This was probably my favorite beach we visited this time around. It's not a very large beach and can get crowded with those who are wanting to snorkel. Even surfers set out here to catch some waves. There are a lot of rocks, more rocks than sand, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I highly recommend water socks to protect your feet. There's a great entrance point that's pretty smooth and easy on your feet, but the waves can be choppy. The snorkeling reminded me a lot of Two Step Beach on the Big Island because you didn't have to swim out very far to see fish. There were a ton of fish out there! There were also a couple of turtles further out, but there were quite a few people hanging out around them. Remember not to get too close to them! :) We visited this beach several times because it was right outside our condo complex. At one point we were just sunbathing and playing in the water and ended up having the whole beach to ourselves late in the afternoon! It was awesome! read more

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This beach is perfect to watch the sunset at, & is right next to the nice restaurant The Beach House. There is a very small sand area, but the ground is leveled so that it's very easy to sit & watch the sunset. The water is full of rocks, which actually made it very good for snorkeling. There were lots of fish around, eating off of the rocks. It was also in a little cove, so the waves were a bit smaller & easier to snorkel around in. This was one of the best beaches to snorkel at to see fish of the ones I went to (Anini Beach, Poipu Beach, & here). read more

This beach is very rocky, very little sand so it's not a good place for lying out on the sand. Also not great for little kids because they'd probably slip on the rocks or hurt themselves on the rocks. Snorkeling was pretty good though! We saw a lot, including this sea turtle that was hiding underneath a jutted out piece of rock in the water. I'd say the snorkeling here is maybe 20% better than Poipu Beach. We saw a company here doing Snuba tours, so that's a testament to the quality of the fish and eels etc. that you can see here. There are restrooms across the street, as well as a foot wash and a shave ice truck. read more

It's not much to view, a narrow beach with little sand to sunbath on, lots of rocks both on the beach and in the shallow water, difficult to enter the ocean, and strong currents when we come Nov-March. But Beach House restaurant overlooks this beach, with it's magnificent sunsets. And is it crowded, with locals parked all along the beach front on both sides of the road. There is a reason for all this attention. We come back year after year, staying at the Lawai Beach resort across the street. Easy enough to walk 200 yards from our room in our swimming and snorkel gear, me with my swim suit with oversized T-shirt, river sandals, and wife in her wet suit carrying her fins, both with eye goggles and snorkel tube. Best place to enter the water is about 100 yards from the Beach House restaurant, where there is a break in the rocks, and a sandy bottom to enter. Good also as the currents are strong, so strong that they can smash you against the rocks, if you are not careful. And you can be towed out to sea by the underwater rip tides in the winter. Wife puts on her fins before getting in the water, and backs into the sea wearing her fins. We both swim out maybe 150 feet until we see what's left of the colorful coral turning gray due to climate change, and pollutants from sun block. It's here that we see all the colorful tropical fish, and if we are lucky, a darting sea turtle or two. Best snorkeling area on the island, compared to Lydgate beach, or Poipu beach, 3 miles away. Last time we were here, ran into a Hawaiian Monk Seal sunbathing for seemingly hours on the beach. Lifeguards cordoned off the area with caution tape on poles. You can tell that these pictures were taken before the pandemic, as the monk seal is not wearing a mask. The tagged seal would have stayed the entire day, but made a fast exit. You would have left in a hurry too, when a State marine biologist poked your bottom with a distemper shot! read more

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Small beach but amazing snorkeling. Beautiful tropical fish and sea turtles! They hide under big coral rock. Flippers are a must as the tide is strong and rocky bottom. There's a public restroom and snack shop a few feet away. Favorite beach near Poipu. read more

Finest Snorkeling of all Kauai. The rocks can be difficult to get past barefoot. Wear short fins or rockwater shoes. The actual sand space is limited, you will need to get there and claim your spot and be prepared to share it. Most of the beach goers just kind hang out and watch you surf /snorkel and do not compete for Waves/ Reefs read more

