Tunnels Beach

If you are looking to try your hand at snorkeling, this is a great place. It is such a supreme snorkeling location because it has a massive reef that is so large it can be seen from space. As can be seen on the following page, even the view from a helicopter is impressive and shows the magnitude of the reef. The waters are generally calm which also makes the beach popular for scuba divers. There is a slight rip current, but most of the time it is weak.

Two roads provide beach access, one 4/10 mile past mile marker 8 and the other 6/10 mile past mile marker 8 (the latter is the better of the two). Parking can be a hassle because you will have to park along the side of a narrow road. The roads are a bit hard to find, but there are a few signs placed by residents that let you clearly know which roads do NOT lead to Tunnels Beach. Please show aloha and don't park at those spots.

The beach itself is nearly directly across from mile marker 8 on Highway 560, but we highly recommend that you do NOT park on the street, the police will ticket you for doing so. Attempt to visit this spot earlier in the day so that you'll get a parking spot at the locations we mentioned above. There is one last spot available to park, but it requires some walking. Before the 8 mile marker is Alealea Street where parking is usually available near the sand. It's a half mile walk to Tunnels Beach (heading west) from here.

Also please keep in mind that like most north shore beaches, the conditions in the winter may, and likely will be, rougher than in the summer months.

Take Highway 560 east from Hanalei toward Ha'ena. Two short dirt roads, just past Mile Marker #8, lead to the parking area for the beach.

Location: Tunnels Beach is located in the North Kauai