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Poʻipū Beach Park in 3D
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Drag to spin · Blue P: parking · White line: walk to the sand · Heights doubled; waves are for illustration, not a surf report ·
Closures and alerts
Closures and advisories
- Po‘ipū Beach Park parking lot to close Oct. 26 to Nov. 6.
- Brown Water Advisory at Po'ipu Beach Pavilion, Kaua‘i.
Official alerts
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Conditions
Surf
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Tide
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Parking and access
Parking
A small free lot off Hoʻowili Road, full on weekends and most mornings by about 9:30 a.m. Street parking on Hoʻone Road is the usual overflow, and there are pay lots nearby.
Getting to the sand
The lot is next to the park lawn. A short, flat walk to the sand.
Lifeguard
Guarded. The County of Kauaʻi Ocean Safety Bureau staffs a lifeguard tower here.
About Poʻipū Beach Park
Poʻipū Beach Park is the best-known beach on Kauaʻi's South Shore, a sunny crescent split by a sand spit (a tombolo) that runs out to Nukumoi Point. It has two lifeguard towers, restrooms, showers, picnic pavilions and a large lawn.
People come for the wildlife: green sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals often haul out on the sand here, and snorkelers visit the reef on either side of the spit. At the east end, a lava rock jetty encloses a small sandy-bottom wading pool, sometimes called Baby Beach. The South Shore is drier than the north, and its surf is biggest in summer. Monk seals on the beach are protected, so give them plenty of room.
Poʻipū Beach Park is a beach on Kauaʻi’s South Shore, on the south-facing coast. A County lifeguard tower covers it. Its surf follows the National Weather Service forecast for South-facing shores, and its tides follow NOAA’s Nawiliwili station. Facilities: restrooms.
Questions
Is Poʻipū Beach Park open?
The top of this page shows any closure or advisory that the County of Kauaʻi, the State (DLNR) or the Hawaiʻi Department of Health has posted for Poʻipū Beach Park. We check every 3 hours. If our last check is more than a day old, it says “Status unknown” instead of guessing.
Where is Poʻipū Beach Park, and how do you get there?
Poʻipū Beach Park is on Kauaʻi’s South Shore. Its public access point is at GPS 21.87317, -159.45287. Directions in Google Maps. The map on this page shows lots that OpenStreetMap marks as public.
Is there a lifeguard at Poʻipū Beach Park?
Yes. The County of Kauaʻi Ocean Safety Bureau staffs a lifeguard tower at Poʻipū Beach Park. Check in with the lifeguard before you get in the water.
Where do you park for Poʻipū Beach Park?
A small free lot off Hoʻowili Road, full on weekends and most mornings by about 9:30 a.m. Street parking on Hoʻone Road is the usual overflow, and there are pay lots nearby.
Does Poʻipū Beach Park have bathrooms?
Yes. The County lists comfort stations (public restrooms) there. Showers aren’t on the County’s list. Source: County of Kauaʻi Parks.
Can you swim at Poʻipū Beach Park?
That changes day to day with the surf, and this site doesn't make that call. Check the South-facing surf range above, any alerts, and the lifeguard on duty. Hazard ratings for guarded beaches are at hawaiibeachsafety.com.
Can you snorkel at Poʻipū Beach Park?
People ask this a lot, and the answer changes daily. Snorkeling depends on small surf on the south-facing shore and clear water, and this site doesn't make that call. Check the surf range above, any Health Department brown water advisory (listed at the top of this page when one is posted), and ask the lifeguard on duty.
Report conditions
Just there? Tell us what you found. Reports never change this page by themselves.
Sources
- Closures: County of Kauaʻi, DLNR, Hawaiʻi Department of Health
- Surf, weather and alerts: National Weather Service Honolulu
- Tides: NOAA station 1611400
- Parking lots on the map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sources last checked October 26, 2026.