Lydgate Beach Park offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, picnicking, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, surfing, scuba diving, bodyboarding, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, snorkeling, kitesurfing, windsurfing, boating, wakeboarding, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, and water-skiing. The double-section pool near Lydgate Beach is extremely popular with beginner swimmers because the water here usually has really mild waves. The smaller inner portion of the double section pool is particularly ideal for small kids because of its shallow depth. Beginner snorkelers also visit Lydgate Beach for exploring its vibrant marine biodiversity - you can see many small tropical fish while snorkeling within the Lydgate Pools including puffer fish and parrotfish. In addition, you can also see many kinds of animals in the water near Lydgate Beach Park including sea turtles, dolphins, migrating whales between December and May, and rare Hawaiian monk seals - it is important to note that sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals are protected under a law named the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and harming them can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and possible imprisonment. In addition to snorkeling, surfers also frequently visit Lydgate Beach Park during summers. Windsurfers and kitesurfers also visit this beach when Kona winds blow in from the southwestern direction - Kona winds usually blow in during the winter season.
If you are planning to surf, swim, or snorkel near Lydgate Beach Park, we recommend being careful because the water beyond the rocky breakwaters is known to seasonally have dangerous rip currents and hazardous waves. In addition, we also recommend staying away from the rocky breakwaters during turbulent water conditions because they can get slippery during this time - any collision with these breakwaters can cause serious injuries. In addition, please note that a large amount of driftwood and debris can also be deposited along the beach’s shoreline - this debris can make water activities difficult and unsafe. If you are planning to fish near Lydgate Beach Park, please ensure compliance with the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of the Division of Aquatic Resources (which is a part of the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources). It is also important to note that fishing here while standing on the breakwaters can be particularly dangerous, especially during turbulent water conditions.
If you like camping, Lydgate Beach Park’s campground offers a fun camping experience. If you want to camp here, you can visit the “Parks & Recreation” section of the official website of the County of Kaua’i for more information regarding the campground charges and camping rules. Lydgate Beach Park also has two large play areas - one of them - the Kamalani Playground - is located in the northern portion of the park and has a 16,000-square feet wooden castle that is fitted with slides, swings, a suspension bridge, and mazes. This play area was built with the efforts of the local community in 1994. Another prominent play area in Lydgate Beach Park is the Kamalani Kai Play Bridge, which is also called Lydgate Kamalani Park II - this play bridge is in the southern portion of the park and it has a giant wooden maze with slides, ramps, and stairways.
If you like biking and skateboarding, The Ke Ala Hele Makalae (meaning “The Path that Goes by Coast” in Hawaiian) is an eight-mile long oceanfront walking and biking path that starts near this park - this path offers a fun jogging, biking, walking, and roller skating session along the east Kauai shoreline. In addition, the trail also has interesting interpretive signs that offer unique information about the local history and culture.
The Wailua Complex of Heiaus is located near the northern end of this beach - this historic site has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and it is also a part of the Wailua River State Park. This complex has remnants of many historical structures including ancient heiaus (which is a Hawaiian temple), pu‘uhonua (that served as places of refuge for those who broke religious laws), Pohaku Ho'ohanau (this structure was used by noble Hawaiian women for giving birth), and a Bellstone (this structure was used for announcing important events). Wailua River State Park also has many other interesting features including a lush river valley, multiple scenic waterfalls, and an interesting fern-covered cave named the Fern Grotto.
