Wailua Beach

Wailua Beach sits right in the heart of Coconut Coast on Kauai's east side. It's named after one of the island's most beautiful rivers that pours fresh water into the ocean at the southern end of the beach. That wide river is simply rainwater that's been flowing out of the dormant Mount Waialeale volcano in the middle of the island. It's the rainiest place on earth, creates the only navigable rivers in the state and it'll eventually be the death of Kauai as it erodes its famous red dirt into the Pacific.

The Wailua River is full of kayakers on weekdays. There are plenty of tours that can take you a mile down the river to the one-mile Secret Falls trail. But you won't find any tours on Sundays. That's when the locals buzz speedboats down the river towing tubers and wake surfers.

Murky Water = No Swimming

The river is incredibly important when it comes to Wailua Beach because of the sediment. On rainy days, the red dirt flowing out into the ocean can make the water murky. Shark attacks are rare, but they are more likely to occur when the water is dirty. A shark may nibble on you to just to see what you are when vision is low in the cloudy waters. Keep out of the water if you don't see any locals.

Wailua will be the first beach that you see if you're just arriving on the island and driving north. It'll be on your right-hand side just as you cross over the Wailua Bridge towards Kapaa Town. You'll be stunned by the small sliver sand, the adventurous windsurfers and the lack of parking. Wailua Beach only features a handful of spots on the street just off the main road north of the beach.

Wailua Beach Safety

There is a prominent lifeguard stand on the beach, but you should make sure it is occupied by a lifeguard before getting into the waters at Wailua. The tradewinds that whip up the Coconut Coast make for reliably choppy surf. The waves are strong and you might be caught up in a rip current in shallow waters. Wailua Beach is beautiful for a box lunch, but the water is reserved for experienced swimmers, surfers and windsurfers.

It's nice to pop down onto the strip of sand, feel the breeze and walk down to where the river meets the sea. You can watch as the two different types of water swirl together, and you're likely to find some fish darting around in the clear waters. And on windy days, you'll be treated to a windsurfing show where the daring ride gusts to leap 10 feet or more off the surf.

The Coco Palms

You'll find the haunting and iconic Coco Palms just opposite the main road from Wailua Beach. The rainforest is fenced off, and you may catch glimpses of what was once the nicest hotel in all of Hawaii. In fact, Elvis famously filmed the movie Blue Hawaii in the now haunting area.

The Coco Palms was once the site of the largest coconut grove on the islands. In 1953, the legendary resort opened its doors and it became a huge hit with celebrities like Bing Crosby, Liberace, Gene Autry, Frank Sinatra and Duke Kahanamoku. The resort flourished until it was destroyed in 1992.

Hurricane Iniki wrought its Category 4 destruction on the island. With close proximity to both Wailua Beach and River, the resort sustained heavy damage. So much so that the owners decided to board up the rooms and leave. Locals break into the resort every once in a while to see offices with papers still left on desks as if the resort is frozen in time. You may even find one of the resort's famous large shell sinks in a local's house if you're lucky enough to be invited for dinner.

There are rumors that investors want to revive the Coco Palms. It seems that progress on the revival is continually held up by red tape and financing, but, until the renovations actually take place, The Coco Palms stands as a reminder of the power of Mother Nature. And with the beautiful windswept ocean to the east, Kapaa town just to the north and the haunting Coco Palms to the west, Wailua Beach is an interesting destination worth a short visit. Just remember that you swim at your own risk in the choppy surf.