Lydgate Beach Park

Sep 11, 2006 9:48AM

Excellent conditions for children in the man-made ponds. There are lots of fish and on calmer days visibility is pretty good. I taught my 5-year-old how to snorkel here and she loved swimming with the fish!

The playgrounds are awesome~ however can get kinda hot on warmer days (check slides for heat).

Clean bathroom facilities and the lifeguards are right there overlooking everything you do in the water.

Marcia Favaloro

Dec 28, 2006 11:49AM

My family has lived on Kauai for nearly 30 yrs. I've taken my kids to Lydgate as well as use it myself when I'm here visiting my dad. I just wanted to note that the lifeguards at Lydgate are the most helpful, friendly, and available of any of the beaches on Kauai. Mahalo nui loa to all the guys, especially big Norm, for all the help they give our visitors and our residents. This is community service at it's best.

Dec 28, 2006 7:54PM

Do you know when camping will be allowed at Lydgate again? It's a shame that such nice camp sites aren't available.

Thanks...

Jan 07, 2007 3:46PM

This is a great spot for children or people that are new to snorkeling or afraid to snorkel. You can see the fish without snorkeling. It is great for young children to lay on a boogey board and look into the water. They see the fish without even getting in!!

Jan 21, 2007 8:47AM

This is the perfect beach for kids including infants and beginner snorkelers. The park has a wonderful playground and is wonderful for picnics.

We like this beach much better than Poipu Beach Park. It was way too crowded for our infant when we were there in April.

Mar 13, 2007 5:57AM

Beautiful, peaceful and serene beach park. Feeding the fish is not a myth. They come right up to you and snatch food right out of your hand. In addition to the main pool, there is a smaller pond for the kiddies located to the left of the large pool. However, I was ripped off at this beach. There are a team of locals that cruise this beach waiting for unsuspecting tourists. In addition, the local police take a blind eye and an apathetic attitude. I suspect the Kauaian government isn't too aggressive about curbing thefts because the goods stay in the local economy. This is not a reason to avoid Lydgate, just remember the rule. If you go to Lydgate, go in a pair or more. When one person plays, the other stays with the belongings. Do your part and don't feed the buggas. Mahalo!

Mar 15, 2007 6:18PM

Visited the park/beach on 3/15. The small swimming area on the left was full of debris, the large swimming area had quite a bit of wood and other floating debris near the outer edge. The sandy part of the beach on the right had wood stacked all over the beach. Is this usual? It made for a very uninviting sight and we left without entering the water.

Apr 03, 2007 10:00AM

I read the comment by Darryl dated 031307 and disagree with his comment that the "local police take a blind eye and an apathetic attitude" towards crimes against visitors. We take a very aggresive role in the investigation, and attempt to apprehend all violators for crimes against visitors and residents. We are here for the victims. We also initiate "stake outs" of high crime areas to identify, and arrest these individuals who violate the rights of others. And, "No", the Kauai Government is aggressive about thefts against our visitors, and residents. We even have a visitors bureau in which one of their responsibilities are for visitors who were victims here. Like all locations, there will be some people that look for crimes of opportunity, and working together, we can eliminate the opportunity.

Thomas Noyes

Apr 05, 2007 11:24AM

Your staff response to Ben about camping is correct, but Bill 2149 to enable overnight camping at Lydgate Park will be before the County Council on April 18, 2007.

The Council and Administration are working to resolve outstanding issues regarding the 31 camp sites built in 2004 for overnight camping.

The main issue will likely be security. Testimony on the matter may be submitted to:

cokcouncil@kauai.gov

and

mayor@kauai.gov

and it would help to cc The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park at:

ThomasNoyes@hawaiiantel.net

Aug 09, 2007 12:33PM

I plan on taking my kids(6, 3,and 18 months)to this beach since it seems to be a kid friendly environment. Is it far from Princeville (where we're staying)? What are some other kids friendly beaches to go to during the month of October?

