Waikanaloa Wet Cave

Area: North Shore/Haena State Park
Shallow cave in a rock wall at Haena State Park was once a sea cave when sea levels were higher.
Due to the risk of falling rocks, the cave and cave area are now officially closed to the public.
Map: Google Maps

The Waikanaloa Wet Cave is a shallow, freshwater cave located in a rock wall in Haena State Park near Ke’e Beach on the northern shore of Kauai. The cave was formed during a period when sea levels were significantly higher, leading ocean waves to carve openings into the rock formations along the coast. Over time, as sea levels receded, two of these caves were partially filled by freshwater springs emerging from the porous rocks. The Waikanaloa Wet Cave is often mentioned with the nearby Maniniholo Dry Cave situated across from Haena Beach Park and the Waikapalae Wet Cave, which is situated just above the Waikanaloa Wet Cave area.

Unfortunately, the cave and cave area are now officially marked as closed to the public due to safety concerns regarding falling rocks. This designation was put into place with the implementation of the Haena State Park Master Plan in 2019. For this reason, we do not recommend visiting the cave.

The cave is located on the Mauka (mountain) side of the road that leads to Ke’e Beach. However, this portion of the road that is adjacent to the cave is now closed to public traffic, and it is now mainly used as an unofficial shortcut by hikers and beachgoers headed back to the Haena State Park parking lot.

If you do find yourself at the cave, note that the water in the cave is not advisable for drinking due to the risk of bacterial contamination, notably from leptospirosis. Due to the stagnant nature of the water and its appearance, which can sometimes be dirty and uninviting, along with the health risks from potential bacterial infections, swimming in the cave’s pool is not advisable either.

Additionally, entry to Haena State Park now requires advance reservations for non-Hawaii visitors. See our Kauai North Shore Permits Information page for complete information.