Kauai Lifeguard Association

Lifeguard Tower Locations

Please watch this instructional video in order to prepare yourself as well as share this information with others

Know your conditions, know your limits, and when in doubt don’t go out.

Even the calmest of days can become hazardous very quickly. The time it takes to execute a rescue can be measured in seconds. Even when taking a stroll for shells along an empty stretch of beach, safety comes first. Always be aware of the conditions by observing waves, currents, and tide lines. Avoid climbing on wet rocks, into crevices or caverns that are near flooding streams and shorelines.

Kauai’s Lifeguard Tower Location Map

Lifeguard towers on the North Shore can be found at Ke’e Beach, Ha’ena Beach Park, Waioli Beach Park, and Hanalei Pavilion. On the East Side you’ll find towers at Anahola Beach Park, Kealia Beach, and Lydgate Beach Park. On the South Shore there is a tower found at Poipu Beach Park. There is a tower in Hanapepe, at Salt Pond Beach Park. And on the extreme West Shore in Kekaha.

Select a Tower to Learn More

Kekaha Tower is located at McArthur Park on the far West end of Kauai on Hwy 50. As the most westerly beach on the island that is lifeguarded, Kekaha Beach is great for watching the sunset and hanging out in the sun. Popular with local fishermen and surfers, this long stretch of white sand beach is beautiful with views of Niihau and Lehua rock. There is a picnic area and restroom facilities here. This is a good stop for a restroom break before venturing further.

More Info:

Kekaha beach is the beginning of the longest sandy beach in the whole state of Hawaii which stretches for 17 miles.
Kekaha tower is open daily from 9am until 5pm.
This particular beach is exposed to the South & North Westerly swells that can become double to triple overhead.
This beach is also known for its dangerous shore breaks, due to the shallow sand bars.
The summer South swells usually come during the months of May through September.
The North Westerly swells arrive during the winter months during October through April.
Kekaha used to be a sugar cane plantation town with its huge sugar cane mill. Most of the residents worked at the mill which opened in1898 until it closed down in 2000. You still can see reminiscences of the sugar mill and the high smokestack.
Kekaha means: (The Place) in Hawaiian.

Salt Pond is located close to Hanapepe Town and is a protected beach that is great for swimming with your keiki. With showers, bathrooms, and picnic tables this is a great spot for your beach day and there are lifeguards on duty to keep you safe.

More Info:

Salt Pond is named after the natural sea salt beds where the local Hawaiians gather natural sea salt for medicine, cooking, and healing purposes.
Salt Pond Beach Park is a great place for picnics, snorkeling, and swimming. With its natural somewhat protected bay.
This beach is exposed to the strong trade winds and the summer southerly swells.
Salt in Hawaiian means: (Pa’akai)

Poipu Beach is very popular for snorkeling, wading in the protected pool with Keiki, and even playing at the playground on the grass. This beach has showers, bathrooms, pavilions, and picnic tables for you to enjoy your day. Located close by are restaurants and a surf shop with snorkeling rentals and more. Poipu tower is located at Poipu Beach Park on the south shore.

More Info:

This tower is the 2nd larger tower to its sister Nukumoi tower.
Poipu Beach is the busiest beach all year round for our visitors as well as the local residents.
Poipu means: (crashing waves) in Hawaiian.
Poipu tower looks over the kiddy pond and Brennecke’s beach as well.
Brennecke’s beach was named after Dr. Marvin Brennecke whose house once stood above the beach. And in 1982 Hurricane Iwa destroyed his house.

Located on the south shore at Poipu Beach Park.

More Info:

This tower is the busiest, due to high crowds, recreational surfing, snorkeling, swimming, and wildlife.
This smaller 2nd tower was added to the Poipu Beach Park in 2018 with the support of the Kauai Lifeguard Association.
This tower looks over most of the snorkelers, surfers, and beachgoers. Most of our rookie lifeguards start off working here to gain more experience.
This tower also has the highest first aid treatment of the other towers combined.
This beach is highly used during our summer months with south and easterly swells creating good surfing conditions.
Nukumoi means: (gap/point of royalty)
Back in 2006, the Tombolo or sand bar connecting from Poipu beach to Nukumoi point washed out due to a large storm out of the East.

Lydgate Beach Park is on the East Side close to the Wailua bridge. With protected pools, there is a safe space for swimming as well as snorkeling while being at a lifeguarded beach. There are bathrooms and showers, picnic areas, and a playground all in the vicinity of the beach park.

More Info:

This location is perfect for family gatherings, beginner swimming, and a kiddy pond for the kids.
Due to the constant onshore winds or normal trade wind patterns, this beach might have jellyfish blown in by the winds.
Lydgate park was named after Rev. John Lydgate, a civic leader and pastor of the Lihue Union church.
During the winter months or the rainy seasons, the ponds will fill with debris due to the Wailua river overflow.

Keale Beach is an East Side favorite. A long stretch of white sand beach, this beach is popular with surfers and can get large swells, especially during the winter months. Because this beach can have strong currents please be cautious and check with lifeguards that it is safe to swim before entering the water. This beach has restrooms and showers and is close to the Coastal Bike Path.

Fun Facts:

This beach is known for its rough conditions due to the dominant trade winds.
Also known for the steady influx of jellyfish (Portuguese man-o-war).
Meaning of Kealia: “the path” in Hawaiian
This beach is a popular surfing area for the local residents.

Anahola Beach Park is on the North-Eastern side of Kauai. This beach is protected by an outlying reef and is a secluded beach that is family-friendly. This beach has camping and facilities, which you can get permits to on the county website. Use caution by the river mouth because there can be strong currents and lifeguards are not stationed there.

More Info:

This beach is best for advanced-level bodyboarding and surfing activities.
Anahola means: “deadly winds”
Anahola is the site of an ancient surf spot named Ka-naha-wale which means “easily broken”
The current population of Anahola is 2,175

Known locally as “Pine Trees” beach, Waioli Beach Park is located on Hanalei Bay towards the middle of the Bay. There are ironwood pine trees that grow on the edge of the sand, this beach is popular with surfers and waves can be large so check with a lifeguard before entering the water. During the winter months, you’ll find big waves and will likely enjoy watching the surfers here. This beach has restrooms and showers.

More Info:

Pine Trees is named after the tall trees in the area.
Pine Trees is also known as Waioli Beach Park.
This beach during the winter months can be very dangerous due to the strong currents and high surf conditions.
This is the 2nd tower located in Hanalei Bay.
Waioli means: “ joyful water or singing water” in Hawaiian.

Hanalei Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the whole island with incredible views of the pier and the mountains. The lifeguarded area of the bay has a bathroom, showers, and a large pavilion. This beach is popular with families for swimming, surfing, and bodyboarding. This beach is very popular for walking the two-mile stretch of sand.

More Info:

Hanalei means: “ lei making” in Hawaiian
In 1957 the Hanalei Pier became world-famous when it was featured in the film “South Pacific”
Hanalei Bay is well known for its majestic mountain backgrounds, really good surfing from beginner to expert levels.
Major flooding has occurred here due to the winter rainy season during October through March.

Haena Beach Park is one of the most famous locations on Kauai, with a gorgeous backdrop of Mount Makana (also known as Bali Hai) and amazing blue water many people seek this beach out. This is a popular spot for snorkeling, but please heed caution and check with lifeguards before entering the ocean as the swells can be very large here. The summertime is generally the safest time to swim here. In the winter months, the beach is great for walking the sand but please read signage as it is often too dangerous to swim. There are restrooms, showers, and picnic tables here for you to enjoy your beach day.

More Info:

Haena is also the beginning of the Gateway to the Na Pali coast.
Haena is also known for its famous landmark called the “Dry Cave”, which is a natural large cave.
Haena means: “red hot” in Hawaiian
The beach has a dangerous shore break and large open ocean swells during the winter months. But during the summer months, Haena beach can have the island’s best snorkeling areas.
Unique shells could be found here during the summer months when the ocean is calm.

Please Note: Parking at Ke’e beach is limited to 100 stalls so we recommend you take the North Shore Shuttle. There are reservations available online a month in advance but be aware that they sell out very quickly.

Ke’e is the farthest North you can get before the Napali Coast begins. There is a gorgeous hike you can access from this beach to Hanakapiai beach or even further to Kalalau beach if you are an experienced hiker. This is a very popular spot for swimming and snorkeling as there is a reef that keeps the water protected and calm when swells are not too large. In the winter months the swells can get huge and become dangerous, always check with a lifeguard before entering the water and check for any signage about current conditions. There are showers and bathrooms available at Ke’e beach.

More Info:

This beach is great for snorkeling during the summer months in the lagoon.
Ke’e provides stunning views of the Na Pali coast
Ke’e tower was installed in 2007 and this operation is funded through the Hawaii State Parks but managed by the County of Kauai.