Lanai Beaches
The island of Lanai has a coastline of about 47 miles (76 km). Lanai beaches are never crowded since there is just one small town on the entire island – Lanai City – which has a population of just a little over 3,102 people (2010 Census). Visitors to Lanai Island are also few compared to the other Hawaiian islands.
The best swimming beach on Lanai is Hulopoe Bay, located on the island's south shore. Even though Lanai is a small island, it has one of the longest white-sand beaches in Hawaii – Polihua Beach – which stretches for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) on Lanai's north shore. However, it is characterized by high winds, rough water, strong currents and unpredictable surf, which makes swimming unsafe. Beach sand in Hawaii comes in all kinds of shapes and colors. Read more about Hawaiian beach sand composition.
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Huawai Bay is a small beach that is one of Lanai's best-kept secrets. Few visitors ever get to see it. Graced with lovely salt-and-pepper sand and surrounded by small sea cliffs, this isolated treasure can be an explorer's playground.
Hulopo'e Bay is Lanai's most popular swimming and picnicking beach. On the bay's east side is a lava terrace that has several large tide pools, all of which are home to an abundance of marine life.
If you like to fish, Kahemano Beach is the perfect spot. However, it's not a good beach for swimming because the inshore ocean bottom is very shallow and a popular hangout spot for reef sharks.
Keomuku Beach encompasses six miles (9.7 km) of shoreline on Lanai's east coast. The shoreline consists of many narrow black sand and cobblestone beaches. Offshore is one of the longest stretches of fringing reef in Hawaii.
Lopa Beach is a long white sand beach. It begins on the south side of Kikoa Point and ends past an ancient fishpond, which is the most outstanding feature on this beach. The fishpond has been designated as a bird sanctuary.
Manele Bay has Lanai's only public harbor. It's where you arrive when you take the ferry from Maui to Lanai. There is a small white sand beach at the east end of the bay that offers good snorkeling and diving conditions.
Naha Beach has one of four ancient fishponds on the island. The walls of the pond are the most outstanding feature of this beach. To the north of the pond is a small rocky beach overhung with kiawe trees.
Located on Lanai's northwestern end, Polihua requires the assistance of a four-wheel drive vehicle to maneuver the rugged, four-mile (6.4 km) long trail that leads here. The beach is the longest white sand beach on Lanai.
Shark's Bay is one of the most scenic spots on Lanai. The bay is backed by red lava cliffs and features great views of Pu'u Pehe, a small red rock island also known as “Sweetheart Rock."
Shipwreck Beach, also known as Kaiolohia, is known for its shallow reef and strong currents. It has wrecked many ships in the past, hence its name. The Alderman Wood, a British vessel got into trouble and sank here in 1824.
