9 Best Beaches on Kauai for Swimming

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No Hawaii vacation is complete without finding the best beaches on Kauai for swimming. We have lived on Maui and Oahu and hop over to Kauai often, let us show you our favorite places to swim.

Here are the 9 best beaches on Kauai for swimming:

1. Poipu Beach
2. Ke’e Beach
3. Kiahuna Beach
4. Kalapaki Beach
5. Ha’ena Beach Park
6. Anini Beach
7. Hanalei Bay Beach
8. Lydgate Beach Park
9. Salt Pond Beach Park

While Kauai wasn’t our pick for the best Hawaiian island for beaches, you won’t be disappointed with these beaches on Kauai for swimming.

Summary: Beaches on Kauai for Swimming

	Small waves?	Shade?	Lifeguard?	Food and drink nearby?
Poipu Beach	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Ke’e Beach	Summer Only	Yes	Yes	No
Kiahuna Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes
Kalapaki Beach	Yes	No	No	Yes
Ha’ena Beach Park	Summer Only	No	Yes	Yes
Anini Beach	Summer Only	Yes	No	No
Hanalei Bay Beach	Summer Only	No	No	Yes
Lydgate Beach Park	Yes	No	Yes	No
Salt Pond Beach	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

Some of these beaches made our list of the 35 Best Things to Do on Kauai. Check out the list for more ideas for your trip!

Best Beaches in Kauai Map

Kauai is the smallest of the four popular Hawaiian islands but it can still be confusing to get around. Explore the map below to find the best beaches on Kauai for swimming near your hotel or vacation rental.

These beaches on Kauai for swimming are not always the safest during the winter, from November through March. 

Beaches on the North Shore of Kauai experience large swells and strong currents in the winter. See the details below on the best time of year to swim at these Kauai beaches.

The Best Beaches on Kauai for Swimming

Welcome to the definitive list of the best beaches on Kauai for swimming. We have covered the best beaches on Kauai during the winter, the 5 best snorkel spots on Kauai, and the best kid-friendly beaches. Now, let’s share the best beaches for swimming.

To get the full experience of the wind in your hair and sand in your toes, watch our Top 10 Kauai Beaches video below.

1. Poipu Beach

Poipu Beach is a great place to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and play year-round.

Located on Kauai’s South Shore, Poipu Beach is well protected from winter and summer swells. The cove and reef protect the beach, making it a wonderful Kauai beach for swimming for the whole family.

Kids can stick to swimming in the keiki (kids) pool on the east side of the beach where there is a seawall making for a calm pool and a lifeguard tower looming overhead.

Adults can swim in the two bays and walk out to the small island that forms at the point. 

Poipu Beach is actually two beaches in one as two crescent-shaped bays come together at Nukumoi Point. 

Poipu Beach Amenities:

• Lifeguards on duty
• Picnic tables
• Showers
• Restrooms
• Minimal shade under palm trees and a gazebo
• Playground
• Restaurant, deli, and convenience store nearby

Directions: Poipu Beach 2179 Hoone Rd, Koloa, HI 96756

Poipu Beach is a Kauai beach where you can spend the whole day. Relax at the beach, head across the street for food (Puka Dog Hawaiian Style is a must), go snorkeling, or even try surfing as Nukumoi Surf Co. is located near the beach.

FYI, Brennecke’s Beach is next to Poipu Beach, they share a grassy park. Brennecke’s is a beautiful spot but best known for bodyboarding. Therefore, the shore break can be stronger there compared to Poipu Beach.

Reminder to always check lifeguard flags at all these Kauai beaches for swimming. Poipu Beach, for example, experiences the largest waves during the summer. As it faces south, southern swells hit Poipu harder than our next beach on the North Shore.

2. Ke’e Beach

Ke’e Beach (pronounced Keh-AY) is located on Kauai’s North Shore inside Ha’ena State Park. Follow the road past Hanalei till you reach the end. This part of Kauai is gorgeous and Ke’e Beach is the bonus at the end of the road.

Ke’e Beach made the number one spot in our Top 10 Kauai Beaches video. It isn’t the number one spot on this list of the best beaches on Kauai for swimming because North Shore beaches are practically off-limits during the winter. 

