South Shore county beach with life guard on duty. Restrooms, public showers and no shortage of parking. The current isn't too rough and excellent for children to get first time exposure to the surf and tide. Couple of sea turtles lurking around which draws a lot of attention. Most definitely a must or return beach. read more

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Headed out here on a weekday and was able to get a parking spot fairly easily. No hiking involved to get to the beach and the shower/facilities are right there! Very family friendly water with some shallow sand areas for the kiddies. If you are a snorkeler, going out just about 10 feet out you will start seeing some fish! Watch out for the rocks below when you go out deeper. Fun in the sun and tan on the bun! read more

This beach is great for kids... Which means there are a shitload of kids here. With mellow, protected areas for swimming it's easy to understand why there are so many little ones. Snorkeling is mediocre inside the protected area, and even over on the other side of the spit, where some surfing/bodyboarding is possible, there still isn't much to see underwater. Take this with a grain of... sand, though. I was here in winter, when visibility was low. But I didn't see much in the way of anything interesting as far as reefs go. Sand at this beach is a decent medium grain. There's a sweet area on the sand bar spit of land to post up, but definitely no protection from the sun out there. In fact, not much of this beach provides for shade, so best to bring an umbrella or be ready to set up back on the grassy area on the east side of the beach. Amenities at the park include shower, bathrooms, playground and picnic areas. The crowds here can probably get predictably large since it's such a pretty and safe beach, and it's situated right next to a bunch of hotels and condos. Definitely not my favorite beach on the island but so pretty! read more

Beautiful beach, excellent place to snorkel in the South Shore. We lived just minutes away from this beach. So on Christmas morning while everyone else on the island was opening up presents, we made our way over to the beach (left side!) to snorkel. Right side is deep, left side is shallow - great for kids. We ended up seeing turtles on the left side. And on one occasion, there was a Monk Seal. Some officials basically asked everyone to get out of the water... pretty cool creature! read more

This was one of the busier beaches we visited but still not too overcrowded. Parking is not a problem and there's shops and restaurants nearby. We rented some snorkel gear and headed in the water. The water is shallower but as soon as we got in we saw tons of fish everywhere. This is a great snorkeling spot for kids and beginners b/c not only is it shallow but the water is calm and you can stay near shore and still see tons of beautiful sea life. You might even see some sea turtles! The guy on the beach next to us said he saw a huge one and we could see one swimming off shore while we were on the beach. read more

Poipu Beach is a good 5 minutes from my (mom's) house (by car). So yes if I'm ever at the beach, it's safe to say I'm at this one. There are generally two parking lots (one of which is technically for Brennecke's Beach Broiler & Deli located across from the beach), but they fill up pretty quick especially with this side of the island booming with tourists. So if you don't get here early, be prepared to possibly park on the side of the road (& don't worry, there's a pretty generous amount of space). This beach is great for the family, and almost any beach activity you can think of whether it's surfing, snorkeling, bodyboarding, swimming, or simply just beachcombing. There's even a little playground for kids who might not be in the mood to swim. It also has all the facilities you would need. Pavilions which are perfect for parties (first come, first serve), simple grills for bbqing, restrooms (beware though, they might not be the cleanest), & showers. 31 Yelps Review Challenge: #22/31 read more

A great beach with facilities! The only downside is the crowd. I guess I'm spoiled by the quieter (children-less) North side beaches! The beach is huge with really shallow waters and reefs. It's great for sun bathing, which I did, and some snorkeling! The restrooms are pretty well kept, but the Parking does fill up! Luckily, we got there early and beat the afternoon crowd. read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Wow what a great beach for the whole family! While we are an older couple In Our 60s this beach was filled with all age wane of people doing all kinds of things. We went snorkeling and loved it. Not a huge number of fish but still a goodly amount. And break out the fish food they sell in stores and the fish SWARM the area! There is a safe place for small children to play where the waves are gentle. And a place to snorkel and further down even surf if conditions are right. We saw all of that. The beach has a few stores to rent equipment right at the beach there is a snack shop and a full restaurant. It's an easy lovely drive from the hotels in Wailua or Kapaa. It may take 20 min. But it's well worth it! You won't be sorry!! read more

