Shipwreck Beach Photos
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Shipwreck Beach, Kauai
Shipwreck Beach on Kauai’s south shore got its name from the small wooden boat that used to lie at the water’s edge for many years. It deteriorated badly over the years, was hit by storms and people stripped it for firewood. When hurricane ‘Iwa hit Kauai in November 1982, it completely destroyed what little remained of the already dismantled boat. Today, only its rusted motor remains, which is sometimes exposed during high surf.
The Hawaiian name of this beach is Keoneloa, meaning “the long sands.” There are some ancient petroglyphs that have been carved into the beachrock shelves here. However, they are covered under sand and are only exposed during very strong southwesterly winter storms, which strip away enough sand to uncover these carvings.
The most prominent feature of Shipwreck Beach is Makawehi Point, a sand-stone cliff on the eastern side of the beach. The beach is about 0.5 miles (800 m) long and and known for its good bodyboarding and windsurfing conditions. Surfers and windsurfers enter the water at the eastern end of the beach near the cliff. During times of high surf, strong rip currents and a powerful shorebreak make swimming dangerous.
Shipwreck Beach Overview
- Good bodyboarding and windsurfing beach
- Location of ancient rock carvings (however, petroglyphs are covered by sand)
Location: End of Ala Kinoiki, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii 96756 Directions: Drive on Poipu Road to its eastern end, where a dirt road begins and leads to an unpaved parking area near Makawehi Point.