This is a small, quaint beach compared to the other beaches in Kauai - but it offers great sunsets and snorkeling. Especially the sunsets. A lot of people come out to this beach to sit down and walk the sunset, which is gorgeous when there are clouds around. Best time to come is when the low tide comes in... since at high tide there's not a lot of space on the beach and the tide going out will help with snorkeling. Parking is limited to street, and they have public restrooms across the beach. There's not a lot of space for laying in the sand, and since it's right across from some of the resorts it gets pretty popular. I was staying at the Lawaii Beach Resort, which is literally across the road. However, this made it really convenient for me to go snorkeling whenever I felt like it and I didn't have to fight for parking. In terms of snorkeling, it's a pretty good spot since there are still a lot of fish near the shore, at least along the left hand side hugging the wall. There's a break in the waves before they hit the shore, so the water isn't too rough. However, the surface gets pretty rocky, particularly where all the fish are. I recommend walking more to the right side to find a nice sandy spot to put on your slippers and launch yourself into the water, then paddle your way away from the shore to avoid getting dragged by the tide. Especially near the shore - I had a few painful moments where the tide dragged me along the bottom. It also seems to be a popular paddle board and surf spot - I could see folks in the distance doing both, where the waves were bigger. Overall, nice beach if you're staying at one of the nearby resorts. BTW, the nearby resorts have some showers out in the open for rinsing off sand... worth doing a walk to find them. read more

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Lawa'i Beach was our third stop for snorkeling, as it was also recommended by our rental gear company - Boss Frogs. Though our main store was up in Kapa'a, there is a Boss Frogs right at this beach too. There's a small public parking lot right at this beach, adjacent to bathrooms and showers. The beach itself is a bit narrow, so there isn't much room to lay out if that's what you're looking to do. It turned out to be a great snorkeling spot, but a bit rocky to get into. If you go toward the middle there's a small strip of sand that makes it easier to get into the water. I'm a beginner snorkeler but found this site to be filled with lots of fish and some coral, and fairly easy to snorkel in. We saw some pretty interesting things here, but no turtles. I think the whole Poipu area is probably my top spots for snorkeling. We also saw a snuba instructor here setting up, and saw him take a tour out. I'd probably want to do that eventually as well! read more

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Supposed to be good for snorkeling but waves are kind of hard so didn't really think so myself. It is a nice beach to see the sunset though. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Sunset - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

We checked this beach out on our last day on Kauai for a last ditch snorkeling effort. It's into a few minutes away from Poipu Beach, with street parking. It is a small beach with rocks everywhere but we saw people snorkeling so we figured why not?! Beware there are rocks and the water is shallow when entering. However, towards the middle area of the beach enter there where rocks are not in your way. Otherwise you'll have to pull yourself across the rocks until you get out deeper into the water. My daughter said it was the best snorkeling experience so far as Poipu was not the best. It had way too many rocks and the water was too shallow. My husband said it was better too and they saw many cool fish. If staying in the Poipu area is would recommend this beach for snorkeling instead of Poipu. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Swam with turtles TWICE during our week long honeymoon in Kauai. We were lucky to be staying at the condos that were a 2 minute walk to Lawa'i beach. Not only do turtles frequent the area but the variety of beautiful fish which are fun to watch. The reef looks trashed in some places :( but the further out you go, the more preserved it is. But be careful. Sometimes there's a current that will pull you the the right (if your facing the ocean from shore). But no worries, just relax and make your way back. It happened to us a couple times when conditions weren't quite prime. We got so distracted and didn't realize we drifted off. Lots of sea urchins hiding in the reef too , don't get poked! Not only is the underwater life so beautiful but the sunsets from this beach are gorgeous as well! Love love love this beach, and Kauai :) read more

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Best snorkeling we had on Kauai. Calm and super clear water, plentiful fish of many kinds- triggerfish, angels, wrasse, box, parrots and many more. Did t see turtles today - saw those at Poipu. Clearer water and more variety here compared with a Poipu beach. Enter in the middle of the beach across from the public parking lots and toilets. There is a sandy break on the otherwise rocky beach. read more

