
A relatively narrow and small, sandy beach, Lawai Beach Park can sometimes disappear altogether when big waves pound the shore but when the water is calm this is a lovely beach and also one of the south shore’s best snorkeling spots. Lawai Beach is sometimes called Beach House because it is located right next to […]
Sunbathing is nice at One Alii Beach Park where there are two beaches called One Alii I and One Alii II. Swimming is not great since the beach is narrow and comprised mostly of rock and coral without a lot of sand. However, this is a great place for a picnic or just relaxing and […]
Located on the south coast of Molokai, Kakahaia is a 42-acre beach park nice for birdwatching or picnicking though not a good swimming beach due to the rocky, shallow seafloor. Fishermen also frequent this beach which is part of a bird sanctuary and the Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge. Great For Picnics, fishing, birdwatching. Highlights This […]
This small, south Molokai beach is popular among fisherman though is not great for snorkeling or swimming beach because the seafloor is somewhat rocky. The beach is long and narrow. Located nearby is Hale O Lono Harbor which is the starting point of the annual Molokai to Oahu Outrigger Canoe Race. Great For Fishing, whale […]
This small yet charming white-sand beach on the south coast of Lanai is situated at the east end of beautiful Manele Bay, which also contains the island’s only public harbor and the place where you can take the ferry to Maui. The seafloor is mostly sand and gravel and the beach is surrounded by rocky […]
This south Lanai beach isn’t very big but it is quite secluded, backed by sea cliffs. The salt-and-pepper sand borders numerous tidepool areas along a shelf of lava. The beach is surrounded by sea cliffs, and perched above Huawai Bay is the Challenge at Manele Golf Course that was designed by Jack Nicklaus. Huawai Bay […]
This white sandy cove is located adjacent to Shark’s Bay with the two being divided only by a rock outcropping. Shark’s Cove is a nice spot for quiet relaxation or a private picnic, but like Shark’s Bay, this isn’t the best swimming beach because the ocean floor is quite rocky and strong currents often flow […]
This sandy and relatively well-protected cove are bordered by lava rock. The red lava jutting out between Shark’s Bay and Hulopoe Beach provides nice views of Lanai’s seacoast in both directions, and about 150 feet offshore is a Puu Pehu, also known as Sweetheart Rock, jutting some 80 feet up from the ocean. Shark’s Bay […]
This green sand beach near South Point, the southernmost tip of the island, is located in a small cove at the base of a huge cinder cone called Puu O Mahana. The striking green sand of Green Sand Beach, also called Mahana Beach and Papakolea Beach, is the result of olivine deposits in the nearby […]
This 36-acre beach park includes various sports fields, an inline skating rink, tennis and basketball courts, and a 20,000-foot skateboard park. The beach is relatively small but the park is large and a favorite gathering place for local kids and families. Lots of picnics and family gatherings are held here as well as festivals and […]
Makena Beach State Park includes two of Maui’s nicest beaches–Big Beach and Little Beach. The wide, golden-sand Big Beach is edged with palm trees and bordered by grass-topped sand dunes between two black lava points on the south side of Maui’s resort coastline of Wailea. This white and orange sand beach is nearly one mile […]
Located on Maui’s south-central coastline, this scenic wetland area encompasses about 700 acres and is home to a variety of Hawaiian waterbirds including the black-necked stilt and Hawaiian coot. The Refuge is the site of habitat restoration projects as well as local environmental education, bird watching, photography, and other wildlife-oriented activities. The Reserve was established […]
This secluded Marine Preserve about 7 miles south of Wailea spans from La Perouse Bay to Ahihi Bay and includes great snorkeling and scuba diving areas featuring some of Maui’s clearest blue waters. The rocky shoreline gives way to underwater coral and lava formations that make for interesting exploring. No fishing is allowed, and you […]
Poipu is Kauai’s Sunny Side