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A Polihale Beach Off-road Adventure

Daybreak in Paradise

Greet the morning- e' ala e' aloha kekahiaka -with a solitary walk or run along the beach side or mountain road. Morning birds waking. Palms whispering gently. Waves lapping the coastline. Heavenly! Breath deeply, stretch, feel totally alive in the sweet smells of Hawaii. Let the air wrap you in its velvet embrace. Put on your Hawaiian eyes and realize where you are...

Enter the Day

This is a day of absolute Hawaiian beauty. You'll be heading to Polihale Beach, Home of the Spirits, a breathtakingly beautiful, long white sand beach on the very end of the westside of Kauai. The sheer size of this (17 miles long) buff beach and 100 foot sand dunes leading to the seemless never-ending ocean lends an air of age and mysticism. Its easy to believe that you could be the first person on earth here... The Na Pali sea cliffs are directly in front of you at the end of the beach. A long bumpy effort to get there, but very well worth the drive. Polihale is stunning Hawaii!

Polihale Heiau, a Hawaiian temple for religious worship in pre-Christian times, was where the souls of the dead leapt from land into the spiritual relm. Chanting Priests would offer special mele, songs, to help the spirits make the transition into the netherworld.

This beach is really stunning and the sand is really really hot. Be sure to wear covered shoes or you will burn your tootsies. We've seen people throwing a towel in front of them trying to walk along the sand. The surf here is amazing to watch, but is not safe to go into along the beach proper. Look instead for the area called Queen's pond, a small shallow sandy-bottomed inlet protected from waves and shore currents. This spot is wonderful!

How to get there: You'll drive to the west side of Kauai to the end of Kaumuali'i Highway or Highway 50. So, toward Waimea town and on. At the end of the road, veer right at the fork. Drive down the long bumpy dirt road approximately four miles to a big monkeypod tree. Queen's Pond will be to your left and Polihale in all its glory.

ClubHawaii cannot stress enough that the safest swimming at Polihale State Park is in the protected inlet called Queen's Pond. This is a beautiful water area midway along the shore. Really pretty. Really fun. Really safe. Just gorgeous. Remember, though, that winter months will have larger and more dangerous surf. Spring and summer, smaller surf and calmer more enjoyable waters. This is a beach to spend the whole day with lots of food and water for total enjoyment. Did we mention lots of water....

Camping is permitted, but with a permit only. The park does have restrooms, showers, picnic tables and drinking water. Be sure not to leave valuables in your rental cars....

Mid-day's Lingering

You've planned to spend the day with lunch at the beach. So make sure you stopped at Ishihara Market at 9894 Kaumuali'i Highway, 338-1758, for your picnic fixings. You can get ice chests/ice, sodas, bottled water, prepared salads and a wonderful selection of local fish delicacies at their in-store deli. And, if you want some creature comforts while you're at Polihale Beach, then stop at Westside Sporting Goods in Waimea town @ 9681 Kaumuali'i Highway, 338-1411. You can rent beach chairs, beach umbrellas, mats and other cool stuff. Yes! This is the way to go!

So here we are at one of the coolest places on the planet. Its difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts when we have our lunch. We have our beach chairs and umbrella for shade and comfort. We have a great book, we're getting some sun (using your spf whatever sun block) and time melts away. Is this perfect or what...?

Afternoon Delights

After your great lunch time unwind, take a nice long walk on this stunning beach! Don't forget to take some photos. These will be the blow up big kind of photos. No joke! Polihale Beach is that incredibly beautiful! This is a special kind of place in our Hawaii. When you've had enough fun in the sun and enough beach time, rinse off under the park's showers. You'll feel so much more refreshed for you upcoming drive. Time to brave that bumpy ride back to civilization.

