Polihua Beach

Polihua Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Hawaii, is the longest white sand beach on Lanai, stretching over 1.5 miles. Polihua, located on Lanai's northwestern tip, needs the use of a four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate the rocky, four-mile-long trail that goes here. Polihua, with its turbulent surf and high winds, is more of a picturesque beach than a participatory one. The winds can be so powerful that they form sand storms, so if you come here on a windy day, you'll almost certainly get sandblasted all over you. On calm days, this beach is ideal for sunbathing, picnics, and photographing.

Swimming and ocean activities are not advised owing to the erratic surf and strong currents. The nearshore ocean floor is steep and slopes precipitously to above depths. Polihua Beach is also entirely exposed to the open ocean. It lacks a protecting reef and rocks. Even on a calm day, the powerful alongshore current is always strong and will easily sweep you out to sea. Swimming is not safe here at any time of year, regardless of how calm the ocean appears.

Polihua Beach was previously one of Hawaii's most well-known green sea turtle breeding beaches. Although endangered green sea turtles are slowly making a comeback, they are no longer commonly spotted here. If you visit during the winter, you are significantly more likely to observe whales. They frequently travel close to the beach.

Start from the Garden of the Gods and make your way to Polihua Beach. Just a short trek from your parking location, you'll be rewarded with gigantic sand dunes expertly carved by the unrelenting ocean-driven winds. Despite the absence of ocean activities at Polihua Beach, many visitors enjoy its remoteness and the unusual and gorgeous scenery.

Location: Lanai, Hawaii