With nearly perfect weather year-round, the Hawaiian Islands are absolute paradise. And while we will gladly hang out in the water no matter what time of year it is, we love cooling off in the summer at our favorite little-known swimming spot. From stunning beaches and coastal tide pools to waterfall swimming holes in Hawaii, these 10 magical swimming spots will undoubtedly make your summer epic. Let’s dive in, shall we?

1. Kalihiwai Beach, Kauai
Kyle Pearce/Flickr
Kalihiwai is an ironwood-lined crescent-shaped bay nestled along on Kauai's northern shore. Be sure to check out the brackish pools located behind the beach near the stream — this is a perfect area for kids to wade, swim and float.

Address: 3069 Kalihiwai Road, Kilauea, HI 96754
2. Kapena Falls, Oahu
Jennifer Boyer/Flickr
Located near the Nu’uanu Memorial Park is this swimming hole in Hawaii that requires only a short walk to reach the modest 20-foot waterfall. Follow the road from the park toward a small traffic circle, and then head left — there is a small parking lot near the dead end, and the trailhead is on the left, unmarked. Not only is this spot easy to reach, but it's as pretty as a postcard.

Address: Alapena Pool, Honolulu, HI 96817
3. Honomalino Beach, Hawaii Island
Scott Carpenter/Flickr
This salt and pepper beach on Hawaii Island's Kona coast is surrounded by coconut palms and is accessible via a short 20-minute walk from nearby Miloli'i Beach Park. The stunning stretch of sand is often overlooked for more popular black sand beaches in Hawaii and is relatively secluded as a result.

Address: 89 Milolii Road, Captain Cook, HI 96704
4. Pua’a Ka’a Falls, Maui
John Hyun/Flickr
A short hike within the Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside will reward you with a relatively secluded and quite picturesque waterfall, cascading into the delightful pool below. Another stop on Maui’s Road to Hana, Pua’a Ka’a translates to "rolling pig" in Hawaiian.

Address: Hana Highway, Haiku, HI 96708
5. Alan Davis Beach Park, Oahu
Taka T./Yelp
At the trailhead for the Makapu'u Lighthouse trail, take the dirt path to the right to reach this beautiful Hawaii beach. It will take you approximately 10 minutes on the Kaiwi Shoreline Trail to reach Alan David Beach, a place famous for its cliff jumping.

Address: Honolulu, HI 96821

Related Stories

There's Nothing Better Than Hawaii's Natural Lazy River On A Summer's Day

There's Nothing Better Than Hawaii's Natural Lazy River On A Summer's Day

 15 Swimming Spots With The Clearest, Most Pristine Water In Hawaii

15 Swimming Spots With The Clearest, Most Pristine Water In Hawaii

 These 9 Itty Bitty Beaches Hiding In Hawaii Absolutely Must Be On Your Summer Bucket List

These 9 Itty Bitty Beaches Hiding In Hawaii Absolutely Must Be On Your Summer Bucket List
6. Olivine Pools, Maui
Katina Rogers/Flickr
These dramatic tide pools made of rugged lava rock located along Maui’s western coast were first recognized in a popular Maui guidebook, though we would like to urge visitors that the short hike to reach the pools can be dangerous — and that you should only enter the water during calm ocean conditions. If you're careful and visit at the right time, this swimming hole in Hawaii is downright dreamy.

Address: Kahekili Highway, Lahaina, HI 96761
7. Secret Beach, Kauai
Suzanne/Flickr
Though not suitable for novice swimmers, this gorgeous gem, also known as Kauapea Beach, can be seen from a nearby lighthouse and offers stunning views and great surfing in the winter. This Kauai beach is often referred to as Secret Beach, probably due to the steep hike to reach the massive 3,000-foot-long stretch of sand.

Address: Kilauea, HI 96754
8. Pounders Beach, Oahu
Floyd Manzano/Flickr
Not far from the Polynesian Cultural Center, you will find Laie Beach Park, also known as Pounders. With beautiful turquoise water flowing around old pier pilings, this picturesque view isn’t the only thing Pounders has to offer — a beautiful limestone cliff on the south end of the beach is a popular spot for fishermen, and the offshore coral reef makes this a perfect, protected area for swimming.

Address: 55-205 Kamehameha Highway, Laie, HI 96762
9. Kalepolepo Beach, Maui
katsuhiro7110/Flickr
Once the site of a historically significant fishpond, this beach in Hawaii is off the beaten path. Located in North Kihei, Kalepolepo is out of the way for most Maui tourists, so there’s a good chance you might have the beach to yourself.

Address: 726 S Kihei Road, Kihei, HI 96753
10. Lulumau Falls, Oahu
Andrew Wong/Flickr
Located off Pali Highway is this extraordinary waterfall hike — complete with a trek through a bamboo forest, views of a stunning field and reservoir, the beauty of the Hawaiian jungle, and — of course — the jaw-dropping, 50-foot Lulumahu Falls. Depending on recent rainfall, you can make quite the splash here at Lulumahu, though oftentimes, the pool is quite shallow.

Address: 4459 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817

Love these 11 beaches and swimming holes in Hawaii? You’ll adore our ultimate Hawaii beach bucket list. Don’t forget to make a splash this summer!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Swimming Holes In Hawaii

| June 06, 2019

What is the cleanest lake in Hawaii?

While we can't find a definite answer, the cleanest lake in Hawaii is likely Lake Wai'ele'ele, found on the island of Kauai at 6,500 feet in elevation. Lake Wai'ele'ele is not only the smallest freshwater lake in the Aloha State but the deepest as well. Unfortunately, many of Hawaii's lakes contain brackish water.

Does Hawaii have any natural inland lakes?

Despite being surrounded by the largest body of water in the world and receiving such high rainfall, Hawaii has few lakes, and even fewer natural lakes. You will find five natural lakes in Hawaii, four of which are located on Hawaii's six main islands, and two of which are considered alpine lakes. Located near the summit of Mauna Kea at 13,000 feet above sea level, Lake Waiau is the third highest lake in the United States.

What is the only state with no natural inland lakes?

There are many states with few natural lakes, including Hawaii, though there is one state with no natural inland lakes at all. Maryland, while home to a few reservoirs, has no natural lakes within its borders.

What state has the least amount of lakes?

Maryland has no natural lakes, so it seems to take the prize for the state with the least amount of lakes. And while you might consider the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," or Minnesota, to have the most lakes, you're wrong. Alaska is home to more than three million lakes!

Related Articles

Explore Hawaii