If you want a day to relax and unwind, take some dips in the warm ocean, grab a fish taco and chill – then Hanalei Bay Beach is the place for you. Turn right before the shopping center and follow that road to a T, then turn right and you’ll end up at one of two places to get to the beach.
There is a parking lot on your left at a life-guarded beach access. This is the Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park. Or, you can continue down to the end where the whole thing opens up and there is plenty of parking. This is called Black Pot Beach.
There is a large lawn with picnic areas and a very large beach. It’s a great place to relax, build sand castles, watch people surfing and take in the beautiful mountains of Kauai. It’s pretty calm most of the time it’s pretty family and kid friendly.
The Pier
The Hanalei Bay Pier is really cool. It stretches for hundreds of feet into the bay. You can even jump off into the water if you’re careful.
For eating, there is usually a taco truck parked there with amazing fish tacos. They only take cash, so be ready! There are restrooms as well though at this writing the main restroom building was closed so you need to use porta potties.
You can also use Black Pot as a launch point to paddle board the Hanalei River.