Poipu Beach park is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike. The beach ivided into two large crescents where you can swim, do some light body surfing or snorkel. If you're a surfer you might just catch a wave or two offshore. And if you just like the hubbub of a busy beach, you'll love it here.

When you visit in the spring, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of the endangered monk seals that like to frequent this beach. The seals eat all night and then beach themselves during the day, joining the many tourists who like to lay in the warm sand. Lifeguards clear the area around the seal and place police tape around them so they can rest undisturbed. I was truly excited to have one of these huge creatures swim right past me in the water and wriggle itself ashore!

Poipu Beach Park offers restroom facilities and showers so when I stay up north and drive south for the day, I stop here to clean up and change before dinner. The south shore is almost always sunny, so no matter where you stay you can come here to catch a few rays.