Kealia Beach

Drive north on the Kuhio Highway just out of Kapaa Town and you're struck by a beautiful site. Surfers riding whitecapped waves on a long windswept beach. The town is now out of sight, and a tall hill of rainforest towers over the beach across the highway. The Coconut Coast's winding 2.5-mile bike trail cuts past this beautiful stretch of sand. It all makes you want to get out of your car to explore Kauai's stunning outdoors.

There's a memorial to Andy Irons that stands like a billboard in the middle of Kealia Beach. Andy Irons was the pride of Kauai. He won three consecutive surfing world championships between 2002 and 2004, but drugs got the best of him. His behavior became increasingly erratic while on tour. He unexpectedly quit the circuit in the middle of the 2008 season only to make a comeback in 2010. The incredibly talented and troubled surfer died at the age of 32, as he struggled with opioids. Surfers from all over the world still make the pilgrimage to Kealea to pay homage to his memorial.

With Andy looking down from above, local surfers test their skills on the strong waves of this Coconut Coast beach. Swimming and surfing here are not recommended unless you have plenty of experience. However, there's a safer spot at the north end of the beach where a cove is created by a natural jetty of rock. Still, the surf is quite choppy and you may be confused as it seems the waves come from all angles. There's a lifeguard station at Kealea, so it's advisable to ask where it's safe to swim if you want to cool off.

There's plenty of parking at Kealea, and you'll notice a row of barbeques with awnings just off the sand. You're likely to run into native Hawaiians and locals cooking up some food at these stalls. This is a locals beach. You'll hear loud island music being played, pidgin being spoken and plenty of laughter. It's here, in places like Kealea, where the Aloha Spirit lives.