Kauai with Kids: Polihale Beach

1. Polihale State Park refers to the gigantic stretch of sand that marks the start of the Na Pali coastline and it’s quite a sight to behold.
2. Why Polihale? This is one of our favorite places to camp–we set up in time to watch the sun set over Ni’ihau, roast s’mores under the stars, and often wake up with the beach to ourselves. It’s also the perfect spot to hunt for unique shells, paddle around with sea turtles, and greet pods of dolphins (if you’re lucky)! Although, you absolutely don’t have to camp here to experience the magic–I recommend trekking out for an afternoon swim and staying for a sunset picnic.
3. Where is Polihale? Polihale is the final beach on the West Side of the island. It is accessible from the main highway via a five mile long unimproved dirt road i.e. it’s a bumpy ride. Approximately 30 minutes away, Waimea is the closest town to Polihale so be sure to grab anything you might need there.
4. What is the parking situation like? We prefer to park in the lot at Queens Pond–turn left at the Polihale State Park sign under the giant Monkey Pod tree. You can also park further down the main dirt road, either at the campsites (where you will also find restrooms and outdoor showers) or the main lot at the very end. Once you park it’s just a couple minute walk down the dunes to the beach. However, if you have 4WD and are comfortable driving on sand, you can drive the entire stretch of beach (15 miles) to park wherever you want to play!
5. When is the best time to go? We have had spectacular days at Polihale year round but it’s important to note that the ocean conditions are most ideal during the summer. In fact, the surf here can get notoriously rough during the winter. The three things I always check for are rain (this affects the road as well), surf, and wind (I prefer under 10mph). Lastly, my two favorite times of day at Polihale are sunrise and sunset.
6. What should I bring? Beach essentials–sunscreen, shade, swim stuff, and plenty of water. Remember, the nearest store is about 30 minutes away back down the same bumpy road you came in on! When the conditions are right we bring beach toys such as floaties, stand up paddle boards, boogie boards (also great for sliding down sand dunes), surf boards, etc. Lastly, if it’s a hot day you’ll definitely want to bring a pair of slippers (flip flops) for your trek back to the car so you don’t burn your feet! *If you do plan to camp you’ll need to secure a permit from State Parks.
7. What food should I bring? Let’s start with water, you’ll need lots of it. My husband feels the same way about beer. And of course you need all the snacks! Here are a few suggestions specific to the area: poke, seaweed salad, and/or musubi (sells out early in the day) from Ishihara Market or chili pepper chicken combo plate from The Hungry Menehune.
8. Insider advice: If you have 4WD and plan to drive onto the sand be sure to bring along an extra 12-pack of beer to reward the folks who help dig/tow you out in the event you get stuck.
9. Fun fact: During the winter months you can stumble upon an old military tank buried in the sand.
10. Photo tip: If we get lake-like conditions at Queens Pond, the water is smooth and shimmers in the sunlight, I like to shoot with the camera at water level aiming towards the sky.