Lumahai Beach

Sep 02, 2006 10:48AM

I think that you should let it be known that many people have died here by being swept off the rocks. Thus, in my opinion the warning should be even sterner......... even if it sounds frightening to people. Thanks.

Sep 06, 2006 11:52PM

Yes, the comment above is true, people do get swept off the rocks. Here is a helpful hint, if the rocks are wet, stay off of them. The ocean waves have been there and you should not be there. I have seen people walk on wet rocks and after 5 minutes another set of waves come and cover the people. There are some basic rules to safety. Here is my basic rule, during large surf days, don't walk on wet rocks. My second rule, have fun!!!

Apr 30, 2007 6:02PM

Hello. I have read about how people drown due to currents and rip tides along north shore beaches. I do not understand why being swept out is so dangerous. I mean, what happens to people out in the deeper parts of the water? It seems like once they are out there, they drown within minutes. Please explain. Thanks.

Jun 26, 2007 8:33AM

I have been coming to Kauai for 40 years, and the highlight of every visit for me is a trip to Lumahai. As long as you're an experienced ocean swimmer and observe the wave patterns before entering the water, you can swim safely in the large [pools on the Hanalei end of the beach].

Aug 31, 2007 7:04AM

i would recomend this beach if u like to bodyy surf or bodyboard
its aaa relly funn beaachh

Sep 08, 2007 2:15AM

The report of a woman being swept off the beach and drowned makes me wonder if this beach is even safe for walking. I am considering staying in a house near this beach in mid-November. I would like to walk on the beach early each morning but now wonder if that would be safe. Any advice for beach walkers?

Regina

Oct 02, 2007 6:24PM

Hey - what a great informative site, with real feedback , too.
Thanks a great deal,
Ethan

Oct 09, 2007 5:34PM

I lived on Kauai in 1987. I am a very experienced bodysurfer. I was nearly sucked out in less than two feet of water. I had to do everything I could to keep from being swept out. And I grew up @ THE WEDGE in Newport. This place make the Wedge look WEAK. I didn\\\'t even go out after this event. I was PISSED. It was like it wanted me. RESPECT this place. I recall LUMAHAI translates in Hawaiian to \\\"Unfriendly Waters. C.M. 2007\\\'.

Oct 11, 2007 12:12PM

My daughter and I went to Lumahai Beach both in the Summer and Winter of 2001, I had no problems with the water, the waves were great, yes the current was very strong. But if you use common sense and swim parallel to the beach you'll be surprise how you can get back. JUST REMEMBER ONE THING, DON'T PANIC and you won't Die!

Lumahai is my favorite beach, I even have the e-mail address as lumahaibeach50

Oct 12, 2007 10:55AM

Your right W, I live near San Francisco there is a beach called Ocean Beach off of the great highway the waves are so powerful they will pull you out to sea. I think the problem is that many people take the ocean for granted, they turn their back wham they get knocked out. Ocean Beach had several deaths in the past, some times they haven't been found.

When my daughter and I were at Lumahai, I had seen several small children playing near the shore. I took it upon myself to tell the parents about Lumahai that its NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN to swim unless your a strong swimmer and you know what your doing even then you might run into trouble.

PARENTS, DO NOT TAKE YOUR SMALL CHILDREN TO LUMAHAI BEACH, THE CURRENT IS SO STRONG THAT THEY WILL DROWN AND BE SUCKED OUT TO SEA. MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT LUMAHAI.

Phil

Nov 18, 2007 6:29AM

The parking our last visit to Lumahai Beach in 2/2002 was horrid. We couldn't park our rental car. Hoping this visit 2/2007 some changes have been made, such as a trolley to the beach, no way would we suggest to pave Kauai for parking. K

Nov 29, 2007 3:07PM

Could please advise me on the route of the East side bike path and is there a bike rental? Thanks, K

Dec 30, 2007 12:51PM

Hi all
expecting to arrive for a week around 23 jan 08, the island seem like a great place to visit but well spread. can anyone suggest a place to hire a jeep or similar to get around?
Great web site

Thx
Kev

neiil

Jan 04, 2008 7:18AM

Aloha! Congratulations folks - an excellent exchange of comments & information. Anyone who visits this site before visiting magnificent Kaua'i has no excuse for not being a well informed visitor regarding the ever present danger at risky but always beautiful Lumahai! Mahalo!