Love this beach. I enjoyed tunnels beach a bit more in a summer month, but in the colder November time this beach was sunny with calmer waters while the north side was rainy with high surf advisories. This became a great place to get in the ocean and still see some sea life. There are two tiny, decent parking lots which help as well. read more

Pros 1. Clean sand 2. Lots of fish to see 3. Excellent place to learn how to snorkel, especially for young children 4. Monk seals like to hang out 5. Super clean restrooms 6. Lots of shower stations 7. Close to the Marriot if you want to grab a bite to eat 8. Parking easy and close as long as you arrive by 1000 am 9. Very gradual ocean entry 10. Lifeguard on duty Cons 1. Parking difficult if you arrive in the afternoon 2. No food trucks 3. Crowded ( for a reason) 4. You will use a whole can of sunscreen, the sun is intense. 5. Need swim shoes or else you will theash your feet read more

poipu beach is one of the top beaches in the nation! there's something to accommodate everyone. -pavilions for shade while eating lunch, or having a beach bbq with friends. -facilities (restroom/changing) -keiki pool -keiki playground -showers -lifeguards poipu can get crowded, but it's definitely a beautiful beach! one of my top picks, especially if i'm on the south side. plus, brennecke's deli is located right across the street, so you can grab a cold drink or some shave ice!! read more

After an expensive "snorkel trip," where we saw few fish, we rented our own equipment (Snorkel Bob's, the only way to go) and came here, to Poipu Beach. Easy access, nice sand (at water's edge) and lots of fish. If you're not snorkeling, don't forget there's lots of rocks on the bottom, many big ones you wouldn't want to run your foot into. Great place for families with kids. read more

What a phenomenal beach especially if you have little ones. We discovered this awesome beach unfortunately on our fourth day in Kauai and kicked ourselves for having not discovered it sooner. We were even fortunate enough to see a monk seal on the beach. Fantastic spot for kiddos as the water is very shallow and the beaches are very clean. It's definitely popular among families you can tell! read more

Awesome swimming cove with beautiful views and perfect sandy beaches. Come early to get a spot and setup for the day! Not too eaarly, as it does rain everyday in Kauai! read more

This is a great beach for everyone. Clear, warm water with great snorkeling, a lifeguard, walking distance to shaved ice and snacks, never had a problem with getting parking (went multiple times including noon on a Saturday), lots of places to sunbathe, etc. I saw 3 turtles (of course when I was done snorkeling doh!) from the sand once. Touristy and crowded? Yes, but worth it. read more

Beautiful beach. Super crowded though. Then it ended with some dude who thought it was cool to bring his bongo and start playing the drum when I was trying to relax. Go away dude. No one wants to hear it..... read more

Poipu Beach - Go home drummer boy - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Wondeful beach for those shy of huge surf or rough waves. Warm water; a little windy. There were sea turtles swimming in the reef close enough to people that they could touch them (but you're not allowed). Lots of little keikis which is fine except when you see a mother washing her infant's butt in the same water that I'm swimming in even though there are facilities on the grounds. WTF. Oh well. Dilution is the solution to pollution. read more

Really beautiful beach; enjoyed walking out the small sand spit to the little island. Wish we could have spent more time here. Hoping to see some monk seals, but none when we were there. read more

Poipu Beach - Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Came here to snorkel. It was my first snorkeling and had a great experience. Saw lots of fish and turtle. I think that this beach is not ideal for a very beginner like me, but luckily in my case I had an experienced person who helped me. However, just laying down and relaxing here is also good. read more

Best place to have dinner picnic and watch the sunset go down. Unfortunately, u have to share it with a big group of other people too. Get there couple of hours early so u can find the perfect spot but don't get mad if some nice couple places their mat down right in front of you. Make sure to have a super huge blanket just in case that happens to you... read more

Poipu Beach - Our sunset - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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I don't know how to review beaches really. But this place is awesome. Check it out, or make a dumb mistake. read more

