You can also park at Haena Beach Park and walk two miles along the beach to Tunnels Beach. Due to the distance and coarse sand that can be difficult to walk on, this is only recommended for more athletic people.
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Follow HI-route 56 West out of Hanalei for about 5 miles. After passing mile marker 35 and driving respectfully through the residential area lookout for a sign with “Tunnels” on it as you go left onto Waikanal Rd. Keep an eye out for mile marker 8 which sits near the two small dirt roads that point towards the beach.
First, arrive before 10am when parking is easier to find and the beach is less crowded. My second strategy is to stay at one of our Haena Kauai vacation rentals. Then you can walk over any time of day and enjoy this spectacular beach. Tunnels is teeming with tropical fish both large and small.
You can go swimming or snorkeling, hike along some trails, or even rent a paddleboard for a tour of the area. If you like to fish, there are plenty of opportunities here. Fishing can also be gratifying at this beach because it is surrounded by a reef system that provides food for many different types of marine life.
It's said that Tunnels Beach has the best snorkeling on the island which means it is a perfect beach for the “in-between” family that has both older kids who want to experience sea life and underwater caverns and younger children who will be happier playing in the sand and shallow, docile waves.
It's advised that novice snorkelers stay close to the shore in the inner reef; only advanced snorkelers should venture to the outer reef. There aren't bathroom facilities at Tunnels Beach, but there are some at the nearby Ha'ena Beach Park, which is a little more than a half-mile southwest.
The wide sand beach offers the easiest entrance into the water. Don't attempt to enter the shallow areas where there are rocks and reef that come all the way up to the beach edge. Large and small Lava tubes form the many underwater caverns give Tunnels it's name as well as a magical underwater world to explore.
Ha'ena State Park starts at Lumahuli Gardens and goes to the end of the road to Ke'e Beach and the Kalalau Trail head. Ha'ena Beach Park is across from the Maniniholo Dry Cave and is a life guarded beach with camping.