Gillins Beach

Gillins Beach is not what one would expect to find at the end of an unmaintained gravel road just east of the popular vacation town of Po'ipu. No signs mark the presence of a secluded beach on the short drive out here. Even the trailhead is quite unassuming with roadside parking at the end of this road. But, just a short walk down the "trail" brings one to the top of a bluff overlooking the blue Pacific with sweeping views of the sandy beach below, shadowed by the tall Haupu Mountain above. A short quarter-mile walk down (east) of the bluff along a horse trail (horseback riding tours frequent this trail) and a jump over a small creek leads to the lovely secluded Gillins Beach.

Ideal for walking, perhaps not so much for swimming, this long, pencil-thin, sandy beach is bordered by reefs and rocks just offshore. This allows for gentle waves to lap at the sand. A solitary vacation home sits in the center of the beach, adjacent to a giant tide pool that empties over a waterfall-like rocky structure at its east end. Continue walking east to round a sandy point, revealing another, even more secluded cove. The coast becomes even rockier here, and another bluff marks the eastern end of this cove. There are no facilities present, but this adds to the solitude of the place and just means sea life is more likely to be seen here. Monk seals or sea turtles may be seen sunning themsleves on the beach. Be aware that these animals are protected species and require significant space from humans. Certainly a scenic place vastly different from the tourist beaches of Po'ipu, yet only a 10-minute drive from the town's center.