Salt Pond Beach Park, Kauai
Hawaiian Salt, Kauai Snorkeling and Sunsets
Salt Pond Beach Park is named for the Hawaiian salt pans the park borders. Just north of Hanapepe, Salt Pond offers excellent swimming and snorkeling.
Visitors to Kauai often overlook Salt Pond Beach Park, which is both a shame and a blessing. A shame, because Salt Pond offers some of the best swimming on the west side of Kauai. A blessing, because the beach is not as crowded as Poipu Beach Park and other popular beaches.
Salt Pond Beach Park has everything you need for a leisurely day at the beach: washrooms, picnic tables, pavilions, a long sandy beach and a lifeguard. Close to the main pavilion and dotted along the shore are swaying coconut palms. Unlike the carefully "neutered" palms that surround Kauai resorts the Salt Pond palms are usually laden with coconuts. Heed the "Beware of Falling Coconuts" sign and don't sit under the palm trees: a fractured skull takes all the fun out of a Kauai vacation.
Salt Pond Beach Park and Kauai Snorkeling
Salt Pond Beach itself is sheltered by lava rock outcrops at either end and open to the ocean in the middle. Snorkeling is best amongst the rocks at either end of Salt Pond, with the best snorkeling at the southern end of the beach, close to the salt ponds that give the beach its name.
Snorkling at Salt Pond, even in the protected corners, does require fins due to changing tidal currents. Depending on the tide you may experience no current at all, or have to kick hard just to stay in place. Check with the lifeguard about tidal conditions.
In the water you can expect to see butterfly fish, unicorn fish, Moorish Idols and large schools of goatfish. Exploring along the rocks often yields snowflake moray eels and camouflaged leaf fish.
If the current isn't too strong more experienced snorkelers can venture into the deeper water along the rock outcrops, where they may see larger fish or even the occasional sea turtle. Even if the water is calm, don't venture beyond Salt Pond into the deeper ocean. It's not safe, and frankly you'll see more inside the protected waters of the bay.
Swimming at Salt Pond
Swimming is best in the middle of Salt Pond close to the shore, where there's a sandy bottom. The middle of the beach is also conveniently close to the lifeguard station. Avoid swimming out to the opening between the two rock outcrops—it's the only path for water coming in and out of Salt Pond, and changing tides create currents strong enough to drag even the best swimmer out inot the big blue. Check the current strength with the lifeguard if you have any doubts.
Kauai Camping at SaltPondBeachPark
Salt Pond Beach Park is one of the most popular Kauai camping sites, especially with local families. Permits for camping can be purchased at the County Building in Lihue. The park is also a popular spot for birthday parties, family luaus and community get-togethers. Most of this activity occurs on the weekends around the main pavilions, and even at it's busiest it's still easy to find quiet spots on the beach.
Salt Pond's Hawaiian Salts
Just south of Salt Pond Beach Park is an area of flat land, often covered with a shallow layer of salt water. This area is the only surviving Hawaiian salt pond, where Hawaiian salt is still gathered using traditional methods. Whether the salt pan is wet or dry you should stay out of the salt ponds as they are an important part of Native Hawaiian culture.
Sunsets at Salt Pond
Salt Pond Beach Park is one of the best places on Kauai to view the sunset. As the sun dips down and the last of the Port Allen whale watching cruises head into port, Salt Pond takes on a quiet, warm beauty. On very clear days you can see Niihau, Hawaii's Forbidden Island as the sun sinks over the horizon.
Getting to Salt Pond
Driving west on Highway 560, drive through Hanapepe and over the Hanapepe bridge. Turn left onto Lele Road (there'll be a sign for Salt Pond at the turnoff), and then right at Lokokai Road. Salt Pond is at the end of Lokokai, after about half a mile.
