Last week Travel and Leisure came out with their list of best beaches in the USA. While we were proud to have Beat of Hawaii’s own local beach rank number one, it did raise some questions, even in our own Kauai-based minds.
Reassessing Poipu Beach: the jewel of Kauai amidst some controversy.
This choice by Travel and Leisure has stirred up significant discussion, especially among visitors and locals familiar with the wide array of incredible Hawaii beaches. While Poipu Beach’s vistas are undeniably stunning year-round, the title of “number one beach” might require a somewhat broader lens, considering various practical aspects of the Poipu Beach experience.
The Charm of Poipu Beach.
Nestled on the perennially sunny south shore of Kauai, Poipu Beach is renowned for its golden sands divided by the tombolo, which creates two distinct coves most of the time. This geographic quirk not only enhances its beauty but also provides diverse opportunities for water sports enthusiasts, including surfing, snorkeling, and windsurfing. The presence of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal adds a unique wildlife encounter to its picturesque scenery.
Criticisms and Constraints about Poipu Beach Kauai.
Despite its beauty, Poipu Beach faces several critical issues that might detract from the ideal Hawaii beach visitor experience. First, the lack of adequate restroom facilities poses a basic yet significant inconvenience and an embarrassment for residents.
Additionally, the beach struggles with insufficient parking, making access problematic for both tourists and residents. The beach’s size doesn’t cope well with the high volume of visitors it attracts, leading to a feeling of overcrowding and diminishing the quality of relaxation and privacy at Poipu Beach Park.
Moreover, swimming opportunities at Poipu Beach Park are surprisingly quite limited. The ocean conditions, hidden rocks, and available space for safe swimming don’t necessarily meet the expectations that one might have for a beach touted as the best in the nation. Other nearby beaches, including Salt Pond Beach Park, feature better swimming.
Comparison with other Hawaii beaches.
When compared side by side with other prominent beaches in Hawaii, Poipu does have some real shortcomings. For instance, Hanalei Bay, also on Kauai, or Hapuna Beach, on the Big Island both offer truly expansive sandy shores with far better swimming conditions in season. Also, Ala Moana Beach Park in Oahu is not only centrally located but also well-equipped and able to cater to a huge number of visitors without feeling too congested. Additionally, Maui boasts several beaches like Kaanapali and Wailea, which combine pristine conditions with extensive amenities, making them suitable for accolades.
Our Verdict: We love picturesque but not pragmatic Poipu Beach.
The title of “the most picturesque beach in the U.S.” would perhaps suit Poipu Beach more aptly than being labeled the best beach overall. The distinction between visual allure and functional superiority is important in this context. While Poipu indeed offers wonderful, photo-worthy landscapes and unique wildlife spotting opportunities, including seals and turtles, it falls short when it comes to providing a comprehensive beach-going experience that accommodates practical needs.
Looking ahead at Poipu Beach.
For Poipu Beach to truly stand up to this title, significant improvements would need to be made. Enhancing the infrastructure, including more parking and better restroom facilities, would be a great start in alleviating some of the current constraints. Furthermore, we wonder if future consider may be given to paid visitor parking or other visitor management strategies to ensure that Poipu Beach does not become a victim of its own intense popularity.
Travel + Leisure rating Poipu Beach as the best in the U.S. certainly brings pride to those of us on Kauai and truly highlights the undeniable natural beauty found there. However, it also invites a more critical look at what makes a beach truly outstanding.
Good thing Poipu Beach wasn’t BOH’s pick. It was T&L’s pick for best beach. Maybe next time T&L will next for your opinion but it appears this time they didn’t. Congratulations Poipu Beach!!
The free aqua aerobics class at 9AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays is fantastic!
“Enhancing the infrastructure” at Poipu would lead to increased overuse and thus degradation of the environment. Is this really what we want?
What a joke, I lived in Hawaii, Big Island and Kawai call Poipu beach number one is a joke, beaches like Anini for surpass the tiny boy poo beach that is not too great for snorkeling or suntanning, beaches so small, I think Mufi might’ve made some money on getting this beach number one🤣 This is one of the last beaches I would go to if I wanted to be on a beautiful beach