Go to Polihale State Park

Polihale State Park Information

Polihale State Park is Kauai's westernmost point at the end of Old Mana Rd. and includes both Polihale and Barking Sands beaches to form Hawaii's longest beach - a 17 mile stretch of sparkling white sand that's hundreds of yards wide. It starts just beyond Waimea by Kekaha plantation town and the cliffs of Napali can be seen from the northern end.

Surf, breaks, and currents can be extremely strong since the beach is unprotected from the ocean and waves come crashing in. Swimming is particularly dangerous in the winter but the small, shallow pool called Queen's Pond (near mile marker 3.4 along the cane road) is protected from the waves by a circle of reef and is almost always the safest spot to swim.

The park includes ancient Hawaiian burial and temple sites and a view of the forbidden island of Niihau plus sand dunes that can reach nearly 100 feet high. There are restroom, shower, picnic, and camping facilities but no lifeguard.

Follow signs to Polihale off Hwy. 50, where you'll pass Barking Sands Missile Range and sugar cane fields before you get to the park. Continue onto the dirt road at the end of the paved one but be careful when driving on the sand.