At the end of the road on Kaua’i’s North Shore is Ke’e Beach. Protected by reef, it is an amazing place to snorkel and swim leisurely. This is where the famous rugged Na Pali Coast begins.
In April we visited Ke’e Beach with family. Wade went to the Hanalei Initiative Office to pick up passes for the four of us. He just needed to show his driver’s license. This was a new program for residents and their visitors that doesn’t seem to be in place anymore in 2025.
While residents can ride the shuttle for free and enter Haena Park with their ID, everyone else needs a reservation. This can be done online up to thirty days ahead of time. Reservations get booked up quickly; do check back often as cancellations happen.
We decided to go closer to sunset, when the sun is not as strong and when there are fewer visitors. The parking lot tends to fill up quickly during the day so that’s a consideration. With snacks, drinks, cameras, towels, and chairs packed, we headed out from our parents’ vacation rental in Hanalei.
Going through the park gate was easy, as was finding a parking spot. The boardwalk begins behind the Pavilion where the shuttle drops off and picks up passengers. Following the boardwalk takes you to various signs that point you to the beach or onward to the Kalalau Trail. If I don’t end up hiking this trail, I would like to go one day as far as the waterfall everyone keeps talking about.
Through the trees, we emerged onto the sandy beach and a beautiful reef-protected green sea. Beyond the reef, the waves were crashing in spectacular wave forms. Looking past the cliff on the west end of this moon-shaped beach, I could see the shapes, fans, sprays, and splashes that so many photographers capture here. The way the ocean hits the shoreline creates such beautiful and magnificent and ever-changing shapes. This, I can watch for hours.
We found a spot for our beach chairs and then slowly, one by one we went in for a dip. The beach was not overly packed, though many people were still just getting there. A few were snorkelling, venturing close to where the lagoon opens into the sea on the west side. Some people turned right and walked further down the beach, perhaps for more quiet and a better view of those waves.
I returned from a swim in the cool lagoon and prepped my camera to walk out for some photographs of the ocean. I had forgotten to charge the GoPro my brother gave me and because I didn’t have a housing for this camera, I was careful not to fall in. So I walked out slowly, very slowly and watching where I placed each foot, all the while enjoying the amazing view. Backlit by the sun, the blue of the waves glimmered like gems.
Sunset at Ke’e Beach
Ke’e is known for sunsets so many people were staying for that. There are many spots on Kaua’i where you can see breathtaking sunsets. Some other places you may want to explore include elsewhere on the North Shore and the South Shore, at Poipu Beach, where you may also see monk seals from a safe distance. Also the West Shore, perhaps after a visit to Waimea Canyon. You don’t get much of a sunset view in Kapa’a; however the skies lit up in pinks is also so beautiful. Kealia can often be a great place to see the moon rise. One time, we arrived just as the full moon rose above the sea, so surprising were we at the sight.
Reservations are required to enter Haena Park.
Hanalei Initiative
5-5161 Kuhio Hwy
Suite E-205 Hanalei
www.HanaleiInitiative.org