Nawiliwili Stream/Kalapaki Beach Park, Kauai (pictured).In our lead photo, this beach is polluted 100% of the time.
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Kamilo Beach, which translates from Hawaiian to “twisting or swirling currents” is more often known as “Plastic Beach.” It's one of the dirtiest places in the world.
HALEIWA, Hawaii — The Department of Health warned the public of high levels of enterococci at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park on Oahu. Enterococci is fecal bacteria, which comes from human and animal waste and may threaten public health and coral reefs.
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.
East Side BeachesLydgate 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.
Eighty-four percent of Gulf Coast beaches, 70% of West Coast beaches, and 63% of the Great Lakes reached these potentially unsafe levels at least once in 2022.
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.
Report finds that Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina are two of the cleanest cities in the U.S. The American Lung Association's 2019 “State of the Air” report found that Hawaii has some of the cleanest air in the U.S. and Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina are two of the cleanest areas in the country.
The north shore remains mostly untouched and is best for nature lovers and honeymooners. South shore is the best access point for visiting Waimea Canyon and is close to the airport. The north is the gateway to the world famous Napali Coast.
While the south shore is swimmable year-round, the summer months can bring choppier waters to Kauai beaches on the south end. As a result, in the summer, you'll find the best beaches for swimming on the north end of Kauai, where you can swim in Hanalei Bay and Ke'e Beach worry-free.
Finding the Best Kauai Snorkeling LocationsIn 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.
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).
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.
In all that litter, there is one item more common than any other: cigarette butts. Cigarette butts are a pervasive, long-lasting, and a toxic form of marine debris.
Rip CurrentsThey are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore that quickly pull swimmers out to sea. Rip currents typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. The best way to stay safe is to recognize the danger of rip currents.