Lumahai Beach, Kauai: The Best 2024 Visitor Guide
Lumahai Beach, Kauai!
One of the prettiest beaches on the North Shore of Kauai, so beautiful that it was the setting for one of the famous scenes of the Hollywood movie South Pacific, the movie that put Kauai on the tourist map!
With a rainforest cliff setting as a backdrop, with two lava rock outcroppings as encircling arms, and fringing forests to the ocean waters, this stunning beach is the epitome of Hawaiian tropical paradise!
Wide golden sands, lush green vegetation and clear blue waters, Lumahai Beach is everything we dreamed of for our Kauai vacation!
But looks can be deceptive, steer away from the ocean waters. With no underwater reefs to break the waves, Lumahai Beach is exposed to the full majestic power of the open ocean waters.
Especially in winter, rough large waves come crashing all the way to shore, with a raging undertow and rip currents sucking everything back to the ocean.
Swimming, snorkeling, cliff jumping, boogie boarding and other water activities should definitely not be on a visitor’s radar, whatever you see the locals doing here.
Lumaha’i Beach is nicknamed Luma-die Beach and Lumahai and Die Beach for good reason, unwary visitors have been swept away by rogue waves, especially while thinking they were safe on rocky mini-cliffs near the shore.
Stay safely on the beautiful sands of Lumahai Beach and admire the amazing natural beauty all around!
Lumahai Beach on the North Shore of Kauai is one of the prettiest beaches on Kauai I’ve visited!
Visiting Kauai? The only way to get a real feel for the rugged beauty of this incredible island is through a helicopter tour!
Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For more details, refer to our disclosure.
Lumahai Beach Directions
Scattered along the north shore of Kauai, you’ll find many pretty beaches, and Lumahai Beach, a few miles west of Hanalei, on Kuhio Highway (Highway 560), is exactly that!
Conveniently on the way to tourist destinations like Haena State Park or Haena Beach Park or Tunnels Beach, Lumahai Beach is so beautiful, it is definitely worth a stop.
Start looking for parking along Kuhio Highway as you approach the 5 mile marker.
Lumahai Beach Parking
You have two options for Lumahai Beach parking.
First, you can stop at the eastern end of the beach, called Kahalahala Beach, near the pullouts around mile marker 5.
Or the better parking option is on western edge of the beach where the Lumahai River enters the ocean. Plenty of parking is available here in a deeper pullout from the highway.
Lumahai Beach Map
The Lumahai Beach map below shows the location of Lumahai Beach, and the main attractions nearby.
Lumahai Beach Access
From parking along Kuhio Highway or designated pullouts, access to Lumahai Beach is via short trails.
If you parked closer to the lookout section on the eastern end of the beach, there is a short trail through the forest and down the hillside. The trail can be slippery after rains, so watch your step.
From the western end of the beach also, there is a short trail, but with a less inclined slope, leading to the mouth of Lumahai River.
Both trails wind through a beautiful forest with palm trees, ironwood trees and hala trees (easily recognizable with their characteristic aerial tufted roots).
Frankly, doesn’t really matter which trail you take, as you can stroll along the beach to either end.
Lumahai Beach Reservations
No reservations or permits are needed for Lumahai Beach. There are no entrance fees either.
Lumahai Beach Amenities / Facilities
Location: Hanalei, North Shore of Kauai
Lifeguard: No
Beach Amenities: None
Food Nearby: Hanalei or Wainiha
Parking: Free roadside parking along Kuhio Highway (Highway 560)
Directions: Two miles west of Hanalei on Kuhio Highway, mile marker 5
Lumahai Beach is pristine and undeveloped, absolutely no facilities or amenities here.
If you’re looking for a nearby beach with lifeguards, restrooms and outdoor showers, head to Haena Beach Park.
Best Things to Do at Lumahai Beach
First and foremost, know that Lumahai Beach is best enjoyed from the safety of the sandy shores!
Any water activity here, especially for visitors not familiar with the risks of ocean waters, is extremely dangerous, and several unsuspecting visitors have drowned.
If you’re looking to snorkel in summer, Tunnels Beach a few miles further west on Kuhio Highway is an excellent choice, one of the best Kauai snorkeling spots!
Haena Beach Park, also close by, is one of the best swimming beaches on Kauai (summers only!), with lifeguards, restrooms and outdoor showers.
1. Soak in the Natural Beauty at Lumahai Beach
Green sand beaches are relatively rare, with four beaches in the world typically considered predominantly green in color! The best known of these in Hawaii is the famous Papakolea Green Sand Beach on Big Island.
Oddly enough, Lumahai Beach does have a greenish hue on occasion, resulting from green-colored olivine mineral found in the sands here, and you’ll see tinge more easily from the lookout above!
As a result of the olivine particles here, note that the beach sand can get hotter than normal beaches, and appropriate water sandals are highly recommended.
Green color apart, there is a lot of natural beauty at Lumahai Beach to admire!
On the western end, the Lumahai River empties itself into the Pacific Ocean, and the rainforest jungle along the river banks is picturesque! Stay away from the waters at the mouth of the river, since rip currents here are common.
The wide golden sands, stunning blue ocean waters, and rich green vegetation make Lumahai Beach one of Kauai’s primary picture postcard locations, and you’ll find this plastered all over T-shirts, magazines and other Kauai promotional material!
2. Sunbathe or Relax with a Book on the Lumahai Beach
Though small in length, Lumahai Beach is quite wide, with beautiful, finely powdered golden sands.
Finding a nice private area for some sunbathing or relaxing with a good book is relatively easy, but make sure you stay a safe distance from the water, especially in winter, when the waves make deep inroads!
Definitely stay off the steeply inclined part of the beach at the edge of the waters.
3. View Spectacular Sunsets from the Lumahai Beach
As with many of Kauai’s north shore beaches, sunsets at Lumahai Beach are spectacular, with the skies lighting up in a multitude of warm colors.
Nature photographers will love to stay back and capture the stunning sunset reflections here!
And if you enjoy sunsets, read more about the best sunset spots on Kauai!
4. Admire Turtles and Monk Seals on Lumahai Beach
As with other Kauai beaches, you’ll see the occasional Hawaiian green sea turtle or monk seal on the shores of Lumahai Beach, typically in summer, since the winter waters are just too rough here.
Admire these iconic Hawaiian marine life from a distance, both are protected species and NOAA recommends at least 10 feet.
Did you find this article informative? Pin it on Pinterest for later!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is subject to our terms and conditions of use. It is not a substitute for information or advice from official agencies or qualified professionals.
SV Travel Media LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion and judgement, and seek advice from professionals where needed.
Your use of the information described in, and your participation in activities presented on our website may carry the risk of illness, bodily injury, disability, death, or property damage. You freely assume all risks and dangers that may occur as a result of your access, use, purchase, or participation in any information, activity, product, or service listed on our website.
