Kealia Beach
Experience Kealia Beach’s surfing, bodyboarding, and rich history on Kauai’s Coconut Coast, with its unique sandbar and picturesque walkway.
Beach Gallery
Things to Know About Kealia Beach
- Overview: Kealia Beach, situated in Kapaa on Kauai’s scenic Coconut Coast, offers visitors a stunning beach experience steeped in history and natural beauty. A must-see for those exploring Hawaii, this beach provides a unique blend of surfing, bodyboarding, and rich cultural heritage.
- Highlights: What sets Kealia Beach apart from other Kauai beaches is its long sandbar that creates excellent waves for surfers and bodyboarders, as well as its historical significance as a former salt mining location and plantation town.
- Activities: Visitors can enjoy surfing and bodyboarding, especially at the northern end of the beach. The paved walkway along the beach also provides a picturesque setting for a leisurely stroll.
- Information: Kealia Beach is open year-round and is free to visit. The best time to visit for swimming and novice bodyboarders is during the summer months when the ocean is calmer. The beach has a spacious parking lot adjacent to the highway for easy access.
- History & Significance: Kealia Beach has a rich history dating back centuries as a site for salt mining, using traditional Hawaiian methods. Its name, meaning “salt bed” or “salt-encrusted area,” reflects this history. Additionally, the beach was once a bustling plantation town with a sugar mill and train depot.
- Tips & Insights: To make the most of your visit to Kealia Beach, be aware that swimming can be limited during times of high surf, particularly in the winter months. For a safer swimming experience, head to the northern part of the beach where a breakwater provides slightly more protected waters. Also, don’t miss the remains of the jetty, once called Kealia Landing, which served interisland steamships supplying plantations.
Getting to the Beach
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