Lumaha'i Beach
Lumaha'i Beach
4.5
About
The isolated beach where the movie "South Pacific" was filmed. It is not a swimming beach but the views are spectacular.
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4.5
125 reviews
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a-travelin-foodie
United States1,078 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Beautiful beach for walking. Reading past reviews and looking at the shore break, it is probably NOT good for swimming or going in the water at all. Lots of folks going into the cold cold stream coming down from the mountains. A few folks climbed the lava rocks across the stream for photos. No facilities but a nice place to sit and read or walk for a bit with mountain views adjacent and behind.
Written June 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelsey H
Baltimore, MD102 contributions
Dec 2019
We loved this beach! There is lots of shade at this beach, which made it easier to hang out for a few hours without getting burned or overheated. Lots of driftwood, which could be a negative but all the kids including our own loved exploring the driftwood and finding interesting sticks. The waves were way too rough to even go near but beautiful to watch. There is a river here that feeds into the ocean that many were swimming in. You'll get mixed reports about if it's safe to do that with regard to leptospirosis so research that to be informed before jumping in to swim in the river.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guido C
Lima, Peru690 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
After ten days in all Kauai, the best beach of Kauai in Summer so far! Good for swimming, snorkeling, and floating on its lava-rock ponds. The trail from the Northern Hanalei Highway mile 4 marker is short and not steep.
Written September 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Double "Ollie" Winner
Riverside, CA2,494 contributions
Jul 2015 • Solo
Ok, sorry to be so blunt, but if you're reading this, you're probably a tourist. This beach is amazing, beautiful, secluded, etc, etc, etc. All true. AND the wish to explore the rocks and water lures tourists to their death here on a frequent and recurring basis! PLEASE DON'T DIE HERE!!! The seclusion of this beach includes nobody to save you. Enjoy the beauty, stay out of the water and off the rocks unless you're an expert swimmer. CLUE: if the rocks are wet, then a periodic BIG wave is sweeping over them...maybe 5, 10, or even 15 minutes apart. DON'T LISTEN TO THE SIRENS (Greek mythology) or your friends and family may listen to the sirens (when the EMT arrives to pronounce you dead).
Written January 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ecblisa
Rancho Murieta, CA58 contributions
Jan 2011 • Couples
Lumahai Beach is the beach that was used as the venue for the "Nurses' Beach" in the original "South Pacific" movie. It is a gorgeous stretch of sand beach on which you can walk forever (I got a sunburn walking its length around 1980). Most of its length is too dangerous for swimming, but it has an excellent swimming venue at each end.
First, let me explain where the beach is. If you drive NW from Princeville and pass Hanalei Bay, the next big beach (mostly invisible from the road) is Lumahai. It extends from the top af the hill after Hanalei Bay to the place where you drive right next to where a small river runs into the ocean (much parking there between the beachside trees).
Even I (who have been there several times over the years) have trouble finding the southern end of the beach. There is a small paved parking lot and a few unpaved turnouts just north of the top of the hill. There is a (perfectly safe) trail down to the beach, but you have to find it past all of the danger signs that tell you not to walk out on the cliffs. Look for a real trail (much used) going down and left, not up to the cliff The bottom of the trail comes out next to a small swimming area sheltered by some big lava rocks. This is a lovely swimming hole when the surf is low. The lava rocks shelter the little cove, which is quite deep, and you can just use it like a swimming pool. Warning: Do not go in if it is not calm (calm means slow swells, no surf). If the waves are running over into the pool, and there are whilecaps in the pool, stay out. I have always found it easy to tell the difference between safe and unsafe, as do the many locals who swim there at times.
The other end of the beach is the easy-to-find one, where the river enters the ocean and there is lots of parking. The swimming hole (very safe) is in the river, not in the ocean. I was told about this by a local woman who told me local women like to swim in the (mostly) fresh-water estuary because it is better for your hair than salt water. I don't know about the hair part, but the swimming hole at the end of the river is very nice and safe. You can also walk the beach, which is only a few feet away, past a protective sand bar.
First, let me explain where the beach is. If you drive NW from Princeville and pass Hanalei Bay, the next big beach (mostly invisible from the road) is Lumahai. It extends from the top af the hill after Hanalei Bay to the place where you drive right next to where a small river runs into the ocean (much parking there between the beachside trees).
