Polihale Beach: End of the World
Polihale Beach: End of the World
Where on The island of Kaua'i do I go when I want to to get away? Where do locals go for brief respites from 100,000+ monthly visitors on this small island? We go to: "The End of the World" Polihale Beach.
It's called End of the World because Kauai is an island furthest from any Land Mass continent on earth...because Polihale Beach is the furthest west Beach on Kaua'i ...and because it takes a serious committed effort to access it.
The most remote beach on Kauai, Polihale is at the end of Kaumuali'i Highway 50. Travel through Waimea in the west...keep going...pass Kekaha...pass PMRF (Pacific Missile Range Facility)...keep going.... I'm talking isolated, folks.
The turn off is marked by a simple sign and as you turn left you begin a 5 mile very rough journey to The End of the World. The old cane road (back in the day Kaua'i used to have thousands of acres of sugar cane...now, to the dismay of locals, gone and reborn as GMO corn ) is off limits to rental cars. The rental car companies usually prohibit the use of their vehicles on this road, voiding any insurance or support for you when you drive it. This road can flood in big rains and tends to test the undercarriage of most low riding road vehicles. 4 Wheel drive is recommended, however: I drive it all the time in a Chevy Trailblazer, and I see rental cars out there every trip I make. Visitors be aware of deeper sand sections at the ends of these roads. Getting stuck in the sand can be very expensive, and the car rental company will NOT help you. A tow can easily run $400 out here.
Polihale is the longest beach in Hawaii at 12-17 miles (can be 17 if you continue to walk through Barking Sands beach on PMRF) and depending on the season can be as wide as a football field. It's a spectacular wilderness beach with huge sand dunes to 100 feet and 4 wheel drive allowed to drive or camp on the waters edge.
At the farthest end is the beginning of the NaPali Coast (or the end of it if you travel by water from the north coast). Toward the PMRF end of the beach is Queen's Pond. This is not a real pond, but a small swimming friendly reef protected area that doesn't have waves pounding you like most of Polihale. Don't confuse Queen's Pond with Queen's Bath, which is on the other side of the island on North Shore.
Please be aware that swimming at Polihale is tricky business. The wave action can be extreme and there are definitely strong currents and rip tides. I've been caught in rip tides there and always have to swim parallel (sideways) to the beach to get out of the current taking me away from the beach. Eventually I can swim or let the waves take be back onto the beach. I may be quite a distance from where I originally wanted to be, but I didn't get exhausted and frantic trying to swim directly to the beach....and I'm still alive.
Surfers like Polihale because it's got decent waves and is so isolated they don't have a line up of other surfers to deal with. Fishing is a popular pastime of many locals down at the cliffs end of the beach. Camping on the beach is popular there and sometimes huge campsites pop up at this end. I know of some extended families that come out here at the beginning of the summer, set up elaborate campsites and stay 6 weeks! Family members come and go depending on summer schedules and work.
Polihale is a State Park, and has some picnic pavilions, benches , bathrooms and showers. There are camping fees, though locals rarely have permits. There is NO POWER anywhere at this beach and limited cell service. Remember to bring a cooler for cold drinks, water, any food you want during the day (as there are no services for miles).
The sand is wide, deep and HOT during most of the day. Bring umbrellas or shade tents, slippers or sandals so not to burn your feet walking in the deep, dry sand.
Polihale is REMOTE: no security, no emergency services, no lifeguard, no power and very limited cell service. Come to Polihale...but come prepared!
Come to Polihale for fishing, surfing, camping, amazing sunsets, LONG quiet and unpopulated beach walks, early morning shell hunting... but come prepared!
The End of the World Beach awaits you.
Aloha...TT
Where on The island of Kaua'i do I go when I want to to get away? Where do locals go for brief respites from 100,000+ monthly visitors on this small island? We go to: "The End of the World" Polihale Beach.
It's called End of the World because Kauai is an island furthest from any Land Mass continent on earth...because Polihale Beach is the furthest west Beach on Kaua'i ...and because it takes a serious committed effort to access it.
The most remote beach on Kauai, Polihale is at the end of Kaumuali'i Highway 50. Travel through Waimea in the west...keep going...pass Kekaha...pass PMRF (Pacific Missile Range Facility)...keep going.... I'm talking isolated, folks.
Polihale is the longest beach in Hawaii at 12-17 miles (can be 17 if you continue to walk through Barking Sands beach on PMRF) and depending on the season can be as wide as a football field. It's a spectacular wilderness beach with huge sand dunes to 100 feet and 4 wheel drive allowed to drive or camp on the waters edge.
At the farthest end is the beginning of the NaPali Coast (or the end of it if you travel by water from the north coast). Toward the PMRF end of the beach is Queen's Pond. This is not a real pond, but a small swimming friendly reef protected area that doesn't have waves pounding you like most of Polihale. Don't confuse Queen's Pond with Queen's Bath, which is on the other side of the island on North Shore.
Surfers like Polihale because it's got decent waves and is so isolated they don't have a line up of other surfers to deal with. Fishing is a popular pastime of many locals down at the cliffs end of the beach. Camping on the beach is popular there and sometimes huge campsites pop up at this end. I know of some extended families that come out here at the beginning of the summer, set up elaborate campsites and stay 6 weeks! Family members come and go depending on summer schedules and work.
Polihale is a State Park, and has some picnic pavilions, benches , bathrooms and showers. There are camping fees, though locals rarely have permits. There is NO POWER anywhere at this beach and limited cell service. Remember to bring a cooler for cold drinks, water, any food you want during the day (as there are no services for miles).
The sand is wide, deep and HOT during most of the day. Bring umbrellas or shade tents, slippers or sandals so not to burn your feet walking in the deep, dry sand.
Polihale is REMOTE: no security, no emergency services, no lifeguard, no power and very limited cell service. Come to Polihale...but come prepared!
Come to Polihale for fishing, surfing, camping, amazing sunsets, LONG quiet and unpopulated beach walks, early morning shell hunting... but come prepared!
The End of the World Beach awaits you.
Aloha...TT
Nice blog right on nice pics
ReplyDeleteGreat information! I love the picture of the lone survivor sitting in the sunset.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to more posts.