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Polihale State Park in 3D
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Drag to spin · Heights doubled; waves are for illustration, not a surf report ·
Known hazards
“Beware of strong, offshore currents.”Hawaiʻi DLNR Division of State Parks, undated park text; page notice dated 2026-10-23
Closures and alerts
Closures and advisories
- State Parks says every Kauaʻi state park not on its reopened list remains closed after Hurricane Lowell. Polihale isn't on that list, and all Kauaʻi camping is closed.
Official alerts
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Conditions
Surf
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Weather
Tide
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Parking and access
Parking
Parking areas inside the park at the end of the access road. No day-use fee listed.
Getting to the sand
About five miles of unpaved road. State Parks says it floods in rain and can become impassable, and recommends four-wheel drive. Rental car companies may ban this road. Driving on the beach or dunes isn’t allowed. Normal hours are 5:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Lifeguard
Not guarded. The County of Kauaʻi Ocean Safety Bureau doesn't list a lifeguard tower here.
About Polihale State Park
Polihale is the far western end of Kauaʻi's road, inside Polihale State Park, at the northern end of a sandy shoreline that runs about 15 miles toward Kekaha. Its sand dunes rise to about 100 feet, and the Nā Pali cliffs begin at its northern end.
People make the trip for the space, the sunsets, and the view of the cliffs dropping into the sea, with Niʻihau on the horizon. In Hawaiian tradition it is a leina a ka ʻuhane, a leaping place for souls into the next world. Reaching it takes a five-mile unpaved road that can flood, and some rental car companies don't allow it. There is no lifeguard, and the open-ocean surf and currents are strong.
Polihale State Park is a beach on Kauaʻi’s West Side, on the west-facing coast. No County lifeguard tower covers it. Its surf follows the National Weather Service forecast for West-facing shores, and its tides follow NOAA’s Waimea Bay station.
Questions
Is Polihale State 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 Polihale State Park. We check every 3 hours. If our last check is more than a day old, it says “Status unknown” instead of guessing.
Why is Polihale State Park closed?
When it is, the notice that closed it is listed at the top of this page, with a link. State Parks (DLNR) runs Polihale and posts its closures. DLNR says the unpaved road in “may flood during rains and become impassable.” Source: DLNR, Polihale State Park.
Where is Polihale State Park, and how do you get there?
Polihale State Park is on Kauaʻi’s West Side. Its public access point is at GPS 22.08746, -159.75622. Directions in Google Maps. The map on this page shows lots that OpenStreetMap marks as public.
Is there a lifeguard at Polihale State Park?
No. Polihale State Park has no County lifeguard tower. The nearest guarded beach is the place to ask about conditions.
Where do you park for Polihale State Park?
Parking areas inside the park at the end of the access road. No day-use fee listed.
Can you swim at Polihale State Park?
That changes day to day with the surf, and this site doesn't make that call. Check the West-facing surf range above, any alerts, and a lifeguard at the nearest guarded beach. Hazard ratings for guarded beaches are at hawaiibeachsafety.com.
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 1611401
- Parking lots on the map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sources last checked October 26, 2026.