Even I (who have been there several times over the years) have trouble finding the southern end of the beach. There is a small paved parking lot and a few unpaved turnouts just north of the top of the hill. There is a (perfectly safe) trail down to the beach, but you have to find it past all of the danger signs that tell you not to walk out on the cliffs. Look for a real trail (much used) going down and left, not up to the cliff The bottom of the trail comes out next to a small swimming area sheltered by some big lava rocks. This is a lovely swimming hole when the surf is low. The lava rocks shelter the little cove, which is quite deep, and you can just use it like a swimming pool. Warning: Do not go in if it is not calm (calm means slow swells, no surf). If the waves are running over into the pool, and there are whilecaps in the pool, stay out. I have always found it easy to tell the difference between safe and unsafe, as do the many locals who swim there at times.
The other end of the beach is the easy-to-find one, where the river enters the ocean and there is lots of parking. The swimming hole (very safe) is in the river, not in the ocean. I was told about this by a local woman who told me local women like to swim in the (mostly) fresh-water estuary because it is better for your hair than salt water. I don't know about the hair part, but the swimming hole at the end of the river is very nice and safe. You can also walk the beach, which is only a few feet away, past a protective sand bar.
Written August 2, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kauai Tai Chi
Kapaa, HI224 contributions
Apr 2020 • Family
Be extremely careful of the rips and waves breaking over the rock ledge here... locals call this place "Luma-die" because of how many people have drowned or been injured by waves and swept out.
Written April 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Riss L
1 contribution
Mar 2022 • Couples
Very beautiful beach but sad day today. Two young men were swimming and were swept out to sea, one was saved and the other young man drowned. We were there when the Coast Guard sent to orange helicopters to try to find his body. Please be VERY CAREFUL here and do not swim unless you are an expert level swimmer in great shape!
Written March 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SPGuy
Kauai35 contributions
May 2011 • Solo
I don't go to Lumahai every time I visit Kauai, but each time I do, I love it. The beach is one of the most scenic and beautiful I've ever seen. However, the reports of it being dangerous are accurate. I was there in December of 1985 when someone drowned near the mouth of the river. I watched the emergency personnel respond and take the victim away in an ambulance. After everybody left, I walked out onto the rock jetty near at the mouth of the river. When I turned my back on the ocean, a huge rogue wave knocked me down and drug me across the rocks. Luckily I didn't get swept into the ocean, but I did have to drive myself to the emergency room to have lacerations on my back bandaged up.
I've learned my lesson. When I visit Lumahai now, I find a place on the beach and watch the waves. There's a great video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8BpixHBAHI
I've learned my lesson. When I visit Lumahai now, I find a place on the beach and watch the waves. There's a great video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8BpixHBAHI
Written November 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sylvia
2 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
My best friend was taken by a rip current, drowned and never found at this beach. Do not swim. Or even enter the water. Campaign for warning signs. No one should ever have to experience this loss.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mikechangsha
Changsha, China73 contributions
Aug 2011 • Friends
Lumahai beach is not really easy to find - about 10 - 15 minutes north of Princeville, no markings or signs, but look for cars parked at the bend in the road and hike about 5 minutes through the trees on the right down to the beach. To me, Lumahai, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Not a lot of people, plenty of space to put your blanket and absolutely picturesque. Swimming is usually dangerous here - probably best not to go in the water, although if conditions are very calm, I do swim here. Anyhow, if you're in Kauai, don't miss Lumahai - bring a cooler with some beers and sandwiches and enjoy one of the prettiest beaches you'll ever see.
Written January 2, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
One of my dreams in life is to stand in the exact spot that Mitz Gaynor sang 'I'm in love with a wonderful guy'. The rock outcrop in the water that's in the shot is probably gone due to raising sea levels. I'm trying to get the best directions I can to get there. Any info would be most welcome.
Written February 18, 2019
Sherilee V
Vancouver, Washington
Hi, I'm wanting to stay in a Partial Ocean View room but am torn about which side or tower offers the best views. Ocean Tower is closer and on lower levels, Pacific Tower is higher but farther away from beach. Any tips or pics on which is a better bet? I know it's not a guarantee but I'd like to put in a request.
Written October 21, 2015
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