Kauai

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Kauapea Secret Beach

More Photos
Coronado Bob & Berie
Coronado Bob & Berie
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
5
Reviews
7
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-5 of 5

#1 -- Secret Beach

  • February 21, 2005
  • Rated 3 of 5 by JimandBill from Pittsburg, California
Secret Beach came highly recommended from the locals for sunbathing (clothing-optional) desires. None of the beaches on this island are available for clothing-optional sunbathers, but this one is the most secluded and cleanest. We noticed that many of the public beaches that did not border a resort facility were likely to have a great deal of trash. Secret Beach was quite clean in comparison to, say, Donkey Beach located just south of Anahola. We were told that Anahola had lost its right to have a public beach for this very reason, but that time had proven to weaken the local restriction and returned the public beach back to the townsfolk. Again, the weather was quite wet, so scaling the steep incline to return to our rental car proved a huge challenge.

From journal Kauai - a land called Hanalei

Day 1 - Kauapea Secret Beach

  • August 7, 2004
  • Rated 4 of 5 by ext212 from New York, New York
Day 1 - Kauapea Secret Beach

Kauapea Secret Beach
West of Kilauea off a dirt road

From the Kilauea lighthouse [see separate entry] is the Secret Beach, which isn’t so secret anymore. This was our first beach stop and our first experience of Hawaii's fierce waves and undertow. We ran back to our car and grabbed our boogie boards after we were taken aback by the strong waves. It wasn't even high tide yet!

You have to walk down a dirt road. It's a good idea to have your shoes on first and just take them off as soon as you settle near the water. We were there a little after noon. The sun was fierce and we were forced to sit under the trees, far, far away from the water. It's best if you have a beach umbrella to situate yourself by the dunes and feel like you have the beach to yourself.

From journal Kauai: without the proposal, the wedding or the honeymoon!

Editor Pick

#1 -- Secret Beach

  • July 5, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Kauai Boy from Bangkok, Thailand
#1 -- Secret Beach

WHERE IT IS: Just below the North Shore town of Kilauea, between the Kilauea Lighthouse and Kalihiwai Valley.

HOW TO GET THERE: There are no public roads that lead to the beach, but there is a gated entrance through a pasture that a privileged few have access to. Driving from Kapaa on Kuhio Highway, pass Kilauea town and turn right on Kalihiwai Road. About 50 yards in, turn right into an unmarked, unpaved road and drive to the end where you can park and find the trail entrance. A moderate hike down will take you near the west end of the beach.

WHEN TO GO THERE: The beach is accessible all year round. However, the winter waves on the north shore make entering the water out of the question for the inexperienced. PLEASE – ABIDE BY LOCAL WARNINGS AS PEOPLE DROWN DURING THE WINTER ALL TOO OFTEN!!! The best time to go is in the summer – the waves go down yet are big enough for a good time.

WHAT TO DO THERE: I took my first shot at surfing and bodyboarding at the west-central section of the beach, right where the trail dumps you. My friends and I would just ignore the nude sunbathers (which, by the way, is illegal but rarely enforced). Local fisherman willing to haul their gear in head to the far west end for some excellent shoreline fishing. My favorite activity here? We head to far east end just below the lighthouse and do a lot of spear-fishing, casting and diving off the cliffs.

From journal My Favorite Kauai Beaches

Secret Beach

  • June 10, 2004
  • Rated 4 of 5 by MegD from Gales Ferry, Connecticut
This one was a bit hard to get to, but it was fun. We found somewhere slightly illegal to park and hiked a bit along a cliff. It was worth the effort, but I probably wouldn't try to take children there. It's a very small beach, but completely secluded -- there were only two other people there when we went. It's on a little inlet that helps keep out the big waves and is surrounded by forest.

From journal Kauai Dream Vacation

Kauapea Beach (Secret Beach)

There is a steep trail that you must walk down to reach Secret Beach. In the fall, before the sand washes away with the winter waves, the beach is very wide and sandy. You look up at the Kilauea Lighthous on one end and the far cliffs of Princeville at the other. It is simply a beautiful beach for sunning, reading, and relaxing. The water is a little rough in the fall as it builds toward the winter. It is calm in the spring and calm at the Kilauea end, which forms a little bay. In the spring, the beach is rock strewn and almost disappears in places where the winter tides wash the sand away, but it is still a beautiful place to be. Bring a picnic lunch and stay for the day.

From journal Kauai in the Fall

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-5 of 5

Compare Kauai Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Kauai Travel Deals