Kapaa & East Shore Beaches

The East Shore boasts some of the safest swimming beaches in Kauai.

Popular with both tourists and locals, Kalapaki Beach is partially protected from the open ocean, so it’s good for surfing, swimming, and boogie boarding.  You can rent equipment at the nearby Anchor Cove Shopping Center.

Although the swimming conditions can be kind of dicey, if you want your own stretch of uncrowded beach, Nukuoli’i Beach is off the beaten path.  On calm days, there’s decent snorkeling too.  To get there, take the dirt road between Wailua Golf Course and the entrance to the Kauai Hilton.

Because it’s nearly always calm, Lydgate Beach is the family favorite.  Go early in the morning and take some kibble to feed the fish – you’ll attract quite a crowd.  This is a great place for beginners to learn to snorkel.  There’s also a nice walkway from Lydgate to the Hilton Kauai.  During whale season, you can often spot them from here.

Kapa’a Beach Park is usually mobbed with locals.  Just north of Kapa’a, Kealia Beach is a good spot for experienced surfers.

Perhaps the best beach on the East Shore, Donkey Beach is often deserted because access to it is a little awkward.  You’ll need to park in the lot that’s just north of Mile Marker 11, and then walk about 10 minutes down to the beach.  Although nudity is illegal in Hawaii, because of its seclusion, Donkey has its naturalist aficionados.  The water here can be rough, so swim with caution.

Find the top beaches on Kauai’s North Shore.