Kahili Quarry Beach
Kilauea, HI
Kahili Quarry Beach, most locals just call it Rock Quarry or Kahili Beach, sits where the Kilauea River meets the ocean beneath the old quarry cliffs that gave it its name. A shallow, protected pool near the river mouth makes it a favorite for families, while the outer break pulls in surfers when a north swell is running.
The river pool is a genuine local swimming hole and the surf break has its regulars, but the rough access road and lack of any facilities keep it from being anyone's everyday beach.
How we score beachesBring water shoes. The mix of river rock and coarse sand underfoot isn't the soft white stuff visitors expect from Kauai's north shore.
A rough dirt road off Wailapa Road leads down to a small unpaved lot, passable in most passenger cars but rutted enough to take slowly.
The lot sits close to the sand, but the path is unpaved and uneven, and the river crossing to reach the calmer pool isn't wheelchair or stroller friendly.
Winter's north swells bring the better surf and higher river flow after rain, both of which can make the water murky and rough. Summer's calmer conditions are best for the river mouth swimming pool families come for.
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