Anchorage· Niihau· Hawaii

Niihau Leeward Anchorages

21° 57.7′ N · 160° 7.4′ W · approximate

Niihau's west coast offers what Noodle's Notes calls three great summer anchorages - Puukole Point, Keawanui and Kaununui - plus the island's principal landing at Nonopapa; this entry is the Keawanui anchorage off the island's longest empty beach.

Practical

Keawanui per Noodle's Notes: 21-57.70N 160-07.36W (approximate), 8-25 ft over sand; can be a bit rolly; anchor off the grove of ironwood trees about a third of the way down the beach from its north end. It is the bail-out when an out-of-season north swell makes the shallow Puukole Point anchorage untenable. Coast Pilot: Keawanui Bay is no more than a slight curve with sand and coral bottom and a sandy shore; a rock with 2 ft over it lies in the south part of the bay 0.8 mile north of Kaununui and 0.5 mile offshore; from the north side of the bay to Puukole the coast is foul for about a mile offshore - give it at least 1 mile; about 2 miles west of Puukole and 0.9 mile offshore is a reef with 12 ft over it, and a mile south of that a rock with 5 ft over it. Choosing among them: Puukole Point is the most sheltered and farthest from the settlement; Kaununui is the most protected in summer but near the village; Nonopapa is the landing for the cattle barge. Access: Niihau is privately owned and residents may tell you to leave; the beaches up to the vegetation line and the surrounding waters are public (Pacific Cup cruising notes; Noodle's Notes). Stay below the vegetation line, do not go inland, and if residents appear, the guide's author recommends simply returning to the boat.

Best for

Summer anchorage on Niihau's west coast

Season

Summer only, no north swell

Nearby