Tunnels Beach
Haena, HI
Tunnels Beach, officially Makua Beach, curves beneath Kauai's north shore mountains with one of the island's widest fringing reefs just offshore, riddled with the lava tubes that gave the beach its nickname. Snorkelers and divers come for the reef, while a smaller shorebreak on the western end draws surfers and stand up paddlers.
The reef here is one of the best on this coast for snorkeling, but the tiny lot means arriving late in the morning usually means parking a real walk away.
How we score beachesSnorkel the reef on the western half of the beach. The eastern side near the trees has the calmest water for wading but far less to see underwater.
A small dirt lot off Alealea Road fills early, and overflow parking spills onto the roadside shoulder, which the county tickets when it's blocked.
A short, mostly flat sandy walk leads from the lot to the beach, though soft sand and reef rock close to shore make for an uneven water entry.
Summer brings the calmest water and best visibility for snorkeling the reef. Winter's north swells can make the water too rough to see much of anything and bring a stronger current along the reef edge.
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