Aug 13, 2007 9:49AM

I have been reading about hurricane Flossie and I am going to be in Kauai Aug 18-25th is this going to cause any problems? I have been reading and it sounds like mainly the east shores will be the ones effected. So will the north and west shores still be swimable? Thank you so much I LOVE this website it has helped my planning so much! Thanks

Aug 17, 2007 5:47PM

Is\'nt bad to feed the fish? Great place to learn how to snorkel or even for early in the morning taking A good swim.

Sep 11, 2007 11:48AM

We have been going to Lydgate alot. However, our last trip gave us pause. We saw multiple pieces of dental floss and other gunk floating.
Is this beach a health hazard at times, due to its proximity to stream or sewage plant?
Does state or county do routine checks of microbio at beaches?
I really love this beach & hope this was a rare oops.
Thank you for your help.

Sep 26, 2007 6:13PM

I am bringing my mother (82 yo) and granddaughter (1 yo) to Kauai in October, however would like a beach walking distance of rental and safe for all ages. Would Lyngate be the best? Love the comments. Thanks.

Oct 15, 2007 1:19PM

Is there a phone # for Lydgate state park? Our group of 30 would like to have a bonfire and want to ask permission or check rules, etc.

Nov 20, 2007 11:20PM

We decided to have our wedding on Kauai with about 30 people. I've recently found out that such a size wedding party greatly inconvenience locals and fellow vacationers and they require a permit unless everyone stands the entire time (and even that is frowned on). Also the wedding planners I spoke to say they don't give out those permits anymore.

Seeing as you are not trying to get a commission from me, can you recommend a place that is on or very near the water where our wedding won't disturb anyone?

Any idea whom I would contact to try and get a permit?

We are staying at the Aloha Beach Resort by Lydgate Park. Is the pavillion close to the water? Do they let people rent that for an hour or so?

Thanks anyone who has ideas for me.

Jan 01, 2008 7:13PM

We are coming in May 2008. How close is Lygate park to ResortQuest Kaui @ Makaiwa? Is the temp in May extremely hot for our 4&5 year olds. I look forward to your respomse. Thank You.

Jan 02, 2008 8:26PM

We are coming in May 08 with three little boys (2,5,and 8). Is there a hotel/condo within walking distance of Lydgate?

Jan 10, 2008 11:33PM

Kello,
I'm coming over to attend a conference at a very expensive hotel in Poipu, and have decided I want to try tent-camping at varied county campgrounds for the week I am there. I'll have a car; can you recommend an Itinerary that I can call up Parks & Rec with. I'm planning to pack up the car every morning and possibly go to a different campsite every night.

Jan 12, 2008 9:21PM

Hi,

We are coming to Kauai in June and was trying to find a house or cottage on close to Lydgate or on Kalapaki but didn\\\'t have much luck (we don\\\'t want a resort or condo). We did find a house that was available on Wailua River. Can you swim in the River? I was told that Lydgate could be accessed by walking or kyaking. Do you think Lydgate is within walking distance with two small kids and a bunch of beach stuff? And what about Kyaking - how is the water when you go from the River to the Ocean? Would it be safe to take the kids on the Kyak to Lydgate?

Thanks!

Jan 14, 2008 12:22PM

Aloha!
My boyfriend and I will be on Kauai from Feb. 23-29th, 2008. If there was one thing on Kauai we absolutely had to experience during our trip, what would you recommend? I realize we're running a risk with the weather at that time, and was also looking for beach recommendations for snorkeling & boogie boarding during our stay. We'll be staying in Princeville, and want to make the most of the little time we have there, so the closer the better - any recommendations for less expensive, but good food would be appreciated as well. Thank you!

Jan 15, 2008 4:43AM

Hello,
My husband my little 18 months old daughter and I are planning to go to Kauai next August.
We travel from Italy.
I would like to know where it is the best place to stay with my little kid as she likes very much the water and lying in it but I am afraid of strong currents or waves.
Is there any calm place on the beach where to stay?
Thank you very much
Anna

Jan 20, 2008 4:07PM

Coming in 2 weeks but injured, any suggestions on a easy/short hike I can take with the pilialo. Staying in Kapaa.

