If you come to Hanalei you simply have to visit the pier. You have an amazing view of the bay from the end of the pier. We visited on a blustery day and the beach was closed for swimming. The waves at the mouth of the bay were large and scary. But of course there were some idiots who went into the water and the lifeguard had to yell at them on the bullhorn to get out. If you can go at a time when it is quiet with less people, perhaps at sunrise, this would be an amazing place to hang out - under the roof and maybe sitting at the picnic tables at the end of the pier. We had to wonder about the young dad with the toddler who was not holding the kid's hand. There is NO GUARDRAIL so on a windy day if your baby goes off the edge into the water it would be a very scary situation. All the moms and grandmas were glaring at the dad and watching the toddler, since the dad didn't seem to care. We did see a sea turtle in the choppy shallow waters while walking on the pier, between the beach and the shelter at the end of the pier, so keep your eyes peeled for wildlife! There is a park adjacent to the pier, with a parking lot, picnic tables, and restrooms.

The pier on Hanalei Bay is a sweet feature. Assuming you can find parking at the beach, this is an easy, rewarding stroll out over the water, which affords stunning views. It takes a matter of moments (depending on how long you tarry) and offers great photo ops.

If you’re visiting the Hanalei Bay area, then I’d recommend that you took the time to walk over and check out the Hanalei Pier. While the pier isn’t overly ornate in and of itself, it takes you far enough out onto the water to get some gorgeous views of the island and ocean. There were a few picnic tables with benches as well, so visitors can stop and stay for a spell if they want to enjoy a longer visit. Pier is iconic and has a fair amount of history to it. Definitely a significant aspect of Hanalei and even the island of Kauai itself. Worth seeing if you’re going to be in the area.

If there is a north Kauai beach that reminds me of New Jersey this is it (for better or worse*)!! Like everything, the earlier you get there the better. *Joking! This is obviously not for the better. But it is obviously way cleaner and people are not automatically rude…also obvious.

There will be kids playing and jumping off the pier. There will possibly be people having a picnic at the tables on the pier. You just need to get yourself to the end of the pier and just take in the full view of the bay and the water and soak it up. You need to see it at least once. If you are less of a people person, come see it and go find a quieter beach, but you still need to come see it. I note that this entry is separate from the bay itself, and while you may want to spend a number of hours in the bay, there isn't much to do on the pier unless you are jumping in the water or taking photos.