Hanalei Bay
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Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the North Shore of Kaua'i in Hawai'i. The town of Hanalei is at the mid-point of the bay.
Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles of beach, surrounded by the beautiful mountains behind them. In the summer, the bay is like glass, offering excellent mooring for sailboats, stand up paddle boarding and swimming. The Princeville community overlooks from the northeast entrance to the bay. During the winter the surf becomes large and is a favorite surf location.
The Pier in Hanalei Bay was first built in 1892 to help Hanalei farmers move their taro crops to market. The covered pier's scenic location near the mouth of the Hanalei River and Black Pot beach has long been a favorite family gathering place for fishing, picnicking, swimming, and playing.
On April 5, 1824, King Kamehameha II’s royal yacht, Pride of Hawaii, sank near the mouth of the Waioli River on the southwest corner of the bay after its crew struck a five-foot deep reef a hundred yards offshore. It is believed the captain and crew were drunk at the time. A large section of the ship’s hull washed ashore in 1844 in a winter storm surge, but most of this historic wreck remains buried in silt in the bay. In 1995-2000, archaeologists from the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History excavated the wreck and recovered more than 1,200 artifacts. During this excavation, a 40 foot section of the stern was discovered, documented, and then re-buried where it was discovered.
Japanese author Haruki Murakami wrote a short story entitled "Hanalei Bay" set in the area. The story is included in the collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.
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