Mahalo

Feb 27, 2008 11:12PM

we are planning on celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary on Kauai this June and we plan to explore the entire island - our favorite water sport is snorkeling -Which are the best and safest areas and/or beaches for this activity in late June- To those looking for a place to stay check out www.vrbo.com we found a house on the north shore near Haena for $800 for a week less than 2 minute walk to the beach

Dee Cappelletti

Mar 02, 2008 10:30PM

Since you can't camp at Lygate Park any longer, where can you camp? Thanks Dee

Mar 23, 2008 11:10PM

I just had to go to this beach as all the books pointed out how great it was. The visibility was not good and I might have seen one fish, brrr it was cold that day too. Maybe March is not a good month to see it at it's best We stayed in on the east side and had so-so weather all week, off and on rain and windy. The north side was the same but the south was a lot warmer and the sun peeked out some. We had fun snorkeling the south side, saw turtles and a seal came right out of the water and landed at our feet while we were on our beach towels warming up! I would have loved to snorkel the north side but it was a bit too cool for our taste. I loved the island though, I can't get over all the flowers! Mahalo to you and your web site.

Apr 16, 2008 5:03PM

For our family (kids age 4 and 6, beginning-level swimmers), this beach and park worked really well. (Especially since we stayed at the resort next door and did not have to drive.)

Morning seems the best time to go there; the water is calmer and more clear. In the afternoon, the water starts coming over the breakwater a bit, and by evening, the pond gets quite a flushing by the ocean.

I\'m an avid snorkeler, and I was surprised by the variety of fish. Lots of your usual characters near the shore (stripy ones and silvery ones), but more colorful wrasse, butterfly fish, and tangs can be found near the rocks on the far side of the pond. I even saw a trumpet fish!

I, too, noticed the plastic bits of debris at the high tide line. Not big, and no chunks of garbage, but still a little disheartening. (But not so much as to deter us.) The park in general, however, seemed well-maintained; we saw cleaning crews out there all the time.

Mahalo for a great web site, by the way!

Apr 17, 2008 4:48PM

Me and my fiance are coming in June 2008 and we will have a wedding ceremony ! i kinda worry about too many people on the beach in june..do u know?

Apr 27, 2008 4:55AM

I'm planning on taking my family to Kauai at the end of August for the very first time. My son is 7 years old and like to boogy board. Which would be some of the best and safe beaches for this purpose and this time of a year and also We are looking into renting a condo close to a beach, I've heard that at some parts of Kauai rains more then others, where would you recommend staying ?

May 08, 2008 5:29AM

Wow, what a great site.

We are coming out to visit next week, the second full week of May 2008. We are staying at a timeshare that is between the airport and Lydgate. I plan on using the lagoons at Lydgate to teach my wife to use fins and possibly dive while snorkeling instead of just floating on the surface with her life jacket. I really get tired of towing her around. ;-)

I plan on moving on up to Poipu and Tunnels as the week progresses, but are there any wrecks on the island that you can snorkel to from the beach? Her favorite day ever while snorkeling was last summer in Vero Beach Florida where we snorkeled out to a wreck that is only a quarter mile off of the beach.

I also noticed that Lydgate has the man made lagoons. Are you allowed to swim outside of the lagoons, and is there anything much to see there if you do?

Are you required to drag along a diver down flag when you snorkel outside of a marked swimming area like in Florida?

I think that is it for now.

Don

May 15, 2008 2:22AM

I was surfing the web and found a website which indicated that camping would soon be
allowed at Lydgate park. The website looked like it was put together by volunteers associated with making improvements to the park. Do you know anything about this issue.

Jun 03, 2008 5:00PM

14 in our family will be in Kawaii in late June. Kids age range 1yr.- through teens I think this would be a nice day event for all. Are their any food consessions or resturants around, or shoud we plan on bringing our own food and drinks?

Jun 13, 2008 7:49PM

We Will be staying close to Lydgate park (late July) and was wondering if you could recommend a nearby place to surf-fish.

Jun 21, 2008 4:26PM

Hi there - am planning a trip to Kauai in mid-to-late August or early September, and would like a safe, lifeguarded beach to take my nearly two-year-old to. I'm looking for one with no high surf during that time of year. Any suggestions? Mahalo!