Kealia Beach
Photo by Wasabi
Surfers and boogie boarders flock to this water for the regular surf and wild conditions due to the constantly changing sand bar. The half mile long beach is a favorite for jogging, dog walking, kite flying, and bon fires. Public parking. No facilities.
Things To Do
- Swimming
- Surfing
- Bodyboarding
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Beach walks
- Family days
Cool Because
There are almost always waves to play in at Kealia and plenty of room to do it.
Hazards
Strong currents. Powerful waves breaking on sandbars. Sharp reef.
Topography
Sandy shoreline with rocky points at each end. Sandy underwater with some reef.
Not Good For
Snorkeling - areas with sand bottom are not good for snorkeling because there is no reef to support a variety of fish.
User Rating
Click a star to vote
3.0 / 5 (70 votes)
lifeguarded
Your Questions Answered!
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Let's Discuss (21 comments)
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Oct 11, 2006 8:06PM
I sometimes like to jump in the water and cool off at Kealia - especially after mountain biking the epic trails in the area. Kealia loves westerly winds - a rare condition but it makes the water beautiful.
Dec 04, 2006 9:37AM
Great surfing beach for those who are experienced ONLY. If you are not experienced, hang towards the left side of the beach where the waves are generally not as strong and cool off. This is a local's beach, so respect it accordingly.
jonathan jay
Dec 05, 2006 4:21PM
kealia a beguinner's surf spot? not 80% of the time. Far too often, Kealia pounds, and it can be like a washing machine out there. chaotic wave wrap, shorebreak, rip currents... not the best place to begin. Only typicaly controlled at the very far north end of the beach inside the jetty.
Kalapaki - not listed is a FAR BETTER place to learn to surf.
Rock Quarries with sand, and no reef is often good too. the bay protects a bit.
norita masa
Jun 21, 2007 11:22AM
I've never been there but it looks fun the waves look pretty cool to go surfing or body surfing. i'm about to go there now so aloha
Jul 05, 2007 9:17PM
I was wondering if this would be a good beach for me, my wife, and my son (13), and his friend (15). We are all strong swimmers, and know what to do with currents, but want to be safe. We all love to boogieboard. Also, do you think Kekaha would be good?, or too strong of currents
Mahalo
Kauai Explorer Staff
Jul 06, 2007 8:16AM
Kealia can be very fun - just talk with the lifeguards before you head into the water. The waves tend to be choppy on the East shore because the prevailing wind is onshore. For cleaner waves go to Hanalei Bay where the wind blows offshore. Kekaha can be fun, check with the lifeguard there too.
billy
Jul 08, 2007 9:25AM
Kealia surf is the most diverse on the island. You can always find some windswell and when a ground swell comes in...get ready...because it goes off! NE swells break better on the north side of Kealia. The swell wraps around the reef there, bringing in long lefts and bomer rights. SE swells break perfectly on the southern end of Kealia (in front of river mouth). Stay out of the water on big days if you don't surf. Currents can get bad.
Jul 24, 2007 9:38AM
This beach is so freaking sweet it makes me tingly all over my body when get in the water because it is so awesome.
Aug 15, 2007 3:43PM
Kealia is sick when it's big but you can get barrels even when it's small.
Dec 18, 2007 10:45AM
hey i will be comming in the beginning of january to kauai, are beach fires allowed on most of the beaches at night?
Kauai Explorer Staff
Dec 18, 2007 12:36PM
As far as I know, yes beach fires are allowed. Build your fire in a safe location where there is no danger of spreading.
One important consideration is that you should let any beach fire burn OUT COMPLETELY. Many people think that fires should be extinguished when they leave the beach, so they cover them with sand or throw a bit of water on. The problem here is that there will still be red hot embers hidden under the sand the next day. I know of kids and adults who have suffered bad burns by unknowingly walking on disguised embers. So let the fire burn out completely. W
Feb 27, 2008 12:48AM
This is a great website! I'm arriving in Kauai tomorrow and am looking for some more info on the surf. We're staying with Auntie Sylvie in Anahola. Does Anahola and some of the other beaches in the area pick up any wrap-around swell from the N/NW? I know there's plenty of windswell on the east side, but I haven't found much info on Anahola, or Unreals. Will I score any of that North Pacific juice this week in Anahola? Thanks!
