Polihua Beach
Lanai City, HI
Polihua Beach stretches for a mile and a half along Lanai's remote northwestern tip, the longest white sand beach on the island and often the quietest, since reaching it means driving well past Keahiakawelo and down four rugged miles of trail. Green sea turtles nest here, and on a clear winter morning humpback whales surface close enough to watch from the sand.
The scale of the sand and the near guaranteed solitude are hard to find anywhere else in the state, but the drive alone keeps most people, locals included, from making the trip more than once in a while.
How we score beachesCome in winter if whales are the draw. They pass close enough to this stretch that you'll spot spouts without binoculars some mornings, though you'll have the whole beach to yourself either way.
There's no lot, just wide sandy pull offs at the end of the trail past Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods). The road demands four wheel drive and high clearance, and most rental companies on the island prohibit it entirely.
Deep, soft sand separates the pull off area from the water, a real trek that isn't manageable for strollers or wheelchairs.
Winter brings the humpback whales offshore and slightly cooler, calmer driving conditions on the trail. Rain any time of year can turn the access road impassable, so check conditions before committing to the drive.
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