Glass Beach

Kauai Beach Guide

Glass Beach

Glass Beach in Ele'ele is a small Kauai shoreline near Port Allen, known for smooth sea glass, black rocks, beachcombing and an unusual industrial coastal setting.

Beach Without Shade
Beach Without Shade

Glass Beach, Kauai

Sea glass is glass (e.g. from bottles, flasks, windshields and windows) that has been broken up and smoothened by moving ocean water and time. It takes the ocean about 10 to 30 years to create it, and the resulting fragment is a frosted, jelly bean-like pebble.

Sea glass is found all over the world. Kauai's Glass Beach is located in the middle of an industrial area near Port Allen Harbor in Ele'ele. The shoreline at Glass Beach is covered with millions of sea glass pieces - brown, aqua-colored, clear and blue.

The glass originates from broken bottles and auto glass dumped here years ago. It's amazing to see what the ocean did to all this junk. The one thing that could mar the ethereal effect of Glass Beach is the gas tanks overlooking one side of the beach.

Glass Beach is best for beachcombing only. Swimming is not recommended because the beach is rocky.

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Reviews and Ratings

3.2

Rated 3.2 out of 5 based on 10 rated visitor reviews.

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Karen Emerson

Fri Dec 14, 2018

Visitors, PLEASE don't take the glass off of Glass beach! Too many greedy people have taken most of it and have spoiled the beauty of the beach. You will probably throw it away anyways as people think they are going to make all kinds of stuff and then they never do and it goes into the garbage or sits in a bag in a drawer for years.

Barb

Wed Nov 08, 2017

Very disappointed. People are taking all the glass. Saw one guy take a quart plastic bag full today!
We hardly saw anything! 😪

ellen h

Thu Jun 22, 2017

Found a few small glass pieces but not any outstanding finds. The Japanese cemetery next to the beach was cool to wander through and check out the old headstones. And the view of the waves crashing against the black rocks from that vantage point was fantastic! Even had some spouting holes similar to the Spouting Horn up the coast.

CHARLIE

Fri Apr 28, 2017

If you go to the cemetery just beyond the glass beach and look over the edge of the cliff, you will see where all the glass comes from, look like 100 year old dump with cars, motors, 15 feet deep garage dump, washing into the bay and then up on to GLASS BEACH.

Linda Bakos

Fri Dec 16, 2016

Not a good beach to hunt for sea glass. It's a shame this beach has been picked clean by glass hunters who left none for others to enjoy! The sand is beautiful!
A great place to watch and photograph the sunset

Photo gallery

Browse Glass Beach photos featuring sea glass sand, black shoreline rocks, dirt road access, parking areas and the beach's industrial surroundings on Kauai's south shore.

Location, Parking and Directions

Glass Beach is located off Aka Ula Road in Eleele, HI 96705, near Port Allen on Kauai's south shore. Drive toward the Port Allen area, continue past warehouses on Waialo Road, turn left onto Aka Ula Road and park where the dirt road begins. From there, it is about a two-minute walk to the beach.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Glass Beach located?

Glass Beach is located off Aka Ula Road in Eleele, near Port Allen on Kauai's south shore.

Why is it called Glass Beach?

Glass Beach is named for the smooth sea glass pieces found along the shoreline. The glass came from discarded material that the ocean polished over time.

Is Glass Beach good for swimming?

No. Glass Beach is rocky and has no lifeguards, so swimming is not recommended.

What can you do at Glass Beach?

Glass Beach is best for beachcombing, photography and seeing the colorful sea glass along the shoreline.

Are there facilities at Glass Beach?

No. There are no facilities and no lifeguards at Glass Beach. Parking is available along the roadside or in the dirt parking area near the beach.