Kauai Explorer Staff
Feb 28, 2008 8:06PM
Aloha David. Hope you're enjoying stay. The swell has to be really really big to get into Anahola and this break tends to have very few visitors surfing there.
Looking for surf on the North shore, Hanalei Bay is always a good bet. But as a surfer, you know, searching for a good wave - especially in the beauty of Kauai- is half the fun. Good luck. J
May 30, 2008 3:39PM
My husband and I are planning our second anniversary trip to Kauai in May of 2009. We both love to hike and would enjoy hiking the “Grand Canyon of Hawaii,” we also plan to view the Na Pali Coast by water. We’ve tentatively chosen to stay on the east side of the island due to its proximity to other adventurous activities like zipping and river kayaking, however, I’m wondering if this location is too far from the Na Pali coast the Canyon. I’m also concerned about weather conditions in May. Is the East side of Kauai a good home base for what my husband and I want to do, or will there be lots of driving involved to reach other sides of the island? Also, how's the east side weather in May?
Kauai Explorer Staff
May 30, 2008 7:08PM
Aloha. The East side of the island is the central point. Most Na Pali boat tours leave from the South/West side, which is also the side where Waimea Canyon and Kokee are located. Weather on the East side is typically beautiful Hawaii weather, with the "warm" temps of summer coming on. The East side is also a hub of shops, restaurants and grocery stores. It can serve as a great homebase from which to have your day excursions. Drive times in either direction will most likely be no more than an hour or so either way (traffic depending). It's a small island. Enjoy. J
Jun 23, 2008 7:43PM
Kauai Explorer measures wave heights by faces, or Hawaiian?
e.g. today is 3-5ft. which is normally a solid waist to head high
Kauai Explorer Staff
Jun 23, 2008 11:13PM
They're measured by faces. Today is waist to chest high.
Aloha. J
Jul 04, 2008 12:55AM
I'm confused. Which beaches allow leashed dogs and which do not allow dogs at all? I've heard this one called "Kealia Beach Park". Does that mean it's a "county park" where no pets are allowed at all (like Poipu Beach)? Or is it not a county park? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Kauai Explorer Staff
Jul 07, 2008 8:42PM
Hi Randy. We're not experts on this topic. However, it is our understanding that a dog must legally be on a leash at all times, unless under special circumstances. Dr. Becky from the Humane Society on Kauai has a blog site that discusses the nuances of the law in depth:
http://blog.alohaforanimals.com/?p=10
J
Jul 23, 2008 12:33AM
I surfed here a couple of times last summer. The first time was in the afternoon and there was a good vibe in the water. The waves were decent and I was able to catch quite a few. The next time, it was in the morning and the locals acted like I didn't exist or just stared at me when they paddled by. I caught maybe two waves. I'm a shortboarder with over 15 years of experience surfing several time per week. I've encountered my share of localism but usually find a way to have fun anyway. This day wasn't fun. I'm coming back next week and will probably try this place again but if anyone has any suggestions of how to deal with the locals or of a place or times when the vibe is better, it would be appreciated. Thanks, Tim
Kauai Explorer Staff
Jul 23, 2008 5:17PM
Hi Tim. As a traveler and surfer, you probably know that most times in most places, people are friendly. Like anywhere, you can encounter the occasional 'bad vibe'. Kauai has its share of localism and it can be felt in the water at times. Usually if you are sharing the aloha spirit, respect and waves, there should be no problem. A smile can go a long way. If you do encounter negativity, it may be best to move on. Any locals in the forum want to chime in, please do. Aloha. J
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