From major cities to the off-the-beaten-track destinations, we’ve got this place covered. We’ll share the hidden gems that only a local can discover.
Kauai’s North Shore,
5-10 minutes north of Hanalei on Highway 56
Haena Beach Park is a favorite camping spot for both visitors and locals. Located on the very end of the North Shore of Kauai, the park sits at the edge of the Na Pali coast and is just a short walk to the famous snorkeling and swimming beach Tunnels. Haena is a small park (about 5.5 acres) situated just at the base of a green velvet coasted mountain looking out over turquiose colored surf. It offers a grassy picnic area with tables and benches, restrooms, cold showers, shady trees and camping spots.
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Kauai’s North Shore,
Approximately 5-10 minute drive from Hanalei
The post-card perfect scenery of Tunnels Beach on the North Shore of Kauai offers visitors a wide, golden sand beach, shady palms and ironwood trees and views of the fabled Bali Ha’i (made famous by the musical South Pacific). Tunnels Beach is also a premier swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing spot. The scenic beach, located just North of Hanalei, is a 2-mile stretch of beach perfection. The center portion of beach has a huge, half moon shaped reef about 1/8 mile off shore. This reef not only provides excellent snorkeling and diving, it also creates a barrier from the rough surf conditions and strong currents characteristic of Kauai’s North Shore. The shallow, sandy bottom in front of the reef remains calm even in the rough winter months and the waves breaking beyond the reef makes for an an excellent surfing spot.
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When you’re looking for a break from the big cities and crowded beaches in Hawaii, head to Kauai and visit a genuine old town for a taste of what Hawaii was like when sugar plantations were just beginning to be formed. A visit to Old Koloa Town won’t take long, but it’ll be a refreshing and slow-paced alternative to much of the rest of the islands.
The town of Koloa, which is sometimes called Old Koloa Town and sometimes even Homestead, is a small town on the island of Kauai which dates from the mid-1800s …
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Nude sunbathing in Hawaii might be illegal in a technical sense, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen all the time. Here’s where to go to find the prime spots to shed your suit.
Nude Beaches on Kauai
Kauai used to have a couple great nude beaches, but these days one of them is under new ownership and they’re not fond of the clothing-optional thing. The other one is becoming less friendly toward nude sunbathing, too, so proceed with caution.
Donkey Beach - This is the beach that used to be the best nude beach in Kauai, …
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Nude sunbathing in Hawaii might be illegal in a technical sense, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen all the time. Here’s where to go to find the prime spots to shed your suit.
Nude Beaches on Maui
Little Beach at Makena Beach (Pu’u Ola’i Beach) - The Little Beach is connected to Makena Beach, but you can’t get there by car so it’s a little more private. Noted for its excellent nude sunbathing, as well as swimming and snorkeling. Makena Beach is past the Maui Prince Hotel on Makena Ala Nui Road.
Red Sand Beach (Kaihalulu …
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When I first saw the name “Molokini” I assumed it was either a new kind of tiny swimsuit or a fruity but potent cocktail. Thankfully, I was wrong on both counts.
Molokini is a tiny crescent-shaped island off the coast of Maui, and it’s a great spot for snorkeling and diving. Its distinct shape is half of a volcanic crater being above water, although Hawaiian legend holds that the island is part of the body of the goddess Molokini. Regardless of the island’s origins, Molokini is a beautiful spot off the southern coast of Maui. The Molokini volcano underneath the water reportedly last erupted more than 200,000 years ago, so visitors shouldn’t worry too much about it.
The tiny island - an islet, really - of Molokini is a haven for diving and snorkeling, partly because of the abundance of sea life that just naturally exists around Hawaii and partly because the volcano’s crater means that waters in certain parts are only 35 feet deep. This makes it a great spot for beginners, although even experienced divers will appreciate what Molokini has to offer. For instance, there’s an underwater wall that goes down 70 feet, and around the back side of the crater the ocean floor drops down 350 feet. One of the charms of Molokini that makes it such a great spot for checking out what’s going on underwater is that the water around the island is stunningly clear most of the time.
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The only official royal residence in the United States is not located in any of the continental states, but across the Pacific on the island of Oahu. Iolani Palace in Honolulu was the official residence of only the last two Hawaiian monarchs—King Kalakau (who built the palace in 1882) and his sister, successor and last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani. During the rule of these last two monarchs, Iolani Palace was at the center of social and political activity on the islands. After decades of neglect, however, the palace was in bad shape until restoration began in the 1970s and has continued until today.
As a National Historic Landmark, efforts have also been made to recollect many of the art pieces and furniture that originally decorated the palace. Most of these items were sold off and stolen after the fall of Queen Lili’uokalani at the turn of the twentieth century. Today the palace is a popular tourist destination and location for wedding receptions and other private events. The palace also provides a beautiful and dramatic backdrop for the free concerts by the National Hawaiian Band on palace grounds most Fridays. These concerts are held on Fridays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. and are a great (and free!) way to participate in the bands long tradition of sharing Hawaiian music with the world.
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Nude sunbathing in Hawaii might be illegal in a technical sense, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen all the time. Here’s where to go to find the prime spots to shed your suit.
Nude Beaches on Molokai
Papohaku Beach - While not even “unofficially” a nude beach, this one is extremely long and so you’re bound to find a secluded spot or twelve where you can sunbathe in peace, with or without clothing.
Really, most of the beaches on Molokai are quiet and secluded enough that you’ll probably be able to go nude at just about …
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Nude sunbathing in Hawaii might be illegal in a technical sense, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen all the time. Here’s where to go to find the prime spots to shed your suit.
Nude Beaches on Oahu
Oahu has the biggest police force in Hawaii, so its beaches are the ones most likely to be patrolled to keep nudity at bay. It’s also the most populated and crowded of the islands, so your chances of finding a quiet and secluded beach on which to sunbathe in the buff are slim. Still, if you’ve gotta get …
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Nude sunbathing in Hawaii might be illegal in a technical sense, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen all the time. Here’s where to go to find the prime spots to shed your suit.
Nude Beaches on the Big Island
Kehena Beach (Dolphin Beach) - Not necessarily the best swimming beach, but popular with locals (especially those into “counter-culture”) and has black sand and lots of shady areas. Off Hwy 137 near mile 19, on the Hilo side.
Honokohau Harbor Beach - North end is a popular gay beach, and it’s not a very private beach. Officials …
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