Kalapaki Beach
Lihue, HI
Kalapaki Beach curves in front of the Marriott at Nawiliwili, a wide crescent of sand that stays calm behind the breakwater protecting Nawiliwili Harbor next door. It's an easy first stop for anyone flying into Lihue, close enough to the airport that some visitors end up here within an hour of landing.
The calm, protected water makes it dependable in any season, but the resort backdrop and cruise ship crowds keep it from feeling like a hidden local spot.
How we score beachesWalk to the far western end, away from the resort's beach chairs, for a stretch of sand that feels a lot less like a hotel beach and a lot more like a regular local one.
A public lot near the Marriott and additional street parking in Nawiliwili serve the beach, usually manageable outside of cruise ship days.
A paved path connects the resort grounds and public parking to the sand, one of the more accessible beaches on this side of the island.
The harbor breakwater keeps Kalapaki calmer than most Kauai beaches through the winter swell season, making it a reliable year round swim spot.
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