Shipwreck Beach, Beach in Keoneloa Bay, Kauai County, United States

Shipwreck Beach is a sandy beach on Keoneloa Bay in Kauai County, Hawaii, not in Poipu. Limestone sea cliffs about 40 feet high stand behind the sand, and the water carries strong currents and powerful waves, so swimming is difficult for most visitors.

The beach takes its name from a wooden ship that lay partially buried in the sand for decades before vanishing around 1982. This vessel became a local landmark and gave the location its memorable name.

This location sits within an ancient Hawaiian settlement zone, where visitors can encounter archaeological remains and stone markers scattered across the terrain. The place tells the story of people who once lived here and relied on the ocean for their survival.

Access is via the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort area at the end of Poipu Road, where parking and restrooms sit near the beach path. The sand drops off steeply at the waterline and currents run strong, so most visitors stay on the cliffs and trails above rather than entering the sea.

The wooden wreck that gave the beach its name was still partly buried in the sand until it disappeared around 1982; older Kauai residents remember it as a landmark on Keoneloa Bay. The beach lies at the mouth of a dry valley, and the sand drops off quickly a few steps from shore.