When you want to experience the sheer power of the ocean, Brennecke’s Beach won’t let you down. At this South Shore Kauai beach, the powerful waves come in hard and fast all day long, becoming particularly treacherous in the winter months. In fact, wintertime visits are a no-go since it’s pretty much impossible to see the lava rocks beneath the waves, resulting in nasty cuts and scrapes.
In the spring, summer, and early fall, however, experienced boogie boarders and body surfers come from far and wide for a chance at tackling the waves at Brennecke’s Beach. As they hit the rough surf, their skills are put to the test time and time again. Wipeouts are common, as are amazing feats, which are fun to watch while picnicking on the shore.
Since swimming is ill-advised at this beach, there is little chance for crowds. Even at the height of the tourist season, you’re likely to just find a few brave souls tackling the waves. Most people go just down the road to Poipu Beach for swimming, snorkeling, and other chill waterside activities. Lifeguards patrol Poipu all day every day, while they’re only seen on occasion at Brennecke’s Beach.
On occasion, you may see a couple of courageous snorkelers far out from the shore, kicking around in search of awesome sights. In many cases, they’re looking for sea turtles flitting about in the water, which is rather common at Brennecke’s Beach. If you sit still for long enough, you’ll undoubtedly see turtles come up on the shore, too, in search of a spot to sunbathe.
Top things to do at Brennecke’s Beach include:
Boogie Boarding
At Brennecke’s Beach, experienced boogie boarders can get a big rush riding the waves toward the shore. To tackle the waves, you just have to paddle out, hold your chest to the board, and brace yourself for a wild ride. Although the board helps shield your body from the lava rocks beneath the surface, you still have to be rather careful to avoid hitting your legs.
Body Surfing
As an experienced body surfer, you can hit the water without a board, only using your fins and natural strength to stay afloat. As you catch each wave, you can ride it toward the shore, but make sure to watch out for rocky areas along the way. If you’re particularly good, you may even have enough time to try awesome tricks, like the spin 360 and backflip.
Picnicking
Visitors who prefer to keep their feet on the ground can go picnicking while watching all the action go down in front of them. If this sounds like just what you want, grab your picnic supplies from a local market, and then set up at one of the picnic tables. Want to leave the cooking to the professionals? Just go to Puka Dog for low-key grub or splurge on fine dining quality takeout at Brennecke’s Beach Broiler.
There’s a small parking lot along Hoone Road along with the parking lot off of Poipu Road. for beachgoers to use. If it’s full, you can likely find a spot over by Poipu Beach and just walk down the road to Brennecke’s. You won’t find any sidewalks along the way, however, so just be careful while walking down the side of the road.
Insider Tips:
-The beach doesn’t have any shade, so bring your own umbrella or just wear a big sunhat.
-Wear water shoes to protect your feet from the oft-sharp and pointy rocks.
-Always take a close look at the ocean conditions before entering the water. Also, never turn your back on the ocean since the waves can come in harder than expected and knock you off your feet.
-Whether you’re in the water or on the beach, stay at least 10 feet away from the sea turtles. Otherwise, you could end up disrupting the wildlife and get a large fine.