Feb 26, 2008 11:25PM

By far my most 2nd favorite beach of all, Ke'e being my first. This beach is so beautiful. The water is almost always the perfect temperature. It gets a little deep almost right away, but in the summer, when the tides are low. You can spend hours splashing around. It's never crowded nor full of shady people. You can dive off the rocks, snorkel or just float about. It's beautiful. But DO follow caution. When the waves are high and rough, it can be extremely dangerous. Lots of people have lost their lives there because the fail to heed caution. Nothing would suck more for you than drowning to death on your vacation. Other than that, go out, take your lunch(make sure to pick up your trash), oil up, get some sun, catch some waves and have a blast.

Mar 24, 2008 12:44AM

I read the comments here before going to this beach and let me tell you folks, it scared me! The water here is very powerful and the undertow is just huge...I didn't even want to get close to it. I warned a young pregnant woman with a toddler about the waves. My boyfriend and I were nervous about her playing with her toddler so close to the waves, so I decided to warn her... I was rudely told that she grew up there and she knew what she was doing. So, with exception to her, be careful at this beach. It's not for novice swimmer, and it's definately (in my opinion) NOT a beach for children.

Apr 01, 2008 4:21PM

My wife and I visited this beach in Feb 2008. It was my favorite thing we did on the island. Very big, dangerous surf that day, 20 foot waves breaking right on the rocks, shooting spray about 60 feet into the air.

To those of you who do not understand how people drown, let me share my thoughts.

I grew up swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, etc. I consider myself an experienced swimmer. One morning I went snorkeling in SoCal with my brother in law. It was our first time to the spot, so we just put on our gear and went straight out into the water looking for a good spot. We had to swim a bit before we found some good rocks & fish etc. However, I wasn't swimming "smart" and expended way too much energy getting to the good spot. Once I got there, I was exhausted, short of breath, and panting. I didn't know what was happening. Even though my head was above water, I couldn't seem to get enough air out of each breath. It felt like I was trying to breath through a McDonald's coffee straw. My first instinct was to try harder to keep myself above water. Then I realized that was making me MORE tired. So I turned on my back and just let myself float for a bit, knowing that I could at least keep my face out of the water by floating. In the meantime my brother-in-law joined me to make sure everything was OK. By relaxing & regaining my strength, I was able to regain control & was fine. However, I definitely understand how people drown, even experienced swimmers. The Panic factor should never be underestimated.

Anyone who thinks he has mastered the ocean is woefully ignorant & may eventually pay the ultimate price.

Apr 07, 2008 7:30PM

I have been to kauai 25 time's usually in early spring or sometime in the summer month's and usually when i go to lumahai in late june an early july i have seen it very calm and have enjoyed some fun snorkeling and fishing from the rock's, and trust me always be cautious when fishing from the rock's when your concentrated on the fish a rogue can come an let you know who's boss. Do you know if there is good Ulua fishing from Lumahai?

Apr 17, 2008 1:51AM

My husband and I stopped to have lunch at Lumahai Beach on Monday. We could hardly believe it when we saw two men wade into the crashing waves near the lava outcrop. They were in trouble immediately and couldn't get back to shore...they were struggling and being carried out ...hopefully clear of the lava rocks. Rescuers arrived with 15-20 minutes and at that point we left....I haven't heard any news so am hoping that all went well. It was a very terrifying event to watch and I felt sick for the guys struggling in the water.

May 05, 2008 8:21AM

The situation with the college girl getting swept out and nearly drowning was because she was walking into the river mouth to take pictures of the rocks and a wave came up and swept her off her feet and the rivers currents carried her directly out into the oceon. It truely is a beautiful beach with great history, but much caution must be observed here in order to enjoy it safely. Kauai's beauty can be hipnotizing. Whether your driving down the road or walking down the beach enjoying the prestine beauty Kauai has to offer you must always be aware of your suroundings and the possible danger you can find yourself in.