Kauai Nude Beaches Report

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Kauai Nude Beaches

2005

Updated Summer 2008

Transport to Kauai, accomodation, dining, shopping, are out of the scope of this naturist location report. If any reader has questions on those matters, please do email me and I will try to help since I am on Kauai now. MOST IMPORTANT: If any reader has any negative encounter at any beach listed either from members of the public or police, I urge you to contact me immediately without delay. Aloha.

Background:

The story of the persecution of nude sunbathing on the Hawaiian island of Kauai has been told on this website and in many other naturist media and does not need exhaustive revisiting here. This brief summary will suffice.

For two terms, eight years, a female Republican mayor of Kauai named Kusaka did her best to police nude sunbathing and to inform the sunbathers, public, and guidebook publishers that there are no nude beaches on Kauai or anywhere else in Hawaii. She found sympathy among the large Asian community, of which she is a part, with the Director of the Kauai Visitor Services, and in wealthy mainland property investors, mostly from Colorado and California. With the latter she held public press conferences brokering land and development deals, in particular Michele Hughes and her Kealia Kai project, above the historically nude Donkey Beach. Hughes hates nudists. At this particular beach countless police visits, tickets, arrests, and general harassment of nudists took place in the 90's. Donkey Beach, besides being known as a traditional nude beach, has long been known as a place where gay males congregate.

Complaints about improper behavior were made. One well-publicized event boiled over when private security guards for the Kealia Kai project drove ATV's onto the sand and rudely told ALL persons present, nude and clothed, they were criminally trespassing as the beach is private. This, of course, is nonsense as all beaches in Hawaii are public. A videotape of the ugly confrontation was made and shown to Kauai County Council who were most displeased. The beach driving got them most angered - it is illegal in Hawaii. Much back door posturing took place and guards and cops backed off Donkey Beach for the most part. A lawsuit was filed against Kealia Kai and the county by the Sierra Club to stop building homes that could be viewed from the beach. The suit was settled with that provision in force.

And one would think that is the end of it, right? Michele Hughes also owns multiple homes above Secret Beach on the north shore, another traditional nude beach. Whereas Donkey was known as Kauai's gay nude beach, Secret was known as the straight nude beach. I have heard different timelines, but by 2001 or 2002 latest Hughes placed a private security guard of Japanese descent named Sakae Takenaka at the base of her driveway which opens onto Secret Beach. His job ostensibly to stop the masses who might try to ascend the hill into the rich peoples' homes. In reality, he carries a "security officer" badge, camera cell phone, binoculars, and walks Secret Beach ordering nude persons to dress or he will take their picture and call police. He does call the police and officers are assigned to respond. I obtained call logs to the Kauai Police showing this. But I have never seen cops respond. His actions are illegal as there are no provisions for vigilantes under HI law, and security guards cannot patrol public lands. Kauai naturists obtained his employment contract under state freedom of information laws and learned Hughes pays him 15 bucks an hour to harass nude sunbathers!

I am working with national naturist leaders to solve this problem. This has meant that Secret, once Kauai's most well attended nude beach, hardly has anyone nude these days. Nudists on Kauai were/are very reluctant to give out information on their beaches due to all the past problems, not knowing if those asking questions like me were spies for the police. I had to move here to get this information. Still, as you will see below, there are options on Kauai, but as developers build and build, and boy are they building, and more people come, (tourism arrivals are at record high) over time these may shrink.

Legal Notes:

Topfree and g-string for ladies is LEGAL on ANY beach in Hawaii, EXCEPT beaches which are STATE PARKS where a special state park administrative rule against full nudity AND topfree is in force (HI State Park Admin Rule 13-146-38). These beaches comprise a minority of beaches in Hawaii. On the island of Kauai, Polihale Beach, Wailua Beach, Ke'e Beach (aka End of the Road), and Kalalau Beach (but read below) are state parks. They are under supervision of HI Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). They have rangers who patrol. If a DLNR ranger sees you nude or topfree on one of those few beaches you will be ticketed. Just be aware what beach you are on and who owns it. On county park beaches and undeveloped ("unencumbered") beaches topfree is legal.

Many Asians, who comprise a large percentage of the population in Hawaii, find topfree offensive. It is from them that most dirty looks and comments will occur. A slightly higher percentage of Polynesians (including Hawaiians) will tolerate it more then Asians, but most won't do it themselves, although I have seen nude Hawaiian couples and nude and topfree Hawaiian single girls infrequently on Maui and Kauai.

