Kauai

Beach Safety Tips

Remember these safety tips, they could save your life!

While some beaches are perfect for family fun, others are extremely hazardous and suited for experienced water people only. Ask a lifeguard or check the Kauai Ocean Report for daily conditions »

Safety Tips

Varied shoreline topography, open-ocean swells and constantly changing conditions make our beaches beautiful, great for surfing, and often DANGEROUS. Here are some safety tips to help you have a safe Hawaii vacation.

Important safety video with lifeguard Kalani Viera »

Swim at lifeguarded beaches – ask lifeguards for safety and swimming tips.
Lifeguards post warning signs – Don’t ignore them! Read them and heed them!
Conditions constantly change – daily and seasonal changes must be monitored closely
Waves come in sets – it can look calm for up to 20 minutes between dangerous sets of huge waves.
Hazards can exist in ANY coastal area - not just in the water. Be careful on wet sand and rocks.
Do not fight a rip current – if caught in a current keep calm, float, breathe, don’t panic, and wave for help. Go WITH the current and conserve energy.
Use the buddy system – never swim alone & know your limits.
When in doubt – don't go out!
Learn More – Check out The Explorer's Guide to Kauai, our Ebook travel guide with lots more safety tips, as well as maps and highlights to island towns, parks and restaurants.

Have Fun, Be Safe, and understand where (and when) to hit the beach!

Comments (53 comments) View all comments

K.S.Ram Mohan | Oct 09, 2007 10:39AM

Which is the safest beach for swimming and recreational activities?

Ram

Kauai Explorer Staff | Oct 09, 2007 11:54AM

Aloha KS - there is no one answer for your question.

Please read through the site a bit more; you'll find that recreation and safety are based on your ability and the prevailing [...] view more

Jan | Jan 20, 2008 3:42PM

We were in Kauai about 2 years ago staying on the North side of the island. We noticed that the beaches we went to (keep in mind there were MANY we didn't visit) did not allow food or drink on the [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Jan 20, 2008 5:48PM

Jan - I do not know of a regulation prohibiting food or drinks at the beach. And if there is such a regulation then just about everyone is violating it. W

naruto | Feb 26, 2008 4:40PM

hey what if a shark gets me

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Comments (53 comments)

K.S.Ram Mohan | Oct 09, 2007 10:39AM

Which is the safest beach for swimming and recreational activities?

Ram

Kauai Explorer Staff | Oct 09, 2007 11:54AM

Aloha KS - there is no one answer for your question.

Please read through the site a bit more; you'll find that recreation and safety are based on your ability and the prevailing [...] view more

Jan | Jan 20, 2008 3:42PM

Kauai Explorer Staff | Jan 20, 2008 5:48PM

Jan - I do not know of a regulation prohibiting food or drinks at the beach. And if there is such a regulation then just about everyone is violating it. W

naruto | Feb 26, 2008 4:40PM

hey what if a shark gets me

Gara | Feb 26, 2008 4:42PM

Do u Know a water safty tips because i really need it

Kauai Explorer Staff | Feb 26, 2008 7:37PM

Naruto - are you serious?

Kauai Explorer Staff | Feb 26, 2008 7:38PM

Hi Gara - yes we do know plenty safety tips. Perhaps you should look through this website.

Old fat guy with a 3 year old kid | Apr 01, 2008 12:10AM

I will be on the north side staying at in Princeville. What beaches are best for just wading and the most protected. Any suggestions?

Kauai Explorer Staff | Apr 03, 2008 5:56PM

Hi "Old Fat Guy." From Princeville you can walk down the hill at the resort and explore "Hidaways" beach or cross the Hanalei river and stroll along the bay. Just be careful not [...] view more

Angie | Apr 14, 2008 6:21PM

Quick question. We are heading out there this Thursday (April 17th) on a girls trip and I was wondering, is alcohol allowed on the beaches? Is there certain beaches, all of them, none [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Apr 14, 2008 8:54PM

Yes, alcohol is allowed on the beaches. Of course, drink responsibly, don't drink and drive and please recycle your containers. Enjoy! J

