Surf spot

Kalapaki Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Kalapaki Beach in USA, Hawaii, Kauai. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, Hawaii, Kauai
Coordinates: 21.9576, -159.3501

Metric
Metric	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00
Wave height (m)	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.9	0.9	1	1	1.1	1	0.8	1	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.1	1.3	1.4	1.4
Wave direction	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	E	E	E	NE	NE	NE	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	ENE	ENE	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Wave period (s)	6.9	6.5	6.8	6.9	7	7	7	7	7.2	7	7.2	7	7.1	7	7.3	7.3	6.3	6.3	6.5	7.5	7.3	7.5	6.3	4.5	4	4.1	6.8	7.8	7.8	6.3	4.8	4.5	4.6	4.5	6	6	7.7	5.8	5.5	5.7	5.5	5.7	6	6.5	7	6.8	6.3	6.1	6.5	6.6	6.9	7	7.2	6.7	6.5	6.4
Wave energy (kJ)	103	93	90	88	87	85	82	81	79	82	72	68	68	57	56	53	34	35	37	43	36	30	27	15	15	15	17	19	21	17	20	27	31	24	35	35	40	28	46	47	63	62	84	79	69	88	109	126	141	134	151	138	130	149	158	161
Wind speed (km/h)	9.5	8.7	10.3	14.7	15.8	13.6	12.5	10.7	8.2	7.9	10.2	15.8	16	14.7	13	11.8	9.1	9.3	11.5	15.3	17.7	15.8	14.5	13.3	10.7	9.9	13.2	13.8	19.9	16.9	11.8	10.7	11.5	12.2	15.6	18.3	18.9	20.6	17.4	16.8	17	15.8	17.1	18.2	18.4	18.9	16.2	14.3	9.4	9.7	12.3	15.4	17.1	16.6	14.2	13.2
Wind direction	NECross-on	NECross-on	NEOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	NEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NECross-on	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on

Kalapaki Beach is a sheltered, beginner-friendly surf spot on the southeast side of Kauai, Hawaii, right by Lihue and Nawiliwili Bay. It’s one of the most accessible beaches on the island, with a wide sandy shoreline, calm-to-moderate surf, and a scenic harbor setting.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly soft, rolling waves with occasional longer, cleaner peelers
Best for: Beginners, longboarders, and surfers looking for relaxed sessions
Break style: Beach break with some influenced sandbar action
Conditions: Usually more manageable than many open-ocean Kauai spots because the bay offers some protection
Crowd: Can be popular, especially with learners and local surf schools

When it works

Best swell direction: Generally picks up south and southwest swells best
Wind: Light trade winds or calm mornings are usually ideal
Tide: Mid tide often gives the most favorable shape, though it can vary

Things to know

The waves here are typically not heavy or powerful, making it a good place to build confidence.
Because it sits near a harbor and urban area, water traffic and boat activity may be present nearby.
It’s a great spot for a mellow session, but not the place for big-wave expectations.

Overall vibe

Kalapaki Beach offers a classic Kauai surf-and-swim atmosphere: scenic, relaxed, and accessible, with enough wave quality to keep beginners and casual surfers happy.