Kapaa Beach Park
Hawi, HI
Kapaa Beach Park sits on a rugged stretch of North Kohala shoreline, all lava rock and open ocean rather than sand, with a covered pavilion perched right above the waterline that catches the trade winds most afternoons. On a clear evening you can watch the sun drop past Maui from the grass just beyond the pavilion, and it's rarely crowded enough to need to arrive early.
A dependable, uncrowded sunset spot with real views of Maui, but there's no swimming to speak of here.
How we score beachesBring a beach chair and treat it as a sunset stop rather than a swim day. The rocky shoreline isn't built for getting in the water.
A free lot sits right at the park entrance off Kapaa Park Road and almost never fills.
A short, flat walk from the lot leads to the pavilion and grassy shoreline, though the shoreline itself is uneven lava rock.
The North Kohala coast stays breezy and dry most of the year, and sunset views hold up regardless of season.
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