This beach doesn't need a long review. So I am going to keep it short. You will be done reading this in less than a minute. Great beach to just lay under the sun and work on your tan. Good for snorkeling.Great for surfing!!! Amazing! Awesome! Need I say more? read more

the best beach sand my toesies have ever had the privilege to step in. So rich, like buttah! Ok, I dont know what that means exactly, but the sand just feels luxurious against my feet. there are tiny little sea shells that i adored picking from the sand like a 5 year old, care free and completely absorbed :) And of course, the chickens are everywhere and i love them! one of my favorite sensations of the hawaii trip was walking up and down inbetween the crests of sand, with the waves coming towards me from each side of me. It's an awesome memory, thank you poipu beach! read more

This is a great family beach. There's something for everyone here. The beach (to me) is kind of broken up into areas, depending on your hotel or where you stay. Example, the cool tidal kiddie wading area is actually by Brennekke's, then there's a little bit more of "wave" and bigger kid action by the Sheraton area. Overall, the water quality (on August 2012 was super, super clear), sand softness and swimable surf makes this a good time for all. Not sure about snorkeling coz I was with a toddler the whole time and let me tell you, he loved it just as much as I did. Good times by all! However, I'm not terribly sure if there's public facilities located around. I personally didn't see any by the kiddie tidal/wading area and we stayed at the Sheraton so...there ya go. =) read more

5 star for the beautiful picturesque beach 3 star for the corals It really depends then what you're here for. This is a popular spot to go snorkeling, or just to walk around. Definitely not a swimming beach, at least not on the shore. The corals are everyyywhheerrre. And they are sharp. So wear your watershoes unless you want to get poked like me a hundred times. Otherwise, most people bring their snorkeling gear and it is a perfect spot for that indeed. Or you can just walk around the beach. It is so beautiful. Or just sunbathe, perfect for that also. I personally like Hanalei beach better. It's the most zen spot in all the island (unless you're not a beach person) but this beach looks better from the sky, and it is better for advertisement photos, i guess. read more

This is such a beautiful beach!! Clear blue waters with the best snorkeling on the island! The fish are great too, they get very close to you! The tide got a little rough but it was still okay:) picture perfect beach for Kauai ! We got food at the bar and a few drinks before enjoying the water. A must go see:) read more

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There's a reason why this beach was rated the BEST beach of ALL of the states!!! -- Great for kids! -- Great for snorkeling! -- Great for sunbathing! -- Parking was ample! -- The scenery was majestic! What more can you ask for from a beach??? Just amazing. I wish I had time to go there one more time before I left paradise! HK's advice: -- bring your underwater camera here because you will take ALOT of shots! read more

This beach is rocken rather well for the most part. There are some great tidepools, a lifegaurd tower, a great kids zone, and a nice park (picnic tables and playground). Overall this is a great place. However the concrete round tables next to the playground are chipping badly. In spots all the way to some rebar. Additionally the dangerous thing (WEAR WATER SHOES) is that there are sharp lava rocks under the water. Step on them at your your own risk! Some great views, a lot of chickens, bathrooms and rinse off locations (granted I didnt use either or go into the bathrooms) and some beautiful vistas. You can even see whales just offshore here (I DID!). Overall my daughter and I really enjoyed it here. read more

ABSOLUTELY LOVE POIPU. True, it gets packed. You will have people literally sitting on your lap kicking sand in your face. But you won't care. You're in Hawaii. There is always ample parking.. we never ever had issues parking here. They have restroom facilities which are amazing for those who don't want to do their business in the ocean (face it, we've all done it!) or have kids. Watching the sunset here is breathtaking. Be sure to stay for it. It's worth 5 stars alone just for the sunset. read more

This is the prettiest beach I've seen in Kauai! This was the first beach I've went to in Kauai and absolutely fell in love. The sand was warm, the water was crystal blue, the scenery was lovely. Oh my goodness. I can't get enough of this beach. I went snorkeling here with my boyfriend and the water was very clear! There are some spots that are murky though, so just change spots. While I was snorkeling, I saw many schools of fish and fish that I've never seen before. It was really cool! My boyfriend was also fishing here by the rocks. You have to be careful though because the waves are pretty strong and can make you fall over. He caught a fish every time he threw his line out. He didn't keep any fish though; he just caught and released. He caught some really interesting and pretty fish! Hawaiian Monk Seals are always swimming by and laying on the sand. They're so cute! You can't get near them though because they're an endangered species. The lifeguards create a barrier around the Hawaiian Monk Seals so you can watch them at a distance. A lot of people like to crowd around when the Hawaiian Monk Seals sunbathe. The sunsets here are lovely. The most beautiful sunset I've seen ever. When you come here, you must stay until the sun sets! I promise you, you won't regret it. If you happen to be in the area, definitely stop by this beach! You can tan, surf, snorkel, fish, anything! I recommend you coming here! read more

