Kiahuna Beach(Poipu Beach, Sheraton Beach)

Located in the southern portion of the island of Kauai, Kiahuna Beach, also called Sheraton Beach and Poipu Beach, is a large, popular, and narrow south facing crescent-shaped beach with light brown sand and many nearby palm trees and a few nearby reefs. This beach is situated near two oceanfront resorts, Kiahuna Plantation Resort and the Sheraton Kauai Resort. The eastern and western ends of Kiahuna Beach are rocky and the western end of the beach has a rocky outcropping near it which is named Cowshead. It is important to note that Kiahuna Beach shares its alternative name with another nearby beach called Poipu Beach, both the beaches are separate. In addition, some people also believe that Kiahuna Beach is a part of Poipu Beach. It is important to note that this is incorrect and both the beaches are separate. 

Although Kiahuna Beach does not have lifeguards, it has many other amenities including water sporting equipment rental facilities, restrooms, showers, and a nearby grassy area.

Kiahuna Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, picnicking, wildlife watching, swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, scuba diving, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, paddleboarding, parasailing, and wakeboarding. The water near Kiahuna Beach is usually unsafe for beginner swimmers and kids because it has dangerous rip currents and occasional strong sneaker waves, particularly in summer. The offshore water near Kiahuna Beach is particularly dangerous for less experienced swimmers. In addition, the rocky shoreline around Kiahuna Beach can cause injuries. However, despite the unfavorable water conditions, strong swimmers can sometimes swim in the nearshore portion of the water at Kiahuna Beach because it is protected by reefs and has a sandy bottom. In addition, less-experienced surfers and bodyboarders visit this beach as it offers manageable yet fun waves. The summer season is particularly ideal for beginner surfers. Expert surfers and bodyboarders also surf the waves at the offshore part of the water here. The portion of the beach near the Sheraton Kauai Resort is particularly popular with expert surfers and bodysurfers. The western end of Kiahuna Beach is also popular with talented surfers. Experienced snorkelers also visit Kiahuna Beach to explore its vibrant marine biodiversity. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near Kiahuna Beach including sea turtles, migrating whales between November and March, Hawaiian monk seals, and many kinds of fish including boxfish, needlefish, cornetfish, and wrasses. The eastern end of Kiahuna Beach is particularly ideal for snorkelers.

Getting to Kiahuna Beach is easy. From Hawaii Route 520 (also called Maluhia Road), you need to turn towards Koloa Road (which is a part of Hawaii Route 530) and then towards Poipu Road. From Poipu Road, you need to turn towards Lawai Road and then towards Hoonani Road. The small free parking lot for Kiahuna Beach is located at the end of Hoonani Road. In addition, there are also a few parking spaces near the beach. We recommend being careful while parking at Kiahuna Beach because some of the parking areas near the beach are solely reserved for the guests of nearby hotels. As an alternative parking option, you can park at the free parking lot for the nearby Poipu Beach and then walk to Poipu Beach. Once you reach Poipu Beach, you can walk east along the shoreline during low tide to visit Kiahuna Beach. We recommend visiting Kiahuna Beach early, particularly during weekends as the beach can occasionally get crowded.

There are many attractions near Kiahuna Beach.  Moir Gardens is a collection of botanical gardens which were first developed in the 1930s. A distinctive feature of this site is that the gardens are situated in a drier portion of the Hawaiian archilegapo, and mainly non-native cacti and succulent plants prominently grow here rather than the native Hawaiian tropical vegetation. The Moir Gardens have also been featured in many publications including the book Great Gardens of America and Life and Sunset magazines. Additionally, there are lava rock ponds with Japanese koi fish and water lilies. Kiahuna Golf Club has an 18 hole golf course - this golf course was designed by  Robert Trent Jones IIand it has architectural influences from Native Hawaiian villages. This course offers a fun and challenging oceanfront golf session. If you like hiking or biking, Hapa Trail is a major local hiking/biking trail whose southern end is near Kiahuna Beach. This historic 150-year-old trail was a major connecting road between the na ahupua’a (which are traditional Hawaiian land divisions) of Kōloa and Weliweli and it currently offers a fun biking/hiking experience. In addition, this road also offers a unique insight into the vibrant history of southern Kauai. If you are looking for another attraction near Kiahuna Beach, Spouting Horn Park is a park that has a blowhole named Spouting Horn which can shoot water up to a height of 50 feet in the air. This blowhole also apparently makes a hissing and roaring sound. According to Native Hawaiian legends, this sound is made by a large lizard named Kaikapu, who was tricked into trapping itself into the blowhole by a little boy named Liko. This blowhole can be lethal to visitors who stand too close to it, and we recommend watching it shoot up water from a nearby observation area.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kiahuna Beach.  Eating House 1849 Koloa offers excellent Hawaiian and Asian-inspired gourmet dishes including salads, steaks, poultry dishes, burgers, seafood, noodles, and rice bowls. Keoki’s Paradiseoffers amazing dishes for lunch and dinner including seafood, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pork ribs, soups, risotto, steaks, poultry dishes, and ravioli. The restaurant also offers hula performances almost every night. RumFire is a popular waterfront restaurant that offers amazing dishes for lunch and dinner including seafood, sandwiches, burgers, onion rings, tacos, and steaks. Anuenue Cafe serves excellent breakfast dishes, including French toasts, eggs, fried rice, and sandwiches. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kiahuna Beach, Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hot Dogs serves amazing Hawaiian-style hot dogs (called Puka Dogs). This restaurant has also been praised by many media outlets including Bon Appétit magazine and the American commercial publication Nation's Restaurant News. In addition, it has been listed as one of the top 10 hot dog stands in the United States by the Travel Channel.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kiahuna Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa offers many amenities including multiple pools, a 24/7 fitness center, a 45,000-square feet spa, and multiple restaurants and bars. The hotel also offers kids’ activities and evening luau ceremonies. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Sheraton Kauai Resort offers many amenities including an airport shuttle service, a Hawaiian restaurant, a bar, a fitness center, two pools surrounded by tropical gardens, and a hot tub. This restaurant also organizes fun luau ceremonies. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Kiahuna Plantation Resort which offers accommodation in condominiums and many amenities including beautiful gardens and access to Poipu Beach Athletic Club. This club offers many amenities including a restaurant, a pool, and a tennis court. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kiahuna Beach, Poipu Beach SurfSong is located conveniently close to some of the major attractions and restaurants in the town of Poipu.