Kiahuna Beach
Koloa, HI
Kiahuna Beach fronts the Sheraton Kauai Resort on the western edge of Poipu, close enough to Poipu Beach Park to share the same protective reef but quiet enough that locals call it by the plantation name instead of the hotel's. Snorkeling picks up noticeably past the rocky point at its western end, where the reef opens into clearer water.
The snorkeling past the point is genuinely good, but it shares Poipu's crowds during high season without quite matching its name recognition.
How we score beachesCross the rocky point at low tide for the better snorkeling on the western side. At high tide the rocks get slick and the crossing isn't worth the risk.
Public beach access parking sits along Lawai Road near the Kiahuna Plantation condos, a short walk from the sand.
A paved public access path leads from the road to the beach, with soft sand the rest of the way to the water.
Summer's calm water is the better season for snorkeling past the point, while winter's occasional bigger south swells can stir up sediment closer to shore.
More Hawaii beaches
Waikiki Beach
Honolulu, HI · Hawaii
4 access points
The beach that put Hawaii surfing on the map, with gentle, forgiving waves for beginners, Diamond Head crater as a backdrop, and a reef that keeps the water calm most of the year.
Lanikai Beach
Kailua, HI · Hawaii
A quiet, residential-neighborhood beach on Oahu's windward side, with powder-soft sand, turquoise water, and two small offshore islets (the Mokulua) as a paddling destination.
Poipu Beach
Koloa, HI · Hawaii
A sheltered, sunny south-shore beach on Kauai split into a calm swimming lagoon and a livelier surf side, with a good chance of spotting Hawaiian monk seals resting on the sand.