Glass Beach(Port Allen)

Located on the shores of Hanapepe Bay on the island of Kauai, in the Hanapepe industrial area near Port Allen Harbor, Glass Beach is a small rocky basaltic shoreline with millions of sea glass pieces - brown, aqua-colored, clear green, and blue.  The gas tanks of the nearby refinery are visible from one side of the beach, which hinders the ethereal atmosphere of the shoreline.  More than a century ago, this beach was chosen as a location to dispose of many of Kauai's unwanted industrial items, including huge metal buildings, windows, shattered bottles, and auto glass.  The majority of the glass that washed up on this beach was made of broken vehicles and bottle glass that were dumped years ago and have been smoothened by moving ocean water and time.  It is a result of both garbage dumping and a special geological formation called the Swiss Cheese Shoreline that serves as the anvil upon which the waves smash the broken glass to create the famous sea glass found on the beach.  It takes the ocean between 10 and 30 years to produce each piece of frosted sea glass, and the resulting fragment is a frosted, jelly bean-like pebble.  In addition, there is a rugged path leading to McBryde Sugar Plantation Cemetery near the beach.  

Glass Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly.  Dogs are not allowed here, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.  

Glass Beach offers a couple of fun activities including beachcombing and watching monk seals.  If you are planning to go in the water near the beach, swimming is not recommended here, as the ocean bottom is rocky and the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents.  Glass Beach is a perfect beach for beachcombers, as they can explore millions of sea glass pieces. It is important to note that visitors are requested to not take any of the sea glass so that people like you can enjoy it for a long time.  Visitors may see Hawaiian monk seals resting on the beach - these animals are protected by 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, Glass Beach is perfect for visitors seeking a quiet experience as this beach sees fewer visitors than other nearby beaches.

Getting to Glass Beach is easy - the beach has free street parking spots located at the end of Aka Ula Street, which is accessible by Highway 541.  After parking, you will need to walk a few minutes to the beach.

There are many attractions near Glass Beach.  Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail is a two-mile long, rugged seaside trail on Kauai's southern coastline.  The trail begins at Shipwreck's Beach and ends at Punahoa Point.  Hikers can explore rugged sea cliffs, secluded coves, dunes, tide pools, sculpted lava formations, native plants, and petroglyphs.  In addition, visitors can spot whales and endangered monk seals in the water.  It is important to note that the trail does not have any amenities, so carry plenty of water.  Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji is a Buddhist temple that is surrounded by lush green vegetation of native Hawaiian plants and a Buddha sculpture built in 1903.  The temple originally served the Japanese labourers who came to the area to work in the sugarcane fields.  Although the place is off-limits to the general public on normal days, visitors are welcome to celebrate with the community every August for their annual Bon Dance festival.  This is a festive, 500-year-old tradition where residents honor the spirits of their ancestors by dancing to the beat of Taiko drums.   If you are looking for another attraction near Glass Beach, Hanapape Swinging Bridge is situated on the river Hanapape.  It is a 19th-century ancient bridge that still rocks back and forth with the wind and provides a thrilling river crossing opportunity. Unfortunately, Hurricane Iniki damaged the bridge, and later, after four years, it was reconstructed.  During the night, the structure lights up and offers spectacular views.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Glass Beach.  MCS Grill is a family restaurant that serves incredible nachos, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, steak, barbecued ribs, loco moco, shrimp, seafood, pork, and poultry dishes.  Port Allen Sunset Grill & Bar serves salads, curries, nachos, steak, saimin, seafood, pork, and chicken dishes.  Paco’s Tacos Authentic Mexican Food Inc. serves delicious burritos, quesadillas, nachos, tacos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, shrimp, seafood, and desserts.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Glass Beach, Unko’s Kitchen serves Hawaiian-inspired dishes including eggs, steaks, pancakes, French toast waffles, burgers, sandwiches, loco moco, saimin, shrimp, tacos, tempura, pork, beef, seafood, and poultry dishes. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Glass Beach, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale oceanfront hotel, the 4.5-Star  Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spais 25 minutes away by car and offers many amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, a fitness center, a luxury spa, a golf course, and several restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection which offers many amenities including three outdoor pools with a waterfall, hot tubs, a Japanese-style soaking tub, a spa, a fitness center, a volleyball court, restaurants, and complimentary yoga classes.  Another moderately priced option is the 3-Star Aston at Poipu Kai which offers many amenities including outdoor, tennis courts, restaurants, and a barbecue grills facility.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Glass Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star The Kauai Inn offers a few amenities including an outdoor pool and a complimentary breakfast.