Donkey Beach (Paliku Beach)
Anahola, HI
Donkey Beach, officially Paliku Beach, gets its nickname from the mule and donkey teams that once worked the sugar plantation land above it, and the walk in still crosses that same open, windswept bluff before dropping to a long, wide stretch of sand. Locals bodysurf the shorebreak and watch for whales offshore in winter.
The sense of open space and the whale watching in winter are the draw, but there's no shade, no facilities, and a shorebreak strong enough to catch first timers off guard.
How we score beachesTime the walk for early morning or late afternoon. The bluff trail has almost no shade, and midday sun makes the ten minute walk feel much longer than it is.
A paved lot sits right off Kuhio Highway near mile marker 12, easy to find and rarely full outside of holiday weekends.
A wide dirt path crosses the grassy bluff to the beach, roughly a ten minute walk with a gentle slope, manageable for most people but not paved or stroller friendly.
Winter brings whale sightings and the biggest, most consistent shorebreak, good for bodysurfers who know what they're doing. Summer flattens the surf into something easier and safer for casual swimming.
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