The North Shore of Kauai is pure magic to me. With each visit I love it more and more, and the sights, such as the Hanalei Pier and Hanalei Bay, just make me so happy to get to experience. Made world famous by the film South Pacific, Hanalei Bay is a beautiful place to swim, watch the surfers, enjoy the sunset at the pier and more. We’ve got tips for planning your visit to Hanalei Bay and suggestions for what to add to your Kauai North Shore trip, whether it’s for a day or a week. You’ll love it!
Is this your favorite beach on the North Shore of Kauai? It’s pretty iconic, but it’s not the absolutely best beach on the North Shore. Yes, 100% worth visiting and you’ll love it, but it is one of the more crowded places on Kauai. If you have any questions about visiting the town of Hanalei, the beach and pier, or need more suggestions for spending time on Kauai, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
Why Visit Hanalei Bay and Beach
The setting of Hanalei Bay is remarkable. I couldn’t create a backdrop better than this. The mountains come down to the sea, the beach stretches around the bay, and the clouds move in and out of the hills. Even if Hanalei Bay wasn’t swimmable and a perfect place for surfing, it would still be one of the best beaches on Kauai. While Barking Sands Beach on the west side is epic as the Pacific Ocean stretches out ahead, the setting of Hanalei Beach is magical. It’s easy to see why Kauai is in so many films.
When it comes to the Hanalei Pier, it’s a great spot to walk out and take in the view, to watch the surfers and to enjoy the sunset. I will say that this is one of the most popular places on the North Shore of Kauai, so whether you’re visiting early in the day or late afternoon there will be a lot of people around. That’s okay though, because everyone is there to enjoy the quiet bay and enjoy the water. If you do a helicopter tour around Kauai you’ll fly over Hanalei Bay just after the Na Pali Coast, and you’ll see just how amazing of a landscape it is.
Tips for the Best Hanalei Beach Day
When to Visit Hanalei Bay In the winter months the surf tends to be the highest on the North Shore of Kauai. While Hanalei Bay isn’t seeing waves as big as the North Shore of Oahu, they still come in with a force. The shape of the bay does mitigate the strength of the waves quite a bit, but they can still be aggressive at times. November through April are typically the big wave months, so if you’re thinking about surfing on Kauai, that’s your best window for it. When it comes to time of day to visit, there’s a reason it’s so busy in the late afternoon. As the sun heads west and starts to get low, the light on Hanalei Bay is the most beautiful. With the moisture in the air and the hills on the western side of the bay, it’s one of the most iconic Hawaiian sights.
Having said that, I love morning beach visits when the air is still cool but the water is warm. This gives you the beach mostly to yourselves. There are a few beaches on the north shore of Kauai that are really wonderful first thing in the morning, and Hanalei Beach is one of them. Our other top pick for an early beach visit on the North Shore of Kauai is Lumaha’i Beach just around the corner from the town of Hanalei. It’s a much less popular beach and has a river that flows out at it.
Beach Gear for the North Shore of Kauai
Hanalei Bay and beach is both a good relaxing beach and a great swimming beach. If you’re visiting early in the day before there’s many people, it’s a great boogie boarding spot if the waves are right. In the afternoon it turns into a wonderful hangout-in-the-water beach, with mellow waves and lots of aloha spirit. Hanalei Bay is a great pick for an all day beach, so bring your layout gear (towels and such) and picnic supplies. Should you not want to eat on the sand, it’s an easy walk back into town for poke from my favorite poke spot on the North Shore, Hanalei Poke.
We always have our snorkeling gear with us when we’re traveling around the Islands of Hawaii, but we don’t always get to use it. The waters at Hanalei Beach are much more turbid than other parts of Kauai, so the snorkeling here is not great. The sand is much more fine making the water unclear. Glass Beach by Hanapepe on the South Shore has beautiful snorkeling water because the sand there is so chunky. Not here here at Hanalei.
Parking for Hanalei Beach and Pier
Parking at Hanalei Bay is tight if you’re arriving during peak times. There is a dedicated parking area though, at the end of Weke Road. This is shared by the boat launch and the Hanalei Canoe Club, so pay attention to parking signs. There are homes along the road to the parking area with private driveways. Be respectful of those who live and work here so that they can easily access where they need to be, and DON’T block anyone’s driveway.
More Things to do on Kauai
Kauai is my second favorite island so I always have ideas for fun and beautiful things to do on Kauai. Because the island isn’t huge and there’s just the one road going around it (not even all the way), you can plan adventures on both the north and south shore in the same day as long as you allow yourself time to get between destinations. Here are our top picks for some of the best things to do on Kauai.
- Beach days at Poipu (south shore), Lydgate (east) or Hanalei (north)
- Smith’s Hawaii Wailua River Cruise – Lihue, east
- Kauai Coffee Co tour – near Hanapepe, south
- Waimea Canyon State Park – Waimea, south
- Na Pali Coast hiking at Haena State Park – Waineha, north
- Kilauea Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge – Kilauea, north
There are, of course, many more things to do and so many beautiful hikes and beaches, but these are just our top picks that you can easily add to your Kauai itinerary to ensure you have an amazing experience here on the Garden Island.
Where to Stay on Kauai
There are three main areas to choose from when you’re planning your trip to Kauai. You can be on the east side (Lihue or Kapaa), the South Shore (Poipu, Koloa or Waimea) or on the North Shore (Princeville or Hanalei). I actually prefer to stay in Kapaa because it’s directly in the center. We’ve stayed all over though and it’s always easy to get around. The south shore is the most interesting with towns and epic sights, and then the east is most convenient with easy tourist activities and beaches, and then the north is much more rugged and is the start of the Na Pali Coast. Take your pick!
I hope you’ll make some time to enjoy Hanalei Bay. It’s one of the prettiest beaches and settings on the North Shore of Kauai and really shows off the beautiful world of Hawaii. If you have any other questions about Kauai or its North Shore, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a beautiful Hawaii trip. Aloha!