Technically total nudity in the form of merely non-lewd nude sunbathing is NOT illegal despite what 99% of people will try to tell you. There was a HI state supreme court case in 2000 (HI v. Kalama) which interpreted the HI obscenity statute (HRS 707-734) and unanimously threw out lower court convictions for obscenity against 6 sunbathers on Oahu island at Polo Beach. They were sunbathing nude and behaving appropriately. The supreme court said nudity had to be INTENTIONALLY affronting or alarming A nude sunbather who is not in his or her mind intending to affront or alarm passerby does not make himself or herself guilty under the obscenity code, the court said. Also there cannot be a ticketing or arrest unless a private citizen complains. In HI v. Kalama cops arrested sunbathers on routine patrol without private citizen complaint. HOWEVER, NOTE WELL, bigoted and intolerant police on Kauai will still try to harass nudists either unaware of or not caring about what the court ruled, hoping you don't know the law and will comply with their conservatism. It is not 100% smooth sailing yet. But again, even if a private citizen complains, they, and the prosecutor must prove the nudity was intentionally intended to be affronting and alarming. Do not plead guilty if you are behaving yourself and a cop writes you a ticket for topfree or nudity at a NON-state park location.

The current mayor of Kauai is Bryan Baptiste, who replaced the much hated (by naturists) social conservative mayor Maryann Kusaka. Baptiste has no desire for battling nudists, though I do personally know he is not happy with topfree and nudity on Kauai beaches. He seems more interested in economic growth. Last election Kusaka ran for the state legislature, where she surely would have worked to enact an anatomically correct anti-nudity bill. The Democrat incumbent crushed her.

WHERE TO GO NUDE ON KAUAI TODAY

Larsen's Beach.

Larsens's Beach is where many on Kauai go nude these days. Many who go to Larsen's now used to be regulars at the actually well-known Secret Beach (see related story) Reached by Koolau Road which in turn is off Kuhio Highway, the main road on the island's east side. From the south (Lihue, Kapaa) driving north turn right at the Moloaa Sunrise Fruit Stand at mile 16.5 (there is a roadside emergency callbox opposite the turn) and go about 2 miles on Koolau Rd., a winding curving road all the way down then up again until you see a white pvc pipe with "beach access" written on it-barely legible. It is next to a telphone pole and a small sign with the number 7 on it. Go right on the dirt road which has a new white mailbox with 7198 on it. If you pass the tiny Koolau Cemetary-1853 sign you just passed it. You will likely miss the turn as a first-timer, just look for the cemetary and re-trace. If coming from the north of the island (Princeville, Hanalei) going south take a left at the point where Koolau Road meets Kuhio Highway at the north (it is a loop road, joining Kuhio Highway at 2 points) about mile 19.8, (the 20 mile marker is the last thing going south before the left turn) and go south on Koolau Road about 1.5 miles until you see the cemetary on left. Just past it take the left on the dirt road heading "makai" (toward the ocean).

When at the parking lot go through the entrance with wooden posts on either side head straight toward ocean. Keep an eye on fence line on right-it follows to ocean. You will see the trail straight ahead and down- take it. OR take another trail bearing left that follows behind the beach and walk onto the sand at multiple points through vegetation where you can see paths to the beach. Depends on the day but majority of users are nude. Sometimes family groups sit near where the trail comes onto the beach.

Miacomet at Larsen's Beach

Kalalau Beach.

This beach is the one at the end of the world famous 11 mile Na Pali Coast hike. Unlike most of the other beaches on Kauai, this is a STATE PARK BEACH (recall comment above) and a special administrative rule against nudity and topfree applies here that does not at most other beaches. However, many go nude and luckily due to budget constraints rangers are rarely there. MAYBE every two months for a day. When they show up they are flown in by helicoper-you will know when they arrive!!

Kalalau Beach.

You need to arrange a camping permit from the state way in advance if you want to be legal. Permits are available from the DLNR office in the State Office Building, Lihue, Kauai. Tel. 808-274-3444. Many people don't bother but I think it is a $100 fine and you must vacate immediately if rangers fly in by helicopter and catch you without a permit. If you don't bother with a permit, especially in summer season, do not camp on the beach but camp in groves near the Kalalau Stream. Ask the local guys who live in the valley where to camp if you don't have a permit - they don't have one!

The sign at the beginning of the Kalalau Trail..

The hike requires overnighting at the beach. You must be in good shape. Many, especially from Europe, travel to Kauai just to do this world-class hike. You need small tent, all food (avoid trailmix with chocolate-just melts, and limit tins of things like tuna and sardines, the weight in your pack adds up, try plastic ziplock bags for most things), and iodine tablets (available at Longs Drugs, Kapaa for about $6.00) to purify drinking water, which is available from a deliciously crisp, cold waterfall at the beach. That is where you will shower too. Most people take 5-7 hours one way to hike in. After 2 miles, where only permitted persons are allowed to hike, keeping out day trippers from the trail, many used to traditionally strip and hike nude except for boots, BUT there can be lots of mosquitos, esp. at mile 6, and the sun can be fierce, so most wear some clothing for those reasons rather than modesty. At the beach, once you see the locale, it becomes obvious clothing there is silly. I finally made it there in September 2005 and stayed a week. I noticed young couples would hike in, arriving late afternoon, set up camp, and notice others of us already there nude but stay clothed.

Tents on Kalalau Beach.

