Place to get cleaned up on south side?

Question

Good morning! On day 1 of our trip in May, I was hoping we could combine spending the day at Waimea hