Tunnels Beach on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai

I really love Kauai. It’s so far away, so green, and the people are so nice. It’s a great place to go on vacation. I’ve taken a lot of pictures of the island over the years, and I think it would be fun to honor the place with a series of pieces about the different beaches along the coast.

I’ve already written a few pieces about this topic. At the very northwest end of the road is a real destination in its own right. Another place, while not strictly a beach, has its own fans, though it is definitely only open in the summer. The next beautiful beach we come across is Tunnels Beach, which is around the island in a clockwise direction.

Tunnels Beach, which is also known as Makua Beach, is more than just a beautiful place to relax. It has a lot of history and cultural importance. In the past, the original Hawaiians called it “Makua,” which means “parent,” to show that the land was there to care for them. The beach has stories that go back many generations, and I hope that my pictures can show that.

When is the beach the most fun? What should you do? It depends on where you can park, unless you are staying nearby! Along the highway going north, there are only two small dirt roads where you can park. One of them has signs that say the road belongs to the homeowners and is private! At Ha’ena Beach Park, you can park and walk along the beach. It’s good for you! Photos show that I go there a lot at morning, and I’m happy to say that there are lots of spots to park at that time!

From a helicopter tour, you can often get great views of the beaches in this area, but it’s not the best way to get there. A piece I wrote about my if you’re interested.

Tunnels is more than just its beautiful sandy beach. In the summer, a reef protects the water, and the area is famous for diving and the variety of sea life that lives just below the surface. This picture from above of the beach shows how big the reef is.

But many beaches on the North Coast can be dangerous in the winter. That’s when the signs will say that it’s not safe to go into the water. It’s too bad that not everyone can read!

There is a lot of wildlife on the beaches sometimes, like turtles coming in to rest. Most of the time, these are roped off to keep people away, but stay away!

I’ve always admired people who live on the beach—doesn’t this look like a great life?

One of the best things about going at sunrise is that you can have the whole place to yourself. There is a new picture of the sun rising over the water near Hanalei and Princeville that I took in August 2023.

And if you look the other way, the sun is just beginning to show off the mountain peaks that make Tunnels Beach’s view so special.

From the ground, you can see the beautiful sandy beach for a long way off. Not a single person to be seen!