Hideaway Beach Kauai (this can be a dangerous beach for swimming)

Hideaways beach is a small sliver of a beach perhaps only one-hundred yards long which is located down the side of an extremely steep cliff at Princeville. This is not a beach for everyone primarily because of the difficult and potentially dangerous hillside trail that carves its way down the cliffs to the ocean below. A metal rusted railing was installed to help you negotiate this trail many years ago and any trip down will require you to hold it for support. The steps are steep, almost in places like jumps and not only will you have difficulty and have to concentrate getting down them but as you might surmise, the return trip up is only for the hardy. This is not a beach you would want to bring a cooler to and only the minimum of needed accoutrement should be taken with you.

Hideaway’s Beach on Kauai Reqires a Steep Hike to Get To
Because the trip down is difficult you will usually find relatively few people down at the beach, which is a good thing because in contradistinction to most Kauai Beaches there is very little space available at this one. As the seasons progress from summer to winter the beach will become even more of a sliver as the sands recede. Once at the bottom however you will be treated to an idyllic spot with clean course light brown sand and plenty of shade on the beach perimeter.

Snorkeling at Hideaway Beach
Hideaways beach can during certain days in the summer months be a real treat for snorkelers although anything other than a dip would not work for a swimmer because of the abundance of shallow coral. Any decision to swim here during these times should require diligent and through analysis of the conditions because stiff currents can be present even during calm conditions and there are no lifeguards on duty here. During the winter months you should forget about entering into the water here altogether because of the extreme ocean dangers. Even simply walking on the narrow beach can be a danger at these times as well.

The Trail Down to the Beach
There are no restrooms, showers, picnic tables or any amenities whatsoever at Hideaways Beach and the parking lot up top is tiny which gives you good reason to show up at this location early in the day. Many of the people staying in Princeville will simply walk to this location from their nearby condo.

Ocean Caution
Be advised that all beaches and ocean locations in Hawaii can be dangerous including this one. Be completely aware of the ocean conditions prior to entering any Hawaiian waters however it is not advised that you enter the water at this location. Also, all shorelines and beaches in Hawaii, including this one, can be frequented by sharks, jellyfish and other sea creatures which can provide potential harm to people entering the water. There are no lifeguard towers at this location.