While the sea glass is mostly gone, Kauai’s Glass Beach still offers a beautiful beachscape with its unique black sand.
- Region: South Shore (Hanapepe)
- Located at Port Allen, launching point for Kauai’s whale watching tours and Na Pali Coast cruises.
- Best for beachcombing.
- Named for the sea glass that once covered the beach.
- Do not go in the water at Glass Beach. The water is murky and may be polluted due to its proximity to the port.
- No lifeguards or restrooms.
- Also see: Does Kauai Have Black Sand Beaches?
- Map: Google Maps
Glass Beach, located on Kauai’s South Shore at Port Allen (Hanapepe), is a small beach that was once covered in a dazzling spectacle of smooth and colorful sea glass. Unfortunately, the beach’s iconic sea glass is no more, picked clean by both local residents and tourists. While the sea glass has vanished, the beach remains a picturesque setting with patches of the only black sand on the island.
Originally, the beach was a dumping ground for glass bottles and other discarded debris, dating back to the mid-20th century. The relentless surf of Kauai’s South Shore gradually transformed the broken glass into smooth, polished gems. Over time, the beach became famous for its colorful array of sea glass.
As word spread about Glass Beach’s beauty, it became a popular destination for visitors hoping to find their own piece of the treasure. For years, people flocked to the site, collecting the smooth glass pieces as souvenirs to take home. Local residents, too, were known to collect the glass for fish aquariums, rock gardens and other purposes. Over the years, the steady removal of glass took its toll. Today, only tiny fragments of sea glass can be found in the sand. Nevertheless, the beach still attracts a steady stream of tourists lured by misleading social media posts such as the one below.
Glass Beach is located behind an industrial area of Port Allen, the launching point for the island’s whale watching tours and Na Pali Coast cruises. The short dirt road to the beach is in disrepair, and you may want to just walk to the beach from the port area if you have a 2WD vehicle. Beyond the beach is a rocky coastline that still has remnants from its dumping ground days. Look closely and you may see rusted axles and machine parts. Above the beach is the McBryde Sugar Plantation Cemetery with a fascinating look back in time at the people who worked in the area’s sugar plantation industry. The cemetery is of particular interest to people of Japanese descent researching their family trees.
For local residents, a promontory above the beach is a popular spot for fishing. Recently, we’ve seen some people living in their cars in the vicinity, which might contribute to a little unease in visitors to the beach.
Glass Beach Kauai Photos
Tiny bits of sea glass can still be found in the sand at Glass Beach.
You can usually find people at the beach in search of the last bits of sea glass.