First beach we found to snorkel after Poipu was a dud.... Lawa'i Beach is one of the better beaches to snorkel in Kauai.... Best time to come is morning and mid day when the sun is shining bright in this cove, to make the water even more clear and sparkling and great visibility for seeing lots of fish. Park along the road,(just be careful crossing this busy road) or in near by, for a close short walk. There is a rocky entrance and a very small sandy beach to walk along in some areas. There are clean beach bathrooms and a beach shower nearby. Bring your own snorkel gear or rent from the local shop nearby. The water can be a little choppy at times with waves, making snorkeling a bit challenging for young kids or the novice snorkeler.... Otherwise, its a good place to start getting your fins wet. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Crystal clear....day snorkel - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Lawa'i beach is good for snorkeling, but not so much for sunbathing or swimming. In summer, the currents are very strong, and you'll find yourself struggling to get anywhere! Some Yelpers have complained about parking, though if you arrive before 10 am, it's not a problem. There is a small lot across the street from the beach with bathrooms, a small shower, and a tiny food stand. A snorkel gear store is also nearby in case you need any last-minute equipment. The beach itself is a tiny strip of sand with just one tree for shade. I don't recommend going out into the water without some kind of protection on your feet. There are a lot of rocks here. However, this is exactly what makes Lawa'i a good snorkeling spot. We saw a stunning variety of fish, plus one turtle. Lawa'i is next to the Beach House restaurant, which has a lovely grass area for sunbathing. I already have enough sun damage to last a lifetime, so in the heat of the day, this area didn't appeal to me. On a cooler, cloudy day, it would be a perfect place for a picnic or quiet book reading. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Best snorkeling spot with lots of beautiful coral and fish. I even swam with a huge sea turtle for an hour. Easy access by the little sandy alleyway to the coral. read more

One of the best spots to snorkel and to watch sunsets. Not the biggest beach but the sea life more than makes up for that. The Beach House restaurant is right there also if you want some yummy grub. There is also a snorkel rental but. Usually there is a snow cone hut across the street. I have swam with many turtles here ad have seen almost every kind of fish here. Many monk seals do make this beach there nap time spot. Him back season this is also a great spot to watch them breach offshore. Awesome snorkeling and amazing sunsets what else is there. read more

Amazing snorkeling. Thanks Jerry for taking our picture. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Kauai Weekend Vacay! - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Lawa'i Beach is a little gem that's visible from the road. Also called "Beach House" beach because of its proximity to said restaurant. It is right next door! No hiking required to enjoy great snorkeling and even SNUBA if you aren't adventurous enough to try scuba diving. SNUBA is a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving. It's a ton of fun without packing a ton of equipment. You and a buddy share one air tank that floats above you in a small inflatable boat. This seems to be the primo spot for that activity- probably because there are a lot of colorful fish and other interesting things to look at just below waves. I spotted puffer fish, sea cucumber, and even detritus from the island's last hurricane; a telephone pole and a street sign! It's a bit rocky when entering/exiting the shore and you'll have to fight for a spot on the sand since there is not much of it here. Definitely not a sun bathing kind of beach... There are bathrooms and a place to rinse the salt water off your mask and snorkel right across the street, probably where you parked the car. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Amazing little stretch of beach located on Kauai's South Shore. Had my first snorkeling experience here and was blown away at how clear the water was, not to mention all the beautiful fish! It's not too deep (maybe 8-10 feet deep in most of the reef), so those not too experienced in swimming can still enjoy amazing snorkeling. While you will see an amazing array of fish and marine life, it's "not guaranteed" that you will see a sea turtle. You might be able to spot a few depending on how long you are in the water but they mostly hang out in waters a bit deeper. I did see one in about a two hour time period I was out there. Seriously, I could literally spend the entire day here! A wonderful gem on an amazingly beautiful island! read more

Lawa'i Beach - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Best snorkeling ever here. It was like a magical dream. After it being a little rocky and difficult to enter, the fish were plentiful and gorgeous, and the clean and clear water and rocks were the cherry on top. read more

I lost my wedding ring. My wife had just stepped into the surf. She complained her flippers were too tight, so I dove under and loosened them. When I came up it was gone. Lawa'i beach attracts all kinds of people. We saw a class of experienced surfers, intently listening to their instructor; kids, maybe the same age as my 9-year old niece, splashing; and a few scuba divers, clad in full-body, wetsuits easing their way onto shore. We were told there were turtles lying on east side of the restaurant, but the current kept us from exploring that far -- after a week torrential winter storms, the water was still a bit chilly. Swimming out was pretty rough, and the rest of the beach was pretty small. So there we were, frantically scouring the sand for the ring. When one of my friends came on shore, I told her my ring was gone. She went under, too. And a minute later, she came up with it. Laughs. Hugs. A surfer waded by and asked what was up. We told her we had just lost, and found, my wedding ring. She said she comes across at least 5 a week. Folks, leave your jewelry onshore. And come back when it's a little warmer. read more

