Hawaii Beaches: Mahaulepu Beach, Pick of Kauai's South Shore
Where: Kauai || Grouped in: Kauai Nature || Tagged:
The drive to Maha'ulepu Beach takes you through the dusty remnants of a now dormant suger cane plantation along Kauai's sunny southern shore. Go to the eastern end of Poipu Road where the pavement turns into a rutted dirt road. At the "T" intersection turn right and pass a security shack You are 10-minutes from a megaresort yet completely in the middle of nowhere. Truth be told, the drive in was prettier before they shut the cane fields down, but no matter. Park in the big, unpaved public lot, scurry over a sandy berm, and you have arrived in unspoiled paradise.
The beach stretches to the East and West in unblemished perfection, with no buildings visible save a single beach house on the western end of the strand. The sand is clean, warm and inviting. The waters are clear and constantly ruffled by the whipping trade winds. You can often spot whales breaching close to shore. Turtles, too, traffic these waters. At the far end, in lava shelves set in a bay shaded by ironwood trees, ancient Hawaiians carved petroglyphs that remain visible today. Remarkably, if you visit this beach mid-week you may share it with a dozen other souls. A the beach is well over a mile long, that's a pretty good distribution. In the daylight hours, the sunnier parts of the beach are quite hot so either head for the shadier eastern edge or bring an umbrella for shade.
Related Links: Malama Maha'ulepu, Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail
Image via Malama Maha'ulepu
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Comments
Laura Hinrichs said:
Aloha! Just went to this beach two weeks ago. It was stunning and not too populated. I live in Denver and it’s 12 degrees and snowing today! There was a nice shady area at the beach. It was a pretty rough drive and we had a truck.
—11/29/06
Elspeth said:
We tried to reach this beach in a rented Chevy Malibu, and ultimately gave up. We arrived at horse stables and got directions, but the road was just too puddley and stony with that lava. We got close enough to take a rather good photo, but it would have been quite a trek from there. I think you need a truck or a 4-wheel drive. Maybe next time …
—11/29/06
Alex said:
Elspeth and Laura, the roads may have been in bad shape due to the heavy rains that have been hitting Kauai. In the past, that road was extremely passable in a normal rental car. Thanks for the update that its no longer true.
—11/29/06