Sunny Poipu Beach Park
Kauai Vacation Rentals and the Sheraton Resort
Poipu Beach Park, or sunny Poipu, is a favorite playground for Kauai visitors. Close to the Sheraton Kauai Resort, Poipu Beach Park is one of Kauai's best beaches.
Kauai weather can be unpredictable: after all, the Garden Island is home to the wettest place on earth, Mount Waialeale. Showers and cloudbursts are common, especially during the winter months. When the rain sets in there's one place to go: sunny Poipu.
On the south shore, Poipu gets more sunshine and less rain than anywhere else on Kauai. If it's pouring in Lihue and raining torrents in Hanalei, chances are it's sunny at Poipu Beach Park.
Sunshine alone makes Poipu Beach Park popular with Kauai visitors, but the park has much more than sunny conditions to recommend it. Poipu Beach is well-located for many visitors: the town of Poipu is home to many Kauai vacation rentals, and Poipu Beach Park is just a short walk from the Sheraton Kauai Resort.
Poipu Beach Park Amenities
Poipu Beach Park has just about everything a vacationing family could need for a day at the beach. There are washrooms / changing rooms at both ends of the park, picnic tables and shady pavilions. The large, shallow kids' pool is protected from ocean swell by a large lava rock wall. The only kid's pool to match Poipu's is on the east side of Kauai at Lydgate State Park.
Poipu Beach is the only south side beach with lifeguards, who watch over the beach seven days a week. After swimming and snorkeling you can wash the sea salt off at Poipu Beach's showers, and the kids can play on the well-designed playground at the east end of the park.
If you're hungry, Brenneke's restaurant is just across the street from Poipu Beach. Brenneke's offers wraps, burgers and steak, which you can eat while watching the waves. Or if you prefer, order take out and eat on the beach. There's also a small convenience store that sells shave ice, sandwiches and ice cream, as well as snorkeling gear and other beach essentials (including sun block—you can burn easily at sunny Poipu).
Nukumoi Point: Poipu's Tombolo
The two curved beaches at Poipu are divided by Nukumoi Point, a small rocky islet. Wave action builds up a sand bar between the point and the shore, so at low tide you can walk across the sand to the point. The temporary sand bridge is called a tombolo, and Poipu Beach Park boasts the only accessible tombolo on Kauai.
Tidal forces can cause strong currents between the shore and Nukumoi Point. A submerged rock wall was built recently along the tombolo to soften the force of the current.
Snorkeling Poipu
The eastern area of Poipu beach is shallow and rocky (not counting the sandy kid's pool). At the lowest tide snorkeling here without scraping knees on rocks can be difficult. The shallow water does, however, allow you to see Poipu's sea life at very close range. Someone used submerged rock walls to spell out "Poipu." The rocks attract fish, crustaceans and eels, and are well worth checking out.
To the west of the tombolo a small reef runs along the length of Nukumoi point. Snorkeling here is excellent; just don't head out past the point. If you do you'll end up in the waves with the surfers and may need lifeguard assistance. Check local conditions with the lifeguards before snorkeling or swimming.
Poipu or Sheraton Kauai?
The beach in front of the Sheraton Kauai Resort is sometimes referred to as Poipu Beach. The true Poipu beach is the one at Poipu Beach Park and has lifeguards on duty. The beach at the Sheraton Kauai Resort has no lifeguards.
Getting to Poipu Beach Park
From Poipu Road, turn makai (towards the ocean) onto Ho'owili Road. You'll find parking at the end of Ho'owiki. Poipu Beach Park is popular, and parking spaces may be in short supply. People tend to come and go all the time, so eventually you'll find parking.
