We’ve written before about the The Queen’s Bath on Kauai, including giving our safety recommendations for the area (please take the time to read those recommendations). It’s a popular tourist attraction in Princeville, particularly during the summer months when the ocean is calmer. But the whole rocky coast here experiences the full ferocity of the ocean when swells (waves) roll in. The following video, shot in March, shows how dramatically the area can change from day to day. The first segment shows the Queen’s Bath in 4-6ft surf, while the second show what it looks like in 12-15ft surf. The two segments were captured a couple days apart.

It’s important to approach the ocean with care. Always check the surf report before you visit an area like the Queen’s bath so that you know what the ocean is capable of doing. Click here for more Hawaii safety recommendations.

Here are ten travel tips for your next Hawaii vacation:

• Renting a car is a must. There’s too much to see and do.
• Look toward the NE to see what the weather will be like for the next hour. The trade winds blow consistently from this direction.
• Check the surf report before you head to the beaches or ocean so you know what to expect.
• Don’t swim in fresh water (streams, rivers, ponds). They are contaminated with Leptospirosis.
• If you plan on renting a surf board, make sure you can fit in on the roof of your rental car (where is the radio antenna?)
• Coral is living organism. Don’t touch or damage the coral. They also have a lot of bacteria on them, so be careful not to get scratched.
• Invest in good snorkel equipment. Bad equipment can ruin the experience.
• Big waves hit the north shores in the winter, and south shores in the summer. This may affect your snorkeling plans.
• The sting from a blue bottle (portuguese man of war) can be very painful. If you see them on the beach it’s a sign to stay out of the water.
• Surf swap meets are a great place to buy equipment.
• Consider buying an inexpensive camera for the kids so they can capture the vacation from their perspective.

For a 110 more travel tips, try our free Hawaii Google gadget. It’s a fun tool that you place on your Google home page and has all sorts of Hawaii related stuff.

Hideaways Beach is one of Princeville’s hidden gems. This hard to find little beach is located directly below the Puu Pua condos. There’s a path next to Puu Poa’s tennis courts that leads down to the beach. In the summer time Hideaways beach offers good snorkeling when the ocean is calm. There’s also a reef surf break just off the beach. Reef breaks aren’t good for beginners, but more experienced surfers sometimes come here when the prospects elsewhere aren’t great.

Despite being such a charismatic beach, Hideaways doesn’t see too many visitors. There are two reasons for this. First, the public parking facility servicing the beach only holds 9 cars. Second, the path down to the beach is steep. Children over the age of 4 will manage, but smaller will need to be carried. Those with mobility problems may also find the path daunting.

The following video shows the beach, and all the sections of the short path. You’ll notice there are some rusty but functional railings.