Hāena State Park is a

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...

on the north shore of the

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

an island of

Kauai Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...

. It is often called the "end of the road" and marks the endpoint of the Kuhio Highway. The park provides access to beaches, trails, and several

ancient Hawaii Ancient Hawaii is the period of Hawaiian history preceding the unification in 1810 of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great. Traditionally, researchers estimated the first settlement of the Hawaiian islands as having occurred sporadicall ...

an sites, including sea caves estimated to be more than 4,000 years old. Archaeological sites associated with the

hula Hula () is a Hawaiian dance form accompanied by chant (oli) or song (Mele (Hawaiian language), mele). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of t ...

, including a ''

heiau A ''heiau'' () is a Hawaiian temple. Made in different architectural styles depending upon their purpose and location, they range from simple earth terraces, to elaborately constructed stone platforms. There are heiau to treat the sick (''heia ...

'' (shrine) dedicated to

Laka In Hawaiian mythology, Laka is the name of two different popular heroes from Polynesian mythology. (In other parts of Polynesia they are known as Rātā, Rata, Lata, Ata, or Lasa). In one Hawaiian legend, Laka is the son of the '' Ali'i nui'' W ...

, are above the park's beaches.

Description

The beach has a relatively safe lagoon, but very strong currents have been reported at the bay, especially in the winter. Amenities at the park include pay phones, picnic tables, restrooms and outdoor showers. Limahuli Stream enters the ocean at the park's eastern edge. South of the park,

Makana Makana is a mountain located on northern shore of the island of Kauai, Kauai, where it rises above Limahuli Valley. ''Makana'' is a Hawaiian language term meaning gift or reward. It is often used as a person's name or as part of a name. Limahul ...

mountain soars above

Limahuli Garden and Preserve The Limahuli Garden and Preserve is a and on the north shore of Kauai island, Hawaii. It is one of the five gardens of the non-profit National Tropical Botanical Garden. Description Limahuli lies within a tropical valley covering three disti ...

in the valley. Just before the Kēē beach is the

Kalalau Trail The Kalalau Trail is a trail along Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. The trail runs approximately along the island's north shore from Kee Beach to the Kalalau Valley. The trail has been named one of the most beautif ...

trailhead, an footpath that is the only land access to

Nā Pali Coast State Park Nā Pali Coast State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the center of the rugged northwest side of Kauai, the second-oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. The Nā Pali coast itself extends southwest from Kee Beach all ...

. The area surrounding the beaches is vegetated by

ironwood Ironwood is a common name for many woods or plants that have a reputation for hardness, or specifically a wood density that is heavier than water (approximately 1000 kg/m3, or 62 pounds per cubic foot), although usage of the name ironwood in E ...

trees,

coconut palm The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the f ...

s, ti, and

guava Guava () is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava ''Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae), native to Mexico, Central America, the ...

. A little over an hour's drive from

Lihue Lihue or Līhue is an unincorporated community, census-designated place (CDP) and the county seat of Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. Lihue (pronounced ) is the second largest town on the Hawaiian island of Kauai after Kapaa. As of the 2010 ...

and west of

Hanalei, Hawaii Hanalei is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was estimated at 299 as of 2019. ''Hanalei'' means " lei making" in Hawaiian. Alternatively, the name ''Hanalei'' also means "crescent bay" and may ...

, the is at the terminus of the Kuhio Highway (

Hawaii Route 560 Route 560, or Kaua'i Belt Road-North Shore section, is a scenic road on the northern shore of the Kauai, island of Kauai in Hawaii. The entire belt road is signed as the Kuhio Highway. Hawaii Route 56 was once signed on this route before it was ...

). A parking reservation with an entry fee is required. The daily limit is 900 people.

Beaches

*Kēē Beach is at the park's western edge. This beach is west of Tunnels Beach (aka "Makua Beach" at Haena Point), which refers to the large waves that are thought to be ideal for

surfing Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...

. Kēē Beach has a unique reef lagoon that makes the water calm and attractive for snorkeling and swimming. Beyond the reef, very strong currents, especially in the winter, have been reported. In Hawaiian, ''Kēē'' means "avoidance", referring to stories in

Hawaiian mythology Hawaiian religion refers to the indigenous religious beliefs and practices of native Hawaiians, also known as the kapu system. Hawaiian religion is based largely on the tapu religion common in Polynesia and likely originated among the Tahitians ...

about the goddess Pele and Lohiau. *Hāena Beach is just east of Haena State Park. ''Haena'' is Hawaiian for "red hot". The beach is located at .

Management

An extended closure of the park due to the 2018 flood damage to highways and bridges along Kuhio Highway provided an opportunity to negotiate a parking and concession agreement with a local non-profit. The park is being used as a destination management example for state parks that are environmentally, culturally or historically unique.

References

External links

* Save Our Seas
Haena.org
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Haena State Park Beaches of Kauai State parks of Hawaii Protected areas of Kauai