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Is it safe to swim in Kauai beaches?

Kauai's beaches at times, are exposed to strong waves and rip currents can form without notice. Choose a Kauai beach with a lifeguard. Before entering the water, check for any warning signs indicating hazardous conditions.



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Kauai's beaches at times, are exposed to strong waves and rip currents can form without notice. Choose a Kauai beach with a lifeguard. Before entering the water, check for any warning signs indicating hazardous conditions.

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East Side Beaches Lydgate Pond is located in Lydgate State Park with a large salt-water pool which makes it one of Kaua?i's safest year-round swimming sites. Kealia Beach Park is a half-mile stretch of golden coast that hugs the curve of Highway 56. Its long sand-bar bottom provides a nice surf break.

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Lumahai is the subject of many postcards and paintings, but is also known on island as one of the most dangerous beaches for drownings and is not recommended for swimming. During the summer months the conditions at Luimahai are calmer, but still use caution. Lumahai is exposed to open ocean and strong currents.

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Wailua River, East Side of Kauai “Seriously though, we do see sharks here occasionally,” he adds, which prompts every passenger on the slow boat to the fabled Fern Grotto to look overboard.

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Hanakapi'iai Beach Located on the secluded Na Pali Coast, Hanakapi'ai Beach has been called the most dangerous beach in Hawaii. It's also one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii! The water often looks fine, but a dangerous rip current has swept several people out to sea.

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Finding the Best Kauai Snorkeling Locations In the winter months, Kauai's North Shore gets hit by ocean swells that make snorkeling difficult, but the South Shore is protected by the bulk of the island so it's completely safe to snorkel there in winter.

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Maui is known for its calm waters and great beaches. Some of the beaches in Kauai aren't as swimmable as those in Maui. The water is generally rougher, the swell is larger and some places have strong currents. This is especially true on Kauai's North Shore in winter.

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Nawiliwili Stream/Kalapaki Beach Park, Kauai (pictured). In our lead photo, this beach is polluted 100% of the time.

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The West Side of the island, the leeward coast of Kauai, is drier and the mountains in the center of the island block the rest of Kauai from the rain. This is one of the least visited parts of the island, excluding the sights along Highway 550 (like Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park).

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We do have sea snakes in Hawai'i from time to time that drift in on the currents, but we have a type of eel that looks very similar to a sea snake. Sea snakes are reptiles and they need to breathe air. So when you see one on the bottom within a 30 minute period of time, the snake will swim to the surface to breathe.

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Kauai has gorgeous beaches, but the trick to finding the best beaches depends on the season. In the summer, the north shore has calmer waters. You can swim in Hanalei bay or Tunnels beach without worry. But the south shore has slightly rougher waves during the summer, though usually still swimmable.

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Poipu Beach Park is considered among the safest in Hawaii, with a lifeguard on duty seven days a week. However, you should always check ocean conditions before entering and never be in the ocean alone. For the most up-to-date ocean conditions and safety tips, visit www.kauaiexplorer.com.

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Tips for a Safe Vacation
  • Don't leave valuables in your vehicle. ...
  • Never leave valuables unattended at the beach or pool.
  • Avoid leaving itineraries exposed in vehicles or hotel rooms.
  • Don't display parking passes other than at the intended location.
  • Carry money separately from credit cards.


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Lydgate Beach Park in Lihue is Hawaii's safest beach because of its contained swimming area by a jetty and watchful lifeguards. Due to its shallow and unpolluted seas and the jetty's protection from heavy waves and rip currents, Lydgate Beach Park is one of Hawaii's best toddler-friendly beaches.

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You won't have to worry about crocodiles, grizzly bears, or mountain lions in Hawaii either. There is only one native mammal in Hawaii, the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, all other mammals have been introduced by humans.

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There appears to be an increased risk of being bitten by a shark during certain months, in particular October through December. Early Hawaiians recognized this, and cautioned against going in the water at that time.

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