Vikki | May 04, 2008 7:33PM

I've been surfing the internet (no pun intended)in advance of my first visit to Kauai next month and have to agree - this website is awesome. I'm a wader, never a swimmer. I already know the danger [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | May 05, 2008 6:51PM

Aloha Vikki. Mahalo for the feedback. It is true that there are cases of people drowning from being knocked down by a wave and swept out, while standing in calf-deep water. So, caution is always [...] view more

Fabio | May 09, 2008 11:35AM

Talking about safe beach.. (I am from the mediterranean). Are there beaches you would recommend for a family with a 5yr kid? I mean safe enough for him to play on the shore [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | May 12, 2008 8:59PM

Aloha Fabio. Depends on the time of year you are visiting. In the summer, Hanalei Bay, Anini and Lydgate are generally good family spots. Anini is protected by a reef, so it can have kid [...] view more

MANDL | May 27, 2008 12:10AM

We are coming to Shearwater in June and were wondering about the beaches close by. what do you recommend? We also would like to rent a scootercar for sight seeing any suggestions on where we can get [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | May 27, 2008 5:05PM

Aloha. The Shearwater is in Princeville, near Anini Beach and Hanalei Bay. Check out this site's pages about these beaches in the Beaches section. You can also connect with the hotel for [...] view more

amelia | Jun 16, 2008 12:39AM

Are you allowed to drink alcohol on the beach in Hawaii?

Kauai Explorer Staff | Jun 16, 2008 7:24PM

Yes. But please do so responsibly and make sure you recycle all bottles and cans. J

Autumn | Aug 04, 2008 1:51PM

I think the safest beach is Lydgate! :D

Kauai Explorer Staff | Aug 04, 2008 7:08PM

Aloha Autumn. Mahalo for contributing to the forum. No one beach can really be called "safest" because ocean conditions constantly change and swells shift on different sides of the island [...] view more

Donno | Sep 16, 2008 9:23PM

PLEASE EDUCATE TOURISTS.Why is it that every day at tunnels "snore-killers" are reef walking/climbing on the coral? And especially damaging,with fins on.NO NO NO! please do not put locals in the [...] view more

Chris | Oct 01, 2008 9:56PM

Coming in early Nov. Looking for beaches on the south and west side that are safe to vist with things in the car, (worried about theft not personal safety).

Also looking for places to [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Oct 04, 2008 6:40PM

Hi Chris - as far as theft goes the basic rule is not to leave your car parked in a place where nobody is around. Thieves are generally not going to break in if there are people and [...] view more

kristin k | Oct 15, 2008 3:59PM

I will be visiting Kauai in November. I am concerned about the recent drowings. My husband is an experienced surfer and I usually hang on the beach while he surfs. Sometimes I snorkel if it's [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Oct 15, 2008 10:12PM

Hi Kristin - the sad fact with the recent drownings is that the victims ignored warning signs and safety principles. Please read through the info on this website and ask locals or lifeguards. All [...] view more

molly fawcett | Nov 09, 2008 5:30AM

In Nov 2006 and again in 2008 I was stung by a bee while strolling the shore along the bay near Pine Tree. Why are the bees in the sand there?

Kauai Explorer Staff | Nov 12, 2008 5:03PM

Hi Molly - the bees sometimes get confused and swim to the beach or ocean. W

daShark | Apr 06, 2009 6:32AM

I hope the shark has a good meal. We will miss U.

sue davies | Aug 29, 2009 6:43PM

We will be on Kaua'i in Oct.(09). We want to snorkel a little but have no experience and we are old (late sixties). My plan is to snorkel only at beaches with lifeguards at first. [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Sep 06, 2009 5:17PM

Hi Sue - in October the surf will generally be calmer on the South shore. We also get some flat surf periods on the North shore, in which case you will be rewarded [...] view more

doug | Oct 07, 2009 4:58PM

We were at anini beach and there were maybe a dozen people as far as we could see. We saw a shark about 75 yds off shore. Looked to be 5' feet from tail to dorsal fin. It swam [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Oct 08, 2009 12:48AM

