Maha'ulepu Beach consists of three beaches
Have you ever wanted to find a place where you were the only one on a tropical beach with the sun shining and the ocean gently lapping against the sand? If so, then you’ll know the dream that my wife and I experienced when we came upon Maha’ulepu Beach on the island of Kauai in Hawai’i. The journey to this beach consisted of driving on a dirt road for a few miles from the edge of the town of Poipu, then hiking from the parking area to the beach, and finally meandering along the tropical forest lined beach to an isolated nook of paradise to take in the sun.
Maha’ulepu Beach consists of three beaches: Gillin’s Beach, Kawailoa Bay, and Ha’ula Beach. This photo is taken from the intersection of Kawailoa Bay and Gillin’s Beach. The water that is in the photo is known as Kawailoa Bay. Windsurfing is popular in Kawailoa Bay. At Gillin’s beach, there is a cave known as Makauwahi Cave. This is the largest limestone cave complex in the Hawaiian Islands. It was used in the move Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. This cave is a world class site for plant and animal fossils, and it also contains artifacts from the first Polynesians that arrived on the Hawaiian Islands.
This beach is known in Hawaiian history from King Kamehameha’s first invasion attempt of Kauai. In 1796 he loaded up 10,000 warriors in 1,200 canoes at midnight. They left from Oahu in the hopes of overtaking the people of Kauai. Most of the boats sank during a storm in the Kauai Channel. A few warriors managed to make it to Kauai, and they arrived on the shore at Maha’ulepu. The warriors were either killed by the local people of Kauai, or they fled the island.
As my wife and I laid on the beach, we had the opportunity to see a Hawaiian monk seal. This species is one of two mammals that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The other is the Hawaiian hoary bat. The population of this seal is just over 600 adults. They are considered endangered, and their population is in decline. Whenever you see one of these seals on the beach, you’ll likely see a sign that says to keep your distance. Take heed of the sign and give these wonderful creatures some space. Being on Maha’ulepu Beach with such a cute animal made it even more special.
We saw a Hawaiian monk seal!
The weather started to pick up as we soaked up the sun’s rays. A storm had formed out over the ocean, and the clouds made their way over the beach. Soon enough the skies opened, and we got rained on. I tucked my camera safely into my bag, and we hiked back up Gillin’s Beach to our parked car. It was so nice having the tropical Maha’ulepu Beach to ourselves.
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