Next morning when the surreal surroundings of the place sink in, and you look up at 4000 foot high fluted green pali (cliffs) against blue sky and passing puffy clouds and realize you have a mile of beach with no cars, few people, no electricity, no civilization, no cell phone (they don't work there) most then come to the conclusion clothes are not needed there either. Typing in "Kalalau" or "Na Pali" in Google or Yahoo searches will yield stories of the hike in better than I can describe. The guys who choose to live in Kalalau full time are cool if you are too and are low key. There is usually a pizza party on every so often. Ask them nicely if you can contribute and join. When I went I donated a couple pounds of cheese and pepperoni and helped chop and saute garlic and onions! I would suggest bringing those, or other ingredients for a pizza party and getting to meet some new people! Depends on if people, meaning YOU, bring the cheese, anchovies, etc. if the party happens. Some produce is grown by these squatters in the valley like onions and tomatoes. One of the best pizzas of my life was in September 2005 at Kalalau.

Miacomet's Tent at Kalalau.

Waiakalua Beach.

This beach on the northeast side of Kauai is reached from the main drag Kuhio Highway by taking a right at North Waiakalua Street as you head north. It is about mile 20.8. A sign saying "Kauai Organic Farms" is on the right corner. Go about two thirds mile on this paved road. There the road ends. Go left on a dirt road bordered on both sides by ironwood (casurina) trees. Go to end, about one minute, and park so other vehicles can pass and are not boxed in. You will see a couple of boulders and a white pole at beginning of trail. The view from this point above the trail is breathtaking. In January and February humpback whales are usually visible spouting or breaching.

You can see two small beaches down to the right, these are the Pila'a Beaches. Many locals misname Waiakalua Pila'a. If you are lost and ask for Waiakalua and they give you a blank look, mention Pila'a instead. Pila'a beaches are accessed by private roads and textile families usually go to them. You want the beach on the bottom left. Go down carefully, it's fine in dry weather but very slippery if it has rained. The trail descends 200 feet down - very steep! At bottom go LEFT and around the bend in the beach you see as you arrive. If you go all the way to the end there is a small stream and a grove of fig trees which provide shade. Because of the seclusion, most users overall to this beach go entirely nude, although it varies day to day. There are a couple of residential homes and vacation homes above (out of view with one exception) and it depends on who shows up how much nudity there is. Many days I am alone there all day. Weekends might have three or four couples and same number singles all day. Once in a while a big textile family group might turn up, but this is uncommon. If so, there is another beach further NW past the end of the beach where the stream is to seek refuge! Along with Kalalau Beach, this is my personal TOP PICK for a Kauai nude beach.

Secret Beach.

This beach in Kilauea on Kauai's north shore has been the traditional straight nude beach of Kauai for a long time as mentioned above. It has been named in Kauai guides and in Baxandalls' World Guide to Nude Beaches and Recreation as a nude beach for years. So....is Secret Beach still a nude beach? It is IF you walk far enough. If you walk way east, over half mile from trail toward the lighthouse on what is called "Fourth Beach" the guard described under "background notes" won't walk that far. Well, he hasn't yet; maybe there is first time?! It is a beautiful spot, whales can be seen offshore in January and February. I cannot recommend it for a naturist visit, sadly. Located on north shore past mile 23 turn Kalihiwai Rd. immed. veers left. Take first right a dirt road, and this leads to parking lot.

Donkey Beach

Located off Kuhio Highway at about mile 11.5, next beach north of Kealia, it is marked only by a brown international hiking symbol sign, a pictogram of two hikers. Nothing that says "Donkey" . There is a parking lot and a sign points way to path down to beach. I visited twice. One day a small group of couples and young ladies, all suited. Another day there were three or four nude males and one nude couple, plus half dozen suited persons. It's a pretty enough spot, very popular with surfers in winter.

Aliomanu Beach.

Reached from Kuhio Hwy at about mile 15.5 take a right at Papaa Road. Go past about three homes and take a right Kalalea View Dr. Go a short distance and look for beach access sign on left. Take this road down towards ocean. Park in little lot which has another beach access sign. Go down path from lot to beach. Most pople get naked left out of sight of the one home on the beach. It is usually very empty there. I have seen many girls topfree over a years time but only a handful of nude persons. You can also go to the right and see who is there. It might be OK on your day.

Aliomanu Beach

Tunnels Point Beach.

This beach has been clothing-optional for 40 years. Located immediately east of Tunnels Beach in Haena, north shore. Million dollar homes abut the beach and you feel as if you are sunning in someone's back yard. I went there a lot in 2004 until a lifeguard tried to have me arrested. However, he "ignores" single nude females-he likes to see girls on "his" beach, but not males, even males with girls. Perverted. Lifeguards patrol on ATV's but only one hates nudists. It is a beautiful spot and sunsets behind the "Bali Hai" peak are memorable. Try and just remember topfree and g-string is legal beyond debate.

Trophy Home at Tunnels Point Beach

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