Nukoli'i Beach Park

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.

Nukoli'i Beach Park Overview

• 2-mile (3.2 km) long sandy beach, longest on Kauai's east coast
• Protected by a wide fringing reef 
• Sand and rock ocean bottom
• Never crowded, usually almost deserted
• Not a good swimming beach (the area fronting the golf course is the best for swimming, if at all)
• Fronts the Wailua Golf Course and Hilton Kauai Beach Resort

Vacation Rentals near Nukoli'i Beach Park

Island Style Living At It's Finest-Kaha Lani

$306

Stylish Tropical Suite w/Bath+Kitchen Upgrades, WiFi, DVD, Lanai–Kaha Lani 113

$257

Island Touches w/Modern Kitchen, Wood Floors, Lanai, Flat Screen, WiFi–Kaha Lani 203

$400

Easy Kauai Living! Lanai to Lawn, Full Kitchen, WiFi, Ceiling Fans–Kaha Lani 102

$206

Cheery Condo Steps from the Surf! Island Style w/Lanai, Kitchen WiFi–Kaha Lani 127

$366

Marriott Kauai Beach Club1 Bedroom Unit Sleeps 4

$548

Stunning One Bedroom Marriott Kauai Beach Club

$647

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Location:

Kauai Beach Road, Lihue HI 96766

Directions: There are three access options. The first one is via a dirt road, which is located between the Wailua Golf Course and the Hilton Kauai Beach Resort (south of mile marker 4). The second access is at the Hilton (the resort is located at the southern end of the beach). And the third access is at the end of Kauai Beach Road (which is paved). This road leads to a small beach parking lot with restrooms and picnic tables.

LIHUE WEATHER

• Facilities at the south end of the beach only (end of Kauai Beach Road)
• Parking
• No lifeguards

• Fishing

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Reviews and Comments:   This is the beach, where my fiance proposed to me on under a banyun tree that he called the Tree of Life :) This is a beautiful beach! In my opinion, the most beatiful beach in the world!!! And I cant wait to go back and visit our special place under that tree for our honeymoon!!! :) Grace, Mon Jan 28, 2013   I've stayed at the condos along this beach, only the locals swim/surf there. The water is ROUGH! Beautiful place to go for a walk on the beach but no swimming, too may rocks! Visitor, Nov 14, 2009