You'll be glad you cleaned up a bit at the beach. Now you're ready to hit the big city lights of Waimea town, to Waimea Plantation Cottagesat 9400 Kaumuali'i Highway, #367. If you need to call them ahead of time or if you get lost, well then here you go: 808-338-1625. This is like walking back in time to old Hawaii with gorgeous lush landscaping, huge unbelievable Banyan trees and lots of privacy and room to roam. The grounds are wide open, expansive, lush, and really old Hawaii. This whole place feels old Hawaii from the moment you enter. The Cottages were originally the homes of workers at the Waimea Sugar Mill and are now quite beautifully restored historic cottages with complete kitchen facilities and furnished with a treasure trove of period pieces. Guests can relax on the large lanai's, patio's, and can gaze out at the island of Niihau, or the horizon, swim in the oceanfront pool, hunt for driftwood on the beach, or pick fruit from the trees. Cottages vary in size, some with two and three bedrooms. Very nice! And now the Waimea Plantation Cottages are working to resurrect the personal life histories of the people who lived in these homes. Interesting and a special view of life in old Hawaii.

Waimea Plantation Cottages is very near Waimea Canyon and sits on a black sand beach that's wonderful for beachcombing. Great sunsets and wonderful starry nights here. And, if you need a massage, the staff of Hart Felt Massage & Day Spa, soon to be expanded as A Hideaway Spa, are there to provide a great service. After your morning and early afternoon of rambling and beach walking fun, you're definitely in need for a massage from the able hands of the staff of Hart-Felt Massage and Day Spa, or A Hideaway Spa at 9400 Kaumauali'i Highway Unit#40 on the grounds of the Plantation Cottages. You will need to make reservations, so call 808-338-2240. The spa has expanded and there are several massage styles to choose from with a wide range of spa treatments as well. A massage in one of their spa suites or tropical garden settings is just the thing to loosen up tight muscles from that bumpy ride, your beach adventure and all that sun.... Aaaah. Being at this spa is like taking a step back in time. This is old Kauai at its best, quiet, unhurried. The "mana" loving touch and caring of the staff inspire one to slow down and relax. Simply to unwind. And this is what all of Kauai is about, unwinding and enjoying life at its best.

Check out the spa's 8 person hot tub spa as a perfect way to privately begin or end your Kauai Day Spa experience. What a way to go! Hart-Felt Massage uses products made from natural Hawaiian ingredients from the Island of Kauai, essences with sea kelp, mango, kukui nut extracts. Some of the specialty massage treatments include Deep Connective Tissue, Island Hot Stone, and Raindrop therapy. Spa treatments also include Hawaiian wraps, scrubs and polishes. Yea, way more than fluff....they're on you with elbows and forearms...yeow!

A delightful aroma product is Keala with hints of the salty ocean breeze, citrus, bougainvillea and pakalana flower essences. Just yummy!

Sunset & Pupu's Await You

After your massage, or massages, take a slow stroll through Waimea Town. A gem in plain sight, this little town was recently selected as one of a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations of 2006" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This is an annual list that showcases unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States that protect their local heritage through well-managed growth and a fierce committment to historic preservation.

Waimea is a quaint old town and rambling through it is a perfect way to walk up an appetite. All done... let's head back to the Waimea Plantation Cottages and watch the mighty sun go down at the beach there. Perfection.

Evening Bliss

In the lingering twilight from the setting sun we hear the sounds of gaiety and good times drawing us to the Waimea Brewing Co., 9400 Kaumauali'i Highway, 808-338-9733, the westernmost brewpub in the United States. Situated at the Waimea Plantation Cottages amidst a 100 year old coconut grove this brewpub beach shack offers a romantic setting for the end of your day. Local entertainment (you just never know who might be sitting in for a cool jam session), a friendly, laid back atmosphere, good food and it's the end of another perfect day in Hawaii, a perfect ClubHawaii kind of day.

Aloha, drive safe on your way back to the South, East and or North Shore. Or better yet, why not book an overnight room at the Cottages....? Wherever you end up for the evening, we wish you Tiki torch nights and walks on the beach under Hawaii's brilliant stars.....Aloha and goodnight.