Nukoli'i Beach Park

Nukoli'i Beach Park is a long east Kauai shoreline near Lihue, with white sand, hotel-front views, fishing, beach walks and rough swimming conditions.

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Nukoli'i Beach Park, Kauai

Nukoli'i Beach Park, with its 2 miles (3.2 km) of white-sand shoreline, is the longest beach on Kauai's east shore. It starts from where Lydgate Beach Park ends and spans the area fronting the Wailua Golf Course and the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort. The beach provides poor swimming conditions because of surf and currents and because the bottom is rocky and shallow.

However, Nukoli'i Beach offers good snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing opportunities when the ocean is calm. Offshore, a reef provides shelter from waves, but not during the high surf season. Always monitor surf conditions before wading in. There is no lifeguard, so better stay out of the water particularly during the winter months.

Nukoli'i Beach is sometimes referred to as Kauai Beach and sometimes as Kawailoa Beach. This is one of those Kauai beaches that never gets crowded. Most of the time it is rather deserted. Surfers can sometimes be seen here to ride the surf break called Graveyards, while beachcombers find plenty of room and shady spots for a picnic.

In the 1970s, Nukoli'i Beach Park was the last beach between Lihue and Kapa'a to be developed. After years of controversies and political disputes between the county and Committee to Save Nukoli'i, a citizen's group, Nukoli'i was finally developed in 1986 as a beach park complete with facilities. That same year, the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort fronting the beach also opened.

Key Features

Long east Kauai beach near Lihue
About two miles of white-sand shoreline for walking
Main public parking and facilities are at the south end near Kauai Beach Road
Swimming is poor because of surf, currents and shallow rocky bottom
No lifeguards are stationed at Nukoli'i Beach Park
The shoreline fronts Wailua Golf Course and Kauai Beach Resort areas
Fishing and beach walking are better matches than getting in the water
The beach is often less busy than nearby east shore parks
Restrooms and picnic tables are available near the main public parking area
Nukoli'i Beach Park is mainly a long-walk, fishing and shoreline-view beach

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is swimming poor at Nukoli'i Beach Park?

The shoreline has surf, currents and shallow rocky bottom, with no lifeguards nearby. Visitors should treat the beach as a walking and shoreline-view area rather than a swimming beach.

How long is Nukoli'i Beach?

The beach stretches for about two miles along Kauai's east shore, making it one of the longer continuous beach walks in the Lihue and Wailua area.

Where are the public facilities at Nukoli'i?

The main public facilities are at the south end near Kauai Beach Road, where visitors find parking, restrooms and picnic tables.

What should visitors know about the resort-front shoreline?

Parts of the beach front resort and golf course areas, so visitors should stay on the public shoreline and respect nearby hotel and private-property areas.

What is Nukoli'i Beach Park good for?

Nukoli'i is mainly a place for long beach walks, fishing, quiet views and a less crowded east-side shoreline, not a beach for casual ocean swimming.