Haena Beach Park, Kauai: Outside the State Park, no permits!
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Haena Beach Park is a stunning, long, gold sand beach with turquoise waters, lush jungle surrounding it, and cliffs overhead. It is a popular place to go, but due to its size, it feels like you have it to yourself.
Friendly reminder: Do not confuse Haena Beach Park with Haena State Park and its Ke’e Beach. Haena Beach Park is located 0.8 miles before Haena State Park. The beach park does not require a reservation or permit to visit.
Check out some footage of this beach in our video of the best beaches on Kauai below (#5 in the video):
Haena Beach Park Overview
| Haena Beach Park Amenities | |
|---|---|
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Parking | Free dirt parking lot & street parking |
| Lifeguards | Yes |
| BBQ Grills | Yes |
| Picnic Tables | Yes |
| Playground | No |
Is Camping Allowed at Haena Beach?
Camping is not allowed at this beach. Many people conflate Haena Beach Park with Haena State Park, so many articles claim that you can camp and obtain a permit, but this is incorrect. This is not one of the designated state or county camping areas, and there is no way to obtain a permit to camp legally.
While people set up camp in the grassy area, we recommend sticking to legal beach campsites where permits are available.
Legal Kauai County Camping: Anini Beach Park, Anahola Beach Park, Lydgate Beach Park, and Salt Pond Beach Park
Legal Kauai State Camping: Koke’e State Park, Polihale State Park, and Napali Coast State Wilderness Park
Who is Haena Beach Park Best For?
The long sandy beach is known for swimming (during calm conditions), and beach walks under the pali (cliffs). It’s a great place to spend the day if you bring a picnic. Pack a lunch and take advantage of the grills and picnic tables.
A fruit stand serves fruit and other light snacks in the paved parking lot. The fruit stand trailer can be found in the parking lot, near Maniniholo Dry Cave. It’s also a beautiful place to come for sunset.
Is Haena Beach Park Good for Swimming?
The generally calm waters make this a fantastic place for swimming in the summer! However, the swells on the north shore make swimming dangerous in the winter, so be sure to check out the best beaches on Kauai in the winter if you’re visiting between November and March.
Is Haena Beach Park Good for Snorkeling?
Snorkeling here is far overshadowed by its neighbor, Tunnels Beach, one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. Tunnels Beach is located at the far east end of the beach, near the point (visible in the background of the picture above). Haena Beach, in front of the lifeguard tower, is not popular for snorkeling.
How To Get to Haena Beach Park
Ha’ena Beach, despite its name, is not part of Ha’ena State Park, so no reservation is required to enjoy the beach. The beach park is immediately off the Kuhio Highway before the entrance to the state park.
It’s about a 30-minute drive from Princeville, an hour from Kapa’a (see our Kapaa things to do!), and an hour and a half from Poipu.
Haena Beach Parking
A free public parking lot just off Kuhio Highway (click for directions) fills up quickly, so cars spill onto the other side of the street. You’ll want to arrive early for parking, as many people also park here to go to Tunnels (Makua) Beach. Tunnels Beach is a favorite for scuba divers and snorkelers, but the strong currents make this an advanced swimming area.
Things to Do at Haena Beach Park
This beautiful beach has everything for a sun bum’s dream beach day. Sunbathe, swim, picnic, or take a romantic stroll along the soft sandy shores at sunset. This is one of the best spots on the island for sunset, and you won’t want to miss watching it dip into the ocean in a fanfare of sherbet colors.
For an added activity for kids and adults, explore the dry cave just across the street from the parking lot.
Whether staying on the north shore or just making a day of it, there are plenty of things to do in Hanalei to keep you busy after the beach!
Haena Beach Safety
As with all North Shore beaches, there are strong currents in winter that make it otherwise inaccessible. Big waves may be intriguing to ambitious surfers, but it’s best to skip this beach during high surf. Keep this in mind if you plan on visiting Kauai from November to March. Head to south shore beaches instead or check out these Kauai beaches that are great for visiting in the winter.
Know Before You Go Snorkel Safety
Swimming and snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean should not be taken lightly. To keep you safe, please know your health limits, swim with a buddy, never turn your back on the ocean, and read and obey posted signs. Check HIOceanSafety.com for ocean conditions at lifeguard beaches.
Don’t forget your reef-safe sunscreen!
Places to Eat Near Haena Beach Park
There is a snack shack (trailer) in the parking lot, but aside from that the closest restaurants are in Hanalei 6 miles away. We recommend packing a picnic or grabbing takeaway on your way to the beach if you’d like to eat while you’re there.
Visit Haena Beach Park and More
Don’t miss more of the best things to do around the island.
- 35 Best Things to Do on Kauai (Must Do + See)
- 24 Things To Do on Kauai with Kids: from toddlers to teenagers
- The 20 Best Things to Do in Poipu: Kauai’s South Shore
- The 12 Best Things to Do in Hanalei: Kauai’s Rugged North Shore
Check out our Activities Database for our favorite tours. Here are a few popular Kauai activities:
