Wyllie's Beach Kauai

Wyllie’s Beach Kauai is a small, semi-secluded beach at the far end of the better-known Anini Beach. The beach is often identified as being part of Anini Beach, but this farthest section, across from a stream (Anini Stream), has its own name. The beach features a thin sliver of golden sand backed by verdant green cliffs below the resort community of Princeville.

A steep path connects the beach with Princeville (near The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas). The path is frequently used by carless “free spirits” (who semi-permanently live on Anini Beach) for runs to the grocery store. Vice-versa, the path is also used by resort visitors to reach the beach.

However, a much easier way to reach Wyllie’s Beach from Princeville is to simply drive down Anini Road to the very far end of Anini Beach to Anini Stream. This is as far as you can drive on Anini Road before it becomes a private road with no trespassing signs.

Park in the shaded area at the mouth of the stream. Wade across the stream to Wyllie’s Beach on the opposite side if conditions are safe. Do not attempt to cross the stream if it is not calm. During heavy runoff and heavy surf conditions there may be a rip current in the mouth area of the stream.

The beach is named after Robert Crichton Wyllie, a Scottish businessman and physician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Hawaii in the mid-1800s. Wyllie bought a plantation in 1853 overlooking Hanalei Valley on land that is now Princeville, Kauai.

In fact, Wyllie named Princeville after a visit in 1860 by Queen Emma of Hawaii and her son Prince Albert Kamehameha, who soon died at the age of four. Wyllie also purchased much of the Hanalei area and constructed a sugar mill in Hanalei.

Today, the road that goes to The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas bears Wyllie’s name and the beach is located nearby.