Waiakalua Beach

Waiakalua Beach (why-a-ka-loo-ah) is another pristine north-shore beach similar to Larsen's Beach (two miles to the east). The hike down isn't far but it's steep - just steep enough to keep it relatively undisturbed. On a Tuesday afternoon I was the only one on it.

Even if you don't hike down, the view of the reef from the top is quite stunning - especially if you're from Wichita. You can admire it while deciding if you want to hike down. You'll also have to decide which trail to take. To the left is Waiakalua. The trail on the right is to Pila'a Beach. For no obvious reason, I chose Waiakalua. Once at the bottom it took some scrambling over rocks to get to the sand.

Waiakalua Beach

Waiakalua Beach is beautiful and interesting because it's neither groomed nor trashed. You'll see stuff that has washed up on the shore here, both natural and un-natural - stuff that would get cleaned up or collected if more people visited. I saw a stray flip-flop, a plastic pop bottle, a foam-fishing float, and the remains of some sort of fiberglass boat or paddleboard. It's hard to say if any of this stuff was left on the beach, or if it floated here. Not a lot of trash, just enough to remind me that people on Kauai do spend energy cleaning up their beaches. I also saw lots of pieces of bleached white coral and some shells mixed in with the golden sand. Put enough people on this beach and the environmentally conscious will clean its flotsam, the rest will walk away with its treasures, one or two shells at a time. These will end up as knickknacks in Nebraska or Utah. Towards the middle of the beach, I saw what I could only guess was the track left by a large sea turtle as it dragged itself back to the ocean. I wish I'd seen it. Perhaps it made its way down the beach while I contemplated the garbage.

The reef at Waiakalua Beach stretches a long ways out from shore and is just under the surface. This obviously isn't a good swimming beach. If you do manage to find a channel deep enough to swim or snorkel, it would likely have a strong current pulling you out past the reef. Unless you have experience and are a strong swimmer don't attempt it here.

There is a lot of vegetation above Waiakalua Beach providing shade if needed. As you walk along the beach a few homes are visible up on the bluff, but you have to look for them. On the far end of the beach (west) is a small spring. I've read it's drinkable if treated, but I didn't need it. I took several pictures, studied the reef, and checked to see if I had phone service. I did. I sent a few texts with pictures to make people jealous. The trail took 5 or 6 minutes to walk up.

Directions to Waiakalua Beach: Headed north, turn right onto Waiakalua Road, 2/3 of a mile after marker 20 (Entrance to Kilauea Farms). Follow it to the end of the pavement and turn left onto the dirt road just before the end. The trail starts at the end of this dirt road.

Click to see more Kauai Beaches

Pictures and Comments By Doug Porter