Secret Beach, Kauai, HI

Kauai, HI is an enchanted place. Mother Nature did a great job here, a well-deserved A+ for this garden island. There are oversized sunsets, billowy orange and white clouds, crashing waves, luscious waterfalls, vast grand canyons, orange scented hikes, misty forests and red footed boobies darting across azure skies.

If you are going towards Princeville (a forgettable place unless you are into the pro golf scene) on your way to the Nepali Coast (an incredible place right out of Jurassic Park) you will pass some of the best hidden beaches, the ones that are not seen in the Hollywood beach movies.

My favorite is Secret Beach, properly known as Kauapea Beach. It is a quick turn off on Highway 56, so keep your eyes peeled, no signs of course. Drive to the end of the road and park. Walk down a mildly steep path through the woods. It's a gentle hike. You don't need to be in the terrific shape and young kids can climb up and down in less than 10 minutes. Once you reach the shore, the trek ends and you found the secret. Aha! It's Secret Beach.

Secret Beach is about 1.5 miles, a big breathe of beach. There is wide stretches of white sand, crashing waves, tide pools, huge swatches of volcanic black lava and hidden coves for picnics, lovemaking and or serenity.

As a new adoptive family, we took our children to Secret Beach to celebrate our complete family with an etched memory of sun, champagne, lapping waves, laughter and adventure.

A couple of things to note, bring all your stuff from the car as going back to your car takes effort. Be careful of the tides and respect the waves, these walls of water can be playful as well as dangerous. At this time of the writing, the beach is clothing-optional so can enjoy the full natural if you so choose. Note, nude bathing is illegal in HI although the worst that happens is someone with a uniform will tell you to please put on your bathing suit.

We found going to the right once we hit the beach as our favorite direction. We walked amongst huge black lava formations and had fun in hidden beach coves, various tide pools and darting waves.


Enjoy.

Directions -- Head east [left] out of Princeville on highway 56. Take the 2nd instance of Kalihiwai road [after climbing out of the big canyon made by Kalihiwai River] at mile post 24. Turn north [left] on Kalihiwai road and then take a quick [about .1 mile] right onto a dirt road. Follow the dirt road .5 mile to a small parking lot at the end. Park in the lot or along the dirt road using care to remove all valuables from your car. The trailhead is at the north west corner of the parking lot. Follow the trail for about 7 minutes as it descends 180 feet and traverses 1/3 mile [about 500 steps] to the beach. Enjoy the varied plant life along the way.