Poipu Beach Area in Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Written: Oct 09 '02 (Updated Apr 01 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great location; wonderful snorkeling and a lot to do in this area.
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: I cannot imagine giving anything in Hawaii less than 5 stars but I still have much more to review! Po'ipu is a 5 star area.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Poipu Beach Area |
I am reviewing the Po’ipu Beach area of Kauai, Hawaii, USA. We recently spent 3 weeks in Hawaii with Kauai being our second island. We stayed in Po’ipu and enjoyed the beach area very much.
About the area:
Po’ipu Beach Park is at the southern most tip of Kauai. We were able to walk to Po’ipu Beach from the villa we rented. This beach which is a combination beach and park is the major center of beach activity on the south shore. Here you will find a wonderful beach with warm water, play areas for children and picnic tables. We found the best snorkeling on the island here especially on the right side of the point. You will see what I mean when you go. You can’t miss it especially since the children will be snorkeling to the left of the point. This area is also semi protected by a breakwater making it very attractive to children. You will find both grass and sand. Although there are no umbrellas or fake trees for shade there are plenty of trees on the grassy area under which to sit. Although there were plenty of people on the sand, there was always room for 2 more and even in the wonderful water, we were not bumping into others.
There is what is called a tombolo, which makes this area unusual and very safe especially to the left of the tombolo. A tombolo is a narrow strip of sand, which joins 2 pieces of land. It is a sand bar of sorts and when the tide is low you can sit on it. Just remember that you will get wet if the tide is high when you decide to come back. It isn’t far from land, though, so it is quite safe.
There is a playground area and lifeguard station. You will find facilities including outdoor showers. The facilities were always clean. This is a well-maintained area.
We never had problem parking. I will give you a tip. First if you cannot walk to the beach, there are some spaces along the street where it is fine and free to park. Across the street is Brennecke’s Beach Boiler, Brennecke’s Beach Boiler is very popular and a nice place to have drinks as the sunsets or just to people watch. It also has a large parking lot and during the day we (as well as others) parked here when we couldn’t find a space on the street with no problems. There are no signs saying “for Brennecke’s only” and my sense is that as long as you park away from the restaurant, the restaurant is fine with that.
We at dinner at Brennecke’s as well as enjoying a happy hour there. Happy hour is 2:00pm – 5:00pm every day. Lunch is served from 11:00- 4:00 and dinner from 4:00 – 10:00. The food was good but a bit pricey. There is also a deli and gift shop attached to this restaurant.
Next to Brennecke’s Beach Boiler is a store called Nukumoi Beach Surf Shop. You can buy clothes as well as rent equipment. We brought our own but this is available if you need it. We did buy (and it was a lot of fun to use especially if you have children) a waterproof guide to fish that we wore under water around our wrists. There are different sizes. Ours cost us about $6.00 and it was worth it.
Koloa is considered part of this area as well with Old Koala Town being a major place to go in an otherwise quite area. I do not recommend Pizzetta. It is convenient so it is a popular pizza and pasta restaurant but the food was expensive and not very good. We wanted to eat at the recommended Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo (332-8561) but it is closed on Mondays and that is when we went, only to find it closed! I don’t golf but according to “Kauai Revealed” a must have book, the best place to golf in this area is at the Po’ipu Bay Resort.
Other sites in the area include:
-Prince Kuhio Park. This Prince was the last royally designated heir to the Hawaiian throne.
-Ko’ai Heiau- a Heiau is an Hawaiian Temple or place to worship and you will find many on these islands.
-Spouting Horn Beach Park, which is unusual because it has a second hole that makes a moaning sound!
-National Tropical Botanical Gardens – There are 186 acres here consisting of 2 separate gardens.
-Koloa Landing is a popular SCUBA shore dive.
-You will also find some wonderful shopping including Island soap and candle which has the most gorgeous pieces I have ever seen.
-Po’ipu Shopping Village where you can get an ice cream at Tropical Dreams.
The villa in which we stayed we found through www.vrbo.com (Villa Rental by Owners) a site I can recommend since each time we have used it has been a great experience.
There are many villas from which to choose (http://www.hideawaycove.com/villa.html). We chose the Dolphin Villa, which is a studio and one of the most beautiful places in which I’ve been. It is perfect for a family or anyone who does not mind that there is no housekeeping. This has been reviewed separately under Hideaway Cove Villas.
Feel free to leave me a comment or ask any questions. Other Hawaii reviews you may be interested in:
Traveling to Hawaii on a Budget
The Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel
Aloha Airlines
Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast in Maui
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LahainaTown Maui
Hana Highway in Maui
Haleakala National Park in Maui
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaiian Airlines
Puff the Magic Dragon Lived in Kauai
Waimea Canyon on Kauai
Poipou Beach Area, Kauai
Na Pali Coast, Kauai
Hideaway Cove Villa, Kauai
Royal Kona Resort,The Big Island
The Island of Hawaii - The Big Island
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island
Oahu
USS Arizona Memorial on Oahu
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Polynesian Cultural Center,Oahu
Wailua River State Park in Kauai, Hawaii
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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