What did we not do at Poipu beach? It is a little crowded, but it has some of the best weather on the island. It was raining up in Hanalei, we headed down to Poipu. Need to read for school? Poipu. Want to walk out on a sand bar into the water? Poipu. I definitely suggest watching the sunset here. You can walk out on the sand bar and watch away from the beach (might need to roll up your pants). It was very nice to feel sort of secluded, and we got some great pictures. read more

First time here in Poipu, Kauai and we were looking for a nice beach for the kids without crazy waves. We traveled the entire island with my wife and 2 kids and it seems this island not like others, the beaches are more on the wild side and waves are just too big. Maybe it's the time of year we visited beginning of Aug. Princeville side was ok nothing special, (beach wise) still big waves and ocean is dirty. We were looking for clear water and not big waves for our 7yr old. This is your spot, beach is public and the crowd is random, but they have Palm trees and shade which is a huge plus. A lot of other beaches are just open with no shade at all. It is a bit rocky as you walk in but a few feet in it's clear and shallow, huge waves that are coming in are broken apart by the rocks that sit about 50 feet off the beach. We finally were able to enjoy the ocean and it's clear water. My 7yr old was not afraid to come in and float around. If you have kids and want to swim in the ocean come here! read more

Best family beach, great snorkeling place, lots of different fishes... Tip: wear water shoes to avoid hurting your feet. read more

This is a pretty amazing beach. It is a beautiful area that is good for snorkeling and if your lucky you will be able to see an endangered monk seal on the beach or a sea turtle (we saw both!). The reason for not putting 5 stars is because of the amount of people. It is crazy packed, not just on the beach but in the water. Swimmers, snorkelers, sun bathers, sand castles... I think you get the picture. But if you can look past all of the people it was a pretty awesome beach, especially for kiddos. read more

Crowded with tourists. Used to go here a lot in high school and it was way less crowded. Swimming here is nice, despite it now being really sunblockish and gross sometimes. Good snorkeling. Maybe a little bit of an undercurrent further out cause my dad had to tow me in once. Haha. Dork. Great for kids near the kiddie pool area. Very shallow and protected by waves. Walk out on the rocks and peruse the tide pools. I love that little connecting part from the beach to the tidepools. Fun when it's covered in water. Surf out in the bay is really really fun. Lifeguards on duty. Frequently a beached seal, roped off so you can't bother them. Against the law I believe. Showers, bathrooms, picnic areas, shelters. Lots of parking, well, it gets full, but there is more parking nowadays. Decent beach. read more

This is a nice little beach. It was named one of the 'best in america' by the Travel Channel but, frankly, I don't see it. I think there are many other beaches right on Kauai that are better. (It probably depends a lot on what you are looking for - snorkeling may be good - didn't do that. We did see a monk seal reasting on the beach here. read more

Best beach on Kaua'i to bring small children. One of the best snorkeling beaches around, particularly for beginning snorkelers. Tends to get crowded. Has one of the three tombolos in the state of HI. Gets an extra star for the tombolo. read more

A small stretch of sand but really nice! The sand is soft and clean, as were the waves. We also saw a fat turtle parked on the beach! read more

Poipu Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Perfect spot for picnics with the family. Pretty crowded for swimming.. We hung out here tanning and just snorkels around a bit. Lots of picnic tables, bathroom available and showers. read more

I forgot why did we choose this beach but I'm glad we did!!! It's quite a drive from Kaapa but we went anyway. Lucky for people that stay in Poipu then! 3 reasons why I love this beach. 1. The waves here are ridiculously strong! So it's good for boogie boarding! 2. It's also known as turtles cove beach so you get to see plenty of turtles in the ocean here!! 3. The beach is nice and clean overall And after the beach, you get to snack on a delicious hot dog from Puka Dog nearby! Even better. read more