Hi Doug - in my experience every time someone sees a shark cruising the surface everyone gets very excited and the beach gets closed. It's not an everyday occurrence. Sharks are always there but most [...] view more

Lenore Horowitz | Dec 23, 2009 10:23PM

This is a terrific service to visitors! I will feature this website in our next edition of the Kauai Underground Guide (the 19th) which has promoted water safety in all its editions since 1980. [...] view more

rjr | Jan 17, 2010 3:28AM

My family will be staying at Princeville in early April. My son is a good/intermediate shortboarder and my husband a good/intermediate longboarder. Which surf spots do you recommend at that time of [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Jan 18, 2010 5:55PM

Hanalei Bay of course!

Jim | Mar 12, 2010 4:44AM

Thank you for your insite and information on the beaches and water safety. It is very helpful. This is our FIRST trip to Kauai. If you could only do one excursion...would you take a boat [...] view more

tony | Mar 17, 2010 10:34PM

My fiance and I are going to Kuaia the first week of May for our honey moon. We will be staying in Lihue. Is it in our best interest to rent a car for the week?

Kauai Explorer Staff | Mar 18, 2010 5:05PM

Hi Tony - If you are staying in Lihue you pretty much have to rent a car to get to the good stuff.

Camille | Apr 29, 2010 6:33PM

Are all beaches in Kauai public?

Kauai Explorer Staff | Apr 30, 2010 5:08PM

Camille - all beaches in Hawaii are public.

| May 09, 2010 1:44PM

Thank you so much for all information and the tips. These will surely be a great help.

Raquel | Jul 26, 2010 3:14AM

Is drinking alcohol allowed on the beaches? Are glass containers allowed on beaches?

ronald dillon | Aug 30, 2010 6:01AM

My wife and I will be on your beautiful island November 19, 2010 through the 25th.
We will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. Could you please give us some ideas for things to do [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Aug 30, 2010 10:03PM

Ronald - this entire site is full of things to do.

Steve | Sep 17, 2010 4:49PM

My friend just returned from Kauai and was very disappointed with the treatment he received from the Locals. There were harassing catcalls directed towards his teenaged daughter at [...] view more

Kauai Explorer Staff | Sep 18, 2010 5:19PM

Steve - I'm sorry for your experience but have a hard time believing the severity of what you describe. Feisty locals are not only in Hawaii, I've experienced them in many places on the mainland. [...] view more

Mindy | Jun 02, 2011 8:53AM

Any idea when Lydgate will be reopened? And, when it is, will it be a good place to teach someeone to snorkel?

tomb | Aug 15, 2011 5:53PM

My wife and I are thinking about a Kauai vacation in late October. What beach(es) might offer good snorkeling/scuba for us (late 60 yr olds?) And, what quadrant of the island offers the best weather [...] view more

Danielle | Jan 22, 2014 8:28PM

I would like information regarding how to dedicate a bench, tree or plaque at Secrets Beach in Kauai in honor of a friend who passed. Thank you in advance for directing me [...] view more

| Dec 18, 2015 7:19AM

This is really important information. Many people are so eager to experience the waves they jump into situations that are potentially dangerous. Thanks for sharing.

| Dec 26, 2016 4:00AM

There should always be lifeguards on beaches carefully watching over the water.

Beach Safety

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Beach Safety Tips

Remember these safety tips, they could save your life!

Safety Tips

Comments (53 comments) View all comments

Comments (53 comments)

Leave a comment:

Beach Safety

Beach Activities

Preservation

Kauai
Sea Tours

Na Pali Coast
Adventures

pFad - (p)hone/(F)rame/(a)nonymizer/(d)eclutterfier! Saves Data!

Beach Safety Tips

Remember these safety tips, they could save your life!

Safety Tips

Comments (53 comments) View all comments

Comments (53 comments)

Leave a comment:

Beach Safety

Beach Activities

Preservation

Kauai Sea Tours

Na Pali Coast Adventures

pFad - (p)hone/(F)rame/(a)nonymizer/(d)eclutterfier! Saves Data!

Kauai
Sea Tours

Na Pali Coast
Adventures