Polihale State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Polihale State Park |
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Polihale Beach facing north
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| Nearest city | Kekaha |
Polihale State Park is a beautiful, wild beach on the far western side of Kauai, a Hawaiian island. It's the most western spot in Hawaii you can visit! The park is quite a distance from the town of Kekaha. You can only get there by driving on a long, bumpy dirt road. It's best to use a four-wheel drive vehicle for this trip. The beach stretches for many miles, but only a special spot called "Queen's Pond" is safe for swimming.
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Where is Polihale State Park?
This park is located at the very western end of Kauai. It has many miles of coastline. The sandy beach is usually about 300 feet wide, from the sand dunes to the ocean waves. Some of the sand dunes along the beach can be almost 100 feet tall! You are allowed to drive on the beach, but if your car gets stuck, getting a tow truck would be very expensive.
The only road to the park is made of dirt. It has many ruts and potholes, making it hard for regular cars to get through. A four-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended. The park is north of the Pacific Missile Range Facility and Barking Sands beach. To the north, the beach is next to the mountain ridges of the Na Pali Coast. On the east side, the park is next to farm fields. These fields are also next to a mountain ridge. The mountains are so close that at night, you might even hear goats bleating from the ridge! To get there, you drive west from the town of Kekaha. Make sure you have a good local map to help you find your way.
What Facilities Are Available?
Polihale State Park has some basic facilities for visitors. You'll find cold running water, flush toilets, and simple semi-private showers. There are also a few covered picnic areas called pavilions.
However, it's very important to know that there are no stores or shops in the park. You can't buy anything there! So, visitors should bring everything they need. This includes extra water, food, and something for shade like an umbrella. There is no medical help or lifeguard available at the park. Most of the year, especially during the Hawaiian summer (March to October), the sun is extremely strong. There are no natural shady spots, so bringing your own shade is a must!
Fun Activities at the Park
Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery, you can also camp at Polihale State Park. But remember, this is a wild beach, and the ocean is very powerful here.
- Swimming: The only safe place to swim is at Queen's Pond. This spot is located towards the southern end of the park.
- Other Water Activities: Activities like surfing and snorkeling are generally not safe along most of this beach. The sand drops off quickly into deep water. Also, strong rip currents are common along the shore, especially during the winter months. Always be very careful near the water.
History and Hawaiian Mythology
This beach has a strong connection to Hawaiian mythology and ancient stories.
Some people used to incorrectly translate "Polihale" as the "House of the Po." In this story, "Po" was thought to be the Hawaiian afterworld. It was believed that spirits would travel to the flat land near the beach and stay in a temple called a heiau. From there, they would climb the cliffs to the north and jump into the sea to reach the mythical Po. This belief was so strong that homes built near Polihale supposedly had no doors facing east. This was to prevent any traveling spirits from getting trapped inside.
However, the real meaning of "Polihale" is different. The name actually means "House Bosom." The word "Po" refers to the original night or darkness from which everything was created. In this case, "Po" means "source." The word "poli" means "bosom" or "breast." So, "Polihale" really means "source of life" or "place of creation." It's not about a "bosom house."
There's also a special type of sea lettuce called pahapaha that grows in the waters near Polihale. A wreath made from pahapaha can dry out and look faded. But if you soak it in water, it will become fresh and green again! This special quality only happens with pahapaha from Polihale. According to mythology, Na-maka-o-Kaha'i, who was the sister of Pele and the Goddess of the Ocean, blessed Polihale's pahapaha with this amazing power. In the past, visitors would take home wreaths made from this pahapaha to prove they had truly visited Polihale.
The Road to Polihale
In December 2008, heavy flooding damaged the park's facilities and closed the only access road. The park was shut down. Local people and businesses were worried about the economic impact. Instead of waiting for the government to fix it, they decided to volunteer and repair the road themselves. The government had estimated the repairs would cost $4 million and take one to two years.
But on March 23, 2009, these local volunteers and private companies started working. They finished the entire job just eight days later!
As of March 25, 2011, the road to the park is still best for a four-wheel drive vehicle. A regular car might be able to make it to the parking area if the weather is dry. However, if it rains, the road will become impassable for cars that don't have four-wheel drive. Always check road conditions before you go!
Images for kids
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Polihale Beach facing south
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Polihale Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
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