Big swells make swimming here dangerous so come to this beach from April through October and always check lifeguard flags before you head onto the beach.

Ke’e Beach has a large coral reef surrounding the beach. The reef makes the sandy beach feel like a lagoon. Kids can swim inside the lagoon waters while adults can explore snorkeling over the reef. 

The beach is picture perfect with the clear water, towering Napali cliffs overhead, and vibrant reef out front. This beach is worth the trouble of getting a reservation. 

Ke’e Beach Amenities:

• Lifeguards on duty
• Parking and entrance require a reservation at Ha’ena State Park. Reserve here. 100 parking spots are available.
• Take the North Shore Shuttle as there is usually more availability. We give tips in our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary for reserving entrance to the park and beach.
• Restrooms, showers, and drinking water is available
• No food shacks so pack a lunch and snacks

Directions: Ke’e Beach, Kauai 96746

3. Kiahuna Beach

Kiahuna Beach is another popular South Shore Beach on Kauai. Sheraton Kauai Beach Resort sits on Kiahuna Beach making the resort and beach a popular destination for swimming and relaxing.

Don’t forget surfing too! Kiahuna Beach is a great place to take surf lessons on Kauai.

All beaches in Hawaii are public so you don’t have to stay at the resort to visit this Kauai beach for swimming. A small public parking lot and beach access are provided.

The palm tree-lined, crescent-shaped beach is great for swimming and sunbathing during the winter. Come for the day and then stay for the ‘Auli’i Lu’au, one of the three best luaus on Kauai.

Kiahuna Beach Amenities:

• Showers
• Food available at the Sheraton
• No lifeguards on duty
• No pubic restrooms

Directions: Kiahuna Beach Koloa, HI 96756

4. Kalapaki Beach

Kalapaki Beach is a classic beach on Kauai for swimming. Fronting the Kauai Marriott Beach Club, the large beach is well-protected with a break wall in Nawiliwili Bay. Enjoy floating and swimming in the calm waters but there is a lot more to do here!

Visit Kalapaki Beach throughout the year to learn how to surf, bodyboard, standup paddleboard, and soak up the sun. The large beach is popular with guests from the many resorts nearby and the cruise ships that dock in the bay’s harbor.

Located in Lihue, you will find food trucks, restaurants, and shops nearby.

Kalapaki Beach Amenities:

• No lifeguard on duty
• Restrooms
• Showers
• Abundant restaurants and convenience stores

Directions: Kalapaki Beach Public Parking Lihue, HI 96766

For more things to do on Kauai in perfectly planned excursion days, check out our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary. With a Quick Hits section of the best beaches, restaurants, and where to stay, your planning will be done for you! Learn more below.

5. Ha’ena Beach Park

Ha’ena Beach, despite the name, is not part of Ha’ena State Park so no reservation is required. The beach park is located immediately off the Kuhio Highway before the entrance to the state park.

The long sandy beach is known for swimming (during calm conditions) and beach walks under the pali (cliffs). As this is a North Shore beach, check conditions before going on the beach. Further down the shore at Tunnels Beach, there are stronger currents.

The long, gold-sand beach is stunning with the turquoise waters, the lush jungle surrounding the beach, and the cliffs overhead. This is a popular place to go but due to the size, it feels like you have it to yourself.

Ha’ena Beach Park Amenities:

• Lifeguard on duty
• Restrooms and showers available
• Picnic tables and BBQ grills
• A snack shack (trailer) with fresh fruit and sandwiches is in the parking lot

Directions: Haena Beach Park HI-560, Kapaʻa, HI 96746

While parking is limited here, there is more parking available than at Tunnels (Makua) Beach. Tunnels Beach is a favorite for scuba divers and snorkelers but the strong currents make this an advanced swimming area.

6. Anini Beach

When you first drive to Anini beach in Kilauea, you might not be sure you’re heading to the correct spot. But when you finally arrive, you realize that this beach is beautiful. White sand beach with calm, shallow water, this beach is great for swimming in the summer. 

We recommend driving past the beach park with the restrooms, camping, and the large grassy lawn. Drive around the corner to find the better snorkeling and swimming spot. Park along the road and enjoy a day at Anini Beach.

