Hideaways Beach(Pali Ke Kua Beach)

Located below oceanfront cliffs in northern Kauai, Hideaways Beach – also called Hideaway Beach, Pali Ke Kua Beach, and Kenomene Beach – is a crescent-shaped 300-feet long beautiful beach with light brown sand, many black lava rocks, a rocky outcrop, a few large rock formations, a nearby coral reef, many nearby trees, and a nearby rock wall.  Hideaways Beach is located below two blufftop condominium complexes named the Pali Ke Kua Condos and Puu Poa Condos. 

Hideaways Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so please plan accordingly. 

Hideaways Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, swimming, surfing, jet-skiing, scuba diving, boogie boarding, snorkeling, wakeboarding, bodysurfing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, and wildlife watching.  The water here occasionally has manageable waves, particularly during summers – this makes it ideal for slightly less-experienced swimmers.  Snorkelers and scuba divers also visit this beach to explore the local marine biodiversity – depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals here including sea turtles, rare Hawaiian monk seals, and many varieties of fish.  The nearshore part of the water at this beach is particularly ideal for snorkelers and it offers a fun Hideaways Beach Kauai snorkeling experience – the eastern part of the beach is best for snorkeling.  Snorkelers and scuba divers also frequently explore the spur and groove geomorphic formations in the reefs nearby.  

Expert surfers also occasionally surf near the beach during winters.  If you are planning to surf or snorkel at Hideaways Beach Kauai, we recommend being careful because the water here can have unpredictable rip currents and dangerous waves, particularly during winters – the ocean bottom near the right side of the beach is known to have particularly low underwater visibility.  In addition, the water here also has a rocky bottom and this makes water activities even more difficult.  If you want to rest after engaging in activities here, there are many mangrove and palm trees near the beach that provide shade.  This beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quiet beach experience because it sees fewer visitors as compared to other nearby beaches.

Hideaways Beach does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Hideaways Beach in Kauai can be difficult because of its steep and rugged access trail – from Hawaii Route 560, which is also called Kuhio Highway – you need to turn towards Ka Haku Road.  Hideaways Beach’s free public parking lot – that has around 10 parking sites – is located near the end of Ka Haku Road.  We recommend visiting here early because this small parking lot can get filled up quickly.  Once you park here, you need to walk along a steep, narrow, and uneven hiking trail with stairs and broken railings that lead down to the beach.  We recommend visiting this beach wearing flip-flops or any other sturdy footwear because of the rugged and steep trail.  In addition, this access trail can also get slippery after rains.  If you are staying in the nearby Pali Ke Kua Condos, you can take an alternate option to access the beach – there is a separate concrete Pali Ke Kua Beach access path leading to the beach which starts from within the condominium complex premises.  

Some experienced kayakers also kayak to this beach from the nearby Puu Poa Beach, Black Pot Beach Park, and Wai’oli Beach Park.  We recommend visiting Hideaways Beach during low tide because during high tide the sandy portions of this beach can become submerged.

If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, Hideaways Beach offers excellent Instagram-worthy views of Kauai’s north shore and the Pacific Ocean.  

There are many attractions near Hideaways Beach.  Hanalei Pier is a pier that was built in 1912 and it offers amazing views of the northern Kauai shoreline and the Pacific Ocean.  This pier is also an amazing fishing site and you can catch many kinds of fish here – this pier was also featured in the 1957 movie South Pacific.  Queen’s Bath is a natural tidal pool that was earlier only used by Hawaiian nobility for bathing purposes.  While the area around this natural rocky pool is infamous for having dangerous rip currents, it offers an interesting insight into local history, geology, and biodiversity.  Waioli Huiia Church and the Waioli Mission House were built in the 1830s and have architectural influences from the mainland United States – the beautiful Waioli Huiia Church has stained glass windows.  The house and the church offer a unique insight into the vibrant history of Hawaii.  

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is a 917-acre refuge that was established to protect endangered local bird species, including the Hawaiian duck, the Hawaiian coot, and the Hawaiian goose.  You can explore the park’s vibrant coastal biodiversity through a hiking trail named the Okolehao Trail – this wildlife refuge also has a historic rice mill that offers an insight into the local history.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Emmalani Park is a recreational park in the community of Princeville and has many amenities including basketball courts, pickleball courts, a volleyball court, grassy areas, and a restroom. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Hideaways Beach.  1 Kitchen Restaurant is an upscale restaurant that offers many amazing gourmet dishes including seafood, pancakes, salads, wraps, burgers, and steaks.  Happy Talk Lounge Restaurant & Bar is a restaurant and bar that offers excellent sandwiches, burgers, barbecued ribs, poultry dishes, and seafood – the restaurant also offers live music performances.  Hideaways Pizza Pub is an Italian restaurant that offers excellent pizzas. In addition, it also offers delicious salads and desserts.  Tahiti Nui serves amazing pizzas, steaks, seafood, different types of pastas, barbecued ribs, Hawaiian-style dishes, and salads – this restaurant has also been featured in the George Clooney movie The Descendants.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant,  Sandwich Isle serves a variety of amazing sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Hideaways Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 5-Star 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay – formerly called the Princeville St. Regis Hotel – offers many amenities including a spa, multiple restaurants and bars, multiple pools (including an infinity pool), a hot tub, valet parking (available for a fee), a fitness center, a salon, and a retail shop.  The 4-Star The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas offers many amenities including a bar, a grocery store, a restaurant, four pools, three hot tubs, exercise classes, and a spa.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas that offers many amenities including a fitness center, a basketball court, multiple pools, multiple hot tubs, a firepit, movie rental facilities, and a guest-use computer.  The 3-Star Hanalei Bay Resort is another moderately-priced hotel that offers many amenities including two pools, multiple tennis courts, a hot tub, water sports equipment rentals, laundry facilities, and a bar.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the Ali'i Kai Resort that offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a pavilion, a picnic area, a sunbathing area, and barbecue grills.