Wailua Beach runs about 759m (0.8km) along the Kauai coast — a mid-sized beach by Hawaiian standards. It faces east so it catches the morning sun. There are 7 mapped parking areas nearby, the closest about 195m from the sand. On-beach facilities mapped here include toilets.
Getting there & parking
Closest mapped parking is about 195m from the sand, with 7 parking areas within 600m. At least one is marked free. At least one charges a fee.
Distances are to the nearest point of the beach. Only formal, mapped parking areas are counted — informal roadside and verge parking is common in Hawaii and is not recorded in OpenStreetMap, so there may be closer options than shown.
What's there
| Toilets | yes nearest 142m |
| Showers | not mapped |
| Drinking water | not mapped |
| Changing rooms | not mapped |
| BBQ | not mapped |
"Not mapped" means OpenStreetMap has no record — it may still exist on the ground.
Places to eat nearby12 within 1km · nearest 27m
- Napali Brewing Co. · 170mMo-Su 11:00-21:00
- Imua Coffee Roasters · 472m
- Lava Lava Beach Club · 404mMo-Su 07:00-21:00
- Korean Barbecue · 146m
- Kintaro Japanese Restaurant · 183m
- Sea Shell Restaurant · 27m
- Street Burgers · 193m
- Vegetate · 247m
- Sleeping Giant Grill · 474m
- Sushi Bushido · 540m
- Coconut Thai & Chinese Cuisine · 568m
- Chicken in a barrel · 573m
Details from OpenStreetMap tags — hours and offerings change, so check before relying on them.
Shops nearby3 within 1km
- Rainbow Gas & Mini Mart · 117m
- stand up paddle board rental · 207m
Where it is
Who it suits
- Families and long days — toilets nearby and parking close to the sand
- Early starts — sunrise is over the water year-round, from 5:54am in June
- Eating without driving — 12 places to eat are mapped within 1km
- Arriving without a car — 1 bus stop is mapped within 500m
Derived from mapped features, not opinion.
When to go
Driest months are June, July, April. Warmest are September, August, July.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78.6 | 66.0 | 2.8 |
| Feb | 78.1 | 66.2 | 3.6 |
| Mar | 78.5 | 67.3 | 5.6 |
| Apr | 79.8 | 69.5 | 2.0 |
| May | 81.6 | 70.9 | 2.2 |
| Jun | 83.3 | 73.4 | 1.8 |
| Jul | 84.6 | 74.6 | 1.8 |
| Aug | 85.2 | 75.2 | 2.3 |
| Sep | 85.3 | 74.8 | 2.2 |
| Oct | 83.9 | 73.6 | 3.3 |
| Nov | 81.2 | 71.3 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 79.1 | 68.6 | 4.6 |
30-year normals (1991–2020) from NOAA NCEI station LIHUE WSO AP 1020.1, 7.5km away.
Sunrise & sunset at Wailua Beach
In June the sun is up at 5:54am and down at 7:22pm — 13h 28m of daylight, the longest days of the year here. By December that shrinks to 7:09am–5:56pm, 10h 48m.
This beach looks east (112°). The sun sets behind the land from here, not over the water. Sunrise is the one over the water — every month of the year — so this is a morning beach rather than an evening one. The sunrise point itself swings about 51° across the year, from ENE in June to ESE in December.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sun sets toward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7:19am | 6:15pm | 10h 56m | WSW 248° |
| Feb | 7:08am | 6:35pm | 11h 26m | WSW 257° |
| Mar | 6:45am | 6:47pm | 12h 01m | W 268° |
| Apr | 6:17am | 6:57pm | 12h 40m | W 281° |
| May | 5:58am | 7:10pm | 13h 12m | WNW 291° |
| Jun | 5:54am | 7:22pm | 13h 28m | WNW 296° |
| Jul | 6:03am | 7:24pm | 13h 21m | WNW 294° |
| Aug | 6:15am | 7:08pm | 12h 53m | WNW 285° |
| Sep | 6:24am | 6:40pm | 12h 16m | W 273° |
| Oct | 6:34am | 6:12pm | 11h 39m | W 261° |
| Nov | 6:50am | 5:54pm | 11h 05m | WSW 250° |
| Dec | 7:09am | 5:56pm | 10h 48m | WSW 245° |
Times are for the 15th of each month in Hawaii Standard Time. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving, so these hold all year.
Calculated from this beach's coordinates using the NOAA solar position algorithm and checked against US Naval Observatory tables (agreement within a minute). Which direction the sun sets is worked out from the shoreline's orientation, not from the skyline — a headland, an offshore island or high ground behind the beach can hide the last few degrees.
Where to stay
7 hotels, resorts and rentals are mapped within 1.5km of this beach, the closest about 291m away.
Hotels & resorts nearby7 within 1.5km · nearest 291m
- Kauai Shores, an Aqua Hotel · 386m
- Aston Islander on the Beach · 412m
- Kauai Coast Resort · 715m
- Plantation Hale Suites · 940m
- Kaha Lani Resort · 974m
Mapped lodging from OpenStreetMap — not a complete list of what's bookable.
Booking link is an affiliate link — it costs you nothing extra.
Things to do nearby
Attractions & galleries5 within 1.5km
- Hikina-a-ka-lā Heiau · 166m
- Kayak Wailua · 203m
- Kukui Heiau · 290m
- Kayak Starts · 296m
- Malae Heiau · 325m
Shops nearby1 within 1.2km
- crazyshirt · 620m
OpenStreetMap rarely records gear rental, so bookable activities are searched via GetYourGuide (affiliate link).
Where Wailua Beach ranks
- The best-equipped beaches on Kauai — ranked #7
- Family beaches on Kauai — ranked #6
Positions come from mapped facilities and shoreline orientation, and each list explains exactly how it is ordered.
Other beaches on Kauai
- Hanamaulu Beach · 6.1km · 474m long · faces east
- Kalapaki Beach · 9.8km · 455m long · faces south
- Larsen's Beach · 17.6km · 772m long · faces north-east
- Hāʻula Beach · 18.0km · 116m long · faces south
- Kawailoa Beach · 19.1km · 303m long
Safety
We don't have confirmed lifeguard information for this beach. Never assume a beach is patrolled. Check locally before entering the water.
Rip currents cause around 100 drownings a year at US beaches and account for over 80% of beach rescues, yet only 44% of beachgoers know it. If caught in one, the National Weather Service advises: flip, float and follow.
Safety guidance from the National Weather Service. Beach Beast is not a safety or rescue service. Conditions change rapidly — always check on arrival, obey posted signs and flags, and follow lifeguard instructions. The absence of a warning here does not mean a beach is safe or patrolled.