Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay offers almost every water sport imaginable and it is one of Kauai’s best places to learn how to surf. Opt for a private or small-group beginner surf lesson, or take a guided kayak or snorkeling tour. Most tours of Kauai’s North Shore include a visit to Hanalei Bay, and flightseeing tours of the island offer a bird’s eye view of the bay on the way to the Na Pali Coast.

• Lifeguards are on duty at Black Pot Beach and Waioli Beach Park.

• Each of the three beach parks in Hanalei Bay offer bathrooms and showers.

• You can rent snorkel gear, surf boards, kayaks, and more in Hanalei town.

• You can camp at Hanalei Beach Park, but you’ll need a permit.

Hanalei Bay is located on Kauai’s North Shore, about an hour’s drive from Kauai’s capital city, Lihue. The Kauai Bus provides service to Hanalei from Lihue and neighboring towns such as Princeville and Kilauea. The circular bay stretches from Princeville to Hanalei Town and beyond and can be accessed from the three main beaches: Hanalei Beach Park, Black Pot Beach, and Waioli Beach Park.

The best time to visit Hanalei Bay is during Kauai’s dry season, which runs from April through October. The busiest season in Kauai is from November to March. High surf from mid-October through March may create strong currents and pounding waves, so check the surf advisories before entering the water during this time of year.

Hanalei Bay has gentle waves from April through October that make it an ideal place to learn how to surf. Moreover, with plenty of sandy-bottomed spots, beginner surfers don’t have to worry about falling on rocks or a shallow reef. Many surf schools in the area cater to beginners and also offer lessons to intermediate and advanced surfers. The winter season is less safe for beginners but provides plenty of big swells for advanced surfers.

Yes, Hanalei Bay is open to tourists. It’s popular with tourists because of its beautiful views and beaches (especially Hanalei Beach) and its great conditions for surfing, swimming, kayaking, bodyboarding, and other watersports. There’s also good accommodations and plenty of facilities near the beach to make visiting easy.

Hanalei Bay is famous for its great surfing conditions. It’s also known as a Hollywood filming location, although it’s often standing in for other places rather than playing itself. Movies featuring Hanalei Bay include musical South Pacific (1958), Paradise Hawaiian Style (1966) starring Elvis Presley, and The Descendants (2011) starring George Clooney.

Yes, Hanalei Bay is safe to swim in, but generally only in the summertime, between June and August, when the sea is at its calmest. The rest of the year it’s much too rough for swimming, although Hanalei Bay is popular among surfers. The beaches are usually patrolled by lifeguards.

No, Hawaii’s Hanalei Bay isn’t the same as Hawaii’s Hanalei Beach, although Hanalei Beach is in Hanalei Bay. The 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) crescent-shaped bay has three main beaches: Hanalei Beach, Black Pot Beach, and Waioli Beach, which are all continuations of the same stretch of sand.

Yes, you can walk from Hanalei Bay Resort to Puu Poa Beach along a paved road. The resort is located at the northeastern end of Hanalei Bay, whereas most beaches are further south. The main Hanalei Beach/Waioli Beach is about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers), or a 10-minute drive, from Hanalei Bay Resort.

Yes, sea turtles live in Hanalei Bay and they often lay their eggs on the beaches of Kauai’s northern coast. The Hawaiian green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, and the leatherback turtle both thrive in the waters there. However, it’s not that common to see them on the beaches.