Anini Beach has one of the widest and longest fringing reefs in Hawaii so the waters stay calm, making it a great beach on Kauai for swimming.

Walk the long beach, read a book under the shade trees, and explore the reef. This is a nice beach to visit.

One note: bring your own food and beverages. Unlike some of the other beaches that have food trucks or restaurants nearby, Anini beach is a bit secluded.  

Anini Beach Amenities:

• No lifeguard on duty
• Go to the Anini Beach Park for restrooms and showers

Directions: Anini Beach Kalihiwai, HI 96754

7. Hanalei Bay Beach

Hanalei Bay has nearly two miles of beach and in the summer the water is as calm as can be for swimming. The town of Hanalei is built along the bay, so you’ll have all the amenities you need at your fingertips: food, shave ice, and SUP rentals. 

Beware in the winter, waves here get rough. There may be some days that the beach is closed and swimming here (especially with kids) is really only ideal in the summer. 

The long bay is great for walking and sunsets. We like to park near Black Pot Beach on the east end to explore Hanalei Pier, grab a taco at the taco truck, and walk the beach.

Hanalei Bay Beach Amenities:

• Public parking lots are along the bay
• No lifeguards on duty
• Restrooms, showers, and picnic tables along Hanalei Bay

Directions: Waioli Beach Park at Hanalei Bay Beach

Hanalei Town is near Hanalei Bay Beach. Check out Hanalei Town for our favorite Kauai food trucks and shave ice.

Additional Kauai planning resources:

• What to Pack for Your Kauai Vacation
• Is Maui or Kauai Better for a Family Vacation?
• 35 Things to Do on Kauai (we’ll surprise you!)

8. Lydgate Beach Park

Lydgate Beach Park is located on the Royal Coconut Coast, the east side of Kauai. The beach park itself isn’t good for swimming but the pools are the place to go! 

On the north end of the park, you will find two pools that easily make the list of the best beaches on Kauai for swimming. A large stone break wall stops the waves. The shallow pools also have large schools of fish inside making for a fun place to teach your kids how to snorkel. 

Across the parking lot is Kamalani Playground, a large, wooden playground in case your kids need more playtime. There is a large parking lot that spans the beach. 

Reminder, we do not recommend swimming outside of the pools as the current can be strong along the east side of Kauai.

Lydgate Park Pools Amenities

• Lifeguards on duty
• Showers
• Restrooms
• Picnic tables
• Limited shade near the beach

Directions: Lydgate Park Pools 2MR8+H6, Lihue, HI 96766

9. Salt Pond Beach Park

Head over to the West Side of Kauai for Salt Pond Beach Park. Located outside of Hanapepe and Eleele, this large beach park is a local favorite. You will find a large golden sand beach with a reef providing protection from swells.

As Salt Pond Beach Park is on the dry side of Kauai, you can expect sunny days and calm water for swimming. As there are few resorts in this area, this beach is rarely if ever busy. 

We like to stop here to play in the sand as part of a day exploring Hanapepe Town. Hanapepe Town has art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, and a swinging bridge. It is one of our favorite towns on Kauai and is featured in our 35 Best Things to Do on Kauai.

Salt Pond Beach Park Amenities:

• Lifeguard on duty
• Large parking lot
• Restrooms
• Showers
• Picnic tables and BBQ grills

Directions: Salt Pond Rd, Eleele, HI 96705

Beach Swimming Safety on Kauai

Though many of the beaches listed have lifeguards and protected areas that are generally safe for swimmers, don’t forget the basics of beach safety:

• Check conditions before entering the water
• Never leave children unattended, even if a lifeguard is present
• SPF and sun protection equipment are crucial. See our Hawaii Travel Gear for mineral-based sunscreen and sun protective clothing options.
• Bring plenty of water and for beaches with limited shade, consider bringing an umbrella or sun tent

Enjoy your vacation to Kauai for beaches and swimming! For five perfectly planned excursion days around Kauai, see our Kauai Wayfinder Itinerary. The itinerary is the easiest way to plan your Kauai vacation. Click below to learn more.