This was by far our favorite spot to snorkel on Kaua'i. Although, there is really not a lot of space to get into the water because of the rocks, and it is usually full of people who have no idea what they are doing. Just ignore that fact and get in any way you can. Also ignore the people who think this is a good beach to lay out at. They need to get out of the way and go back to the hotels. There are countless types of fish present here, scouring the floor as well as many small objects that tourists should learn to keep out of the ocean such as jewelry, keys, and IDs. Seriously, people, leave it in your car or hotel room. The fish don't care if you are married or not, and they don't have anything to sell you. Get a good safety pin for your car/room key and stop thinking a Ziploc bag is the ultimate water tight solution. Take the road that leads to Spouting horn (Lawa'i Road), and you will find this place on the left across from the Lawa'i Hotel. It is easy to find because of the number of people usually there snorkeling. There is also (usually) a snuba outfit there as well. One thing to watch out for: sometimes spear fishermen will return from the ocean at this beach, and they are known to be followed by hungry sharks who smell their catch, but this is more likely to happen at PK's Beach just up the road. read more

Prince Kuhio is a great place to go snorkeling - rent some gear, park on the street and join the rest of the beach goers on the narrow beach here. You will see turtles, fish and all sorts of awesome things. Well, you might see a turtle, I saw one and followed him (he didn't like the chase). Great place to spend a day or two! read more

Pretty little beach right across from our Lawai Beach Resort, so we went almost every day during the week we were there. Depending on the tide, the beach can be just a sliver. Great snorkeling - we saw tons of colorful fish, turtles, and even an eel. Also, a beautiful place to watch the sunset. Some nights, there were dozens of people on the grassy area next the Beach House restaurant by the beach. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Lawai Beach - great snorkeling - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

The best snorkeling for beginners here in kauai!!!!! We snorkeled from about 9am to about 1:35pm and saw sea turtles the size of a hound child, various tropical fish, octopuses, and huge tubas I belive the water was so clear and beautiful!! We saw various coral as well... We are definitely planning to come here everyday... Tips for fellow snorkelers and scuba divers...make sure to come in th early morn between 7-10am, this is when there are the most fish, but DO NOT go past the reef (this is where you will see waves breaking in the middle of the ocean) otherwise there is about a 60-80ft deep and more than likely you will encounter some reef sharks and the notorious tiger shark... Also anytime you see a turtle beware, cuz sharks are typically nearby.... read more

Great snorkeling spot - easy to access, lots of sea life, nice beach and grassy areas to relax We had a relatively large group - some of us wanted to snorkel, others wanted to relax in the sun. Lawa'i Beach were great for both. Plenty of street parking and a small public lot across the street. Beach and lawn in front of Beach House restaurant offer a couple of very nice options for relaxing and drying off after spending time in the water. None in our group were expert snorkelers so we appreciated the relatively shallow water that was sheltered from large waves, and abundance of fish and other sea life in such an accessible spot. It compared favorably to some of the other highly recommended snorkeling spots we visited but way more accessible with plenty of amenities nearby. read more

AKA Beach House beach, the best snorkeling and floating spot in Kauai. A lot of fish and turtles. My most favorite except the crowds. Parking: Street. YELP 365 - 238/365 read more

The best part about this beach is its across the street from the hotels we say at over last 25 years! Good snorkeling but small and a bit rocky. read more

I have gone to all the snorkeling beaches in Kauai and to me, this is the best one based on what you get to see in the water and ease of getting in and out. A lot of people say Tunnels or Ke'e but I thought the snorkeling there was overrated and I really don't want to snorkel before 8AM just to get a parking spot. I've never had an issue with parking. There are spots on the street and a lot that maybe holds 20 cars? I've gone here maybe at 10 on a Friday and no parking problem. Likewise went here at 11 on a Saturday and still enough parking. A couple of cons...There is a lack of sand so very few people can actually sunbathe here. Also the current here changes a lot. I was struggling once to get out of the water but in my struggle I did find a turtle =D HELPFUL TIP: There are a lot of different snorkel/scuba/snuba trips here during the day. I like to follow them LOL. read more

This is an AMAZING beach for snorkeling! Along the left-hand side of the bay is the place where the turtles funnel out of their cleaning area in the next bay and into the reef. The middle part of the reef is full of fish - and some are quite friendly since swimmers were allowed to feed them until about 4 years ago (and the fish have not yet figured out that they can no longer be fed!). Get there early to get a public parking spot across the street. read more

Good little beach in Poipu area! Snorkeling: -- very good area for snorkeling. Not as good as Poipu beach, but good amount of reefs where you see your variety of fish (and the occasional sea turtles!!!) -- for the intermediate snorklers or better. This is due to the waves, sometimes rough, that come in. Beach: -- small, very small beach. Found it better just relaxing and sunbathing on the grass where the Beach House Restaurant is. Surfing: -- Although I dont surf, this is just from observation -- This is a little area where looked like alot of the locals came. a couple of days ago, the waves for the surfers were a good 8 foot waves! Very nice just watching them do their thang! Parking: -- I dont know much info, looked like everyone just parked on the street. read more

While not the great barrier reef the snorkeling was quite good here. Check the surf reports ahead of time and keep in mind there are no life guards here. There is a bathroom and an outdoor shower right across the street which is nice. Better in the winter months when the surf is lower. read more

Lawa'i Beach - Lawai beach and the Beach House Restaurant. - Beaches Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Lawa'i Beach is some of the best snorkeling on the island. Mind you, Poipu beach is lovely and there are many other good spots with less tourists, but this place has many fish to see! Find yourself hungry or in need of an adult beverage? The Beach House is right there! Yeah, this a great spot! read more

So I couldn't even tell this was a beach.. looks like waves just hitting the rocks on the side of the road but if you pull over, you can see a sliver of sand where you wade out into the water. Not many parking spots here but in September, there were plenty of open spots on the side of the road. There were people snorkeling and other yelp reviews said this was a decent place for snorkeling, but I thought it was pretty rough. There's LOTS of rocks so getting in was really hard (got some scratches) and then once you're out there, the waves were too big to leisurely snorkel. I swallowed so much salt water here and it was hard to see. However, one lady who was snorkeling next to us had seen a sea turtle! We got out too early to see it ourselves :( read more

Come on--this is almost perfection. Kauai has some of the world's most beautiful beaches and this is absolutely beautiful. the crashing waves, warm water, optimal snorkeling opportunities, minimal crowds--what more do you want?! read more

Beautiful beach and views. Sunrises and sunsets are amazing here. Beach is family friendly and clean.

Perfect beach to chill or participate, snorkel, surf and SUP here. Picnic on the lawn and cheers to another incredible sunset. From sunrise to sunset, there's so much you can do or do nothing at all, it's a lot of fun here. read more

Love this beach. Maybe not for first time snorkel but if you have been before and can stay away from rocks and surge you will be ok. Rocky entry. Coral mostly dead but I did see several of every kind of Hawaiian fish. And lots of turtles. PLEASE PEOPLE stay 15 feet away from turtles and seals. Even while snorkeling. Saw many people too close and trying to pet them. AND PLEASE DONT FEED THE FISH EVER. Dive store guy said stupid tourists are feeding the fish frozen peas. Which they cant digest and get stuck in their digestion and kills them. So. No wonder there's fewer fish. But this place has a lovely variety. Lots of eels too. My new happy spot. Be safe and have a blast read more

Not very big beach But there's s nice lawn next to the beach house restaurant and awesome view.. Some awesome snorkeling and great chance of seeing the turtles!! Not for the beginner snorkelers as there's not really a Sandy beach area to get in.. read more

Loved it! Plenty of fish to see! We were fortunate to see honu as well. Sat on the grass in front of the Beach House when we weren't snorkeling. Parking is limited but we got a space. I'll definitely will come back during my next visit to the Island. read more