KAUAI HOPS

Title: Kalapaki Beach: A special place for locals and visitors

Words: Kristy Kinimaka

Kalapaki beach. It’s the first beach to welcome you as you fly into Lihue, Kaua‘i. Set within the beautiful Nawiliwili Bay, it’s nestled between the popular seawall and a hillside of luxury homes, and has a breathtaking backdrop view of Mount Haupu. It’s a special place for its beauty and hospitality.

Kalapaki saw its first hotel, the Kaua‘i Surf, in the 1960s, where celebrities such as Duke Kahanamoku and Neil Armstrong played along the shores.

After Hurricane Iwa hit in 1982, the Westin bought and renovated the Kaua‘i Surf, transforming it into a more extravagant hotel with an Asian/Hawaiian mixed décor. It featured a twenty-six-thousand–square-foot pool with n island in the middle, and even hosted Kaua‘i’s first and only escalator!

In 1992, Hurricane Iniki hit and forced the Westin to shut down. The Marriott then purchased and renovated the property and opened its doors in 1995. It continues to provide the aloha spirit felt in the 1960s.

Locals and visitors really know how to enjoy this special place. Get your daily exercise by running up and down the quarter-mile stretch of beach, jump in for a game of volleyball, play Frisbee or smashball, skim board the shore break, catch some waves surfing or body boarding, enjoy a canoe ride, or simply laze under a coconut tree. You could also enjoy the seawall by pulling up in your vehicle to eat lunch, go fishing, or catch up with friends and maybe make some new friends at “Pine Tree Inn.”Come experience this beach for yourself. And when you’re here, try to reminisce on the days when Duke Kahanamoku once enjoyed this special island playground.