Top 10 Secret Beaches

When the beach is actually known as “ Secret Beach” it has to be #1. Kauapea Beach is located at the bottom of a cliff just north of Kilaua (near Princeville). It’s about a ten minute journey down the trail, winding throughs trees and brush. And do we mean down. The beach really is at the base of a sheer cliff, so the hike down can be tricky. Don’t try it if it’s been raining that day, as the mud becomes as slippery as ice. It’s a beautiful place for a private picnic lunch. The trek back up the cliff will probably take between 15-20 minutes.

Located in Hana, this beach can be a little tricky to get to but well worth the adventure. There’s a trail that starts just past the “No Trail” sign (just ignore it... everyone else does). The trail can be slippery in spots, but if Hillary Clinton could navigate it during her visit to Maui I wouldn’t worry too much about it. All told it’s about a five-minute walk down to the beach. You’ll be glad you did it when you get there, though, as this is one of the most unique looking beaches on the Islands. The dark red contrasting with the bright blue/green of the ocean is truly a sight to behold.

This beach is tucked away neatly at the base of a cliff on Kauai’s northshore. The trail starts about 50 yards from the Princeville Resort’s parking area. The first half of the path consists of stairs, but it then turns into a trail the rest of the way. It’s about a 5-10 minute journey to the bottom. The beach is usually deserted and is a great spot for snorkeling, swimming or a romantic picnic. Bring your camera!

Sounds inviting, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, it’s not as gruesome as it sounds. The beach’s namesake (two slaughterhouses built by Honolua Ranch) were torn down in the mid 1960’s, but the name stuck. You can find this beach past Kapalua after the 32 mile marker. It’s located on a protected marine preserve, so we don’t recommend touching any of the marine life unless you don’t mind paying the $25,000 fine. The beach is quite secluded and is a great spot for snorkeling, body boarding and scuba diving.

This beach may be small, but it’s incredibly beautiful. You’ll notice a rock wall just south of Big Beach in Makena. Across from telephone pole #E2-3, which is the first telephone pole past Big Beach, you’ll see a hole in the wall big enough to walk through (don’t worry, it’s public access). On the other side is a little sliver of sand with incredible views of Molokai and Kaho’olawe.

Don’t worry, the donkeys once visible hauling seed cane to the nearby sugar plantations are long gone. This used to be a popular nudist beach because of its seclusion, but the land owners are working hard to end this practice. You can, however, expect a small cove excellent for snorkeling over the little hill just north of the stream. To get here you go a half mile north of mile 11 in Kapaa. From here it’s about a 10 minute walk to the beach. As you get to the shoreline, head right to get to the sandy part of the beach.

This beach up on the Kohala Coast isn’t as well known as the Hapuna or Mauna Kea beaches, but it’s just as nice. There’s even a little cove to the north of the main beach which is a perfect spot for a romantic lunch. Snorkeling is great here, too.

While this isn’t really a “secret” beach, it is missed by a lot of first-time visitors to Oahu, or those who only stay within the confines of Waikiki. The beach is past Diamond Head on the eastern shore. Snorkeling here is among the best in Hawaii. You can even get fish food to feed the fish, as they will come right up to you. The visibility is good, the variety of fish is excellent and you can escape the hustle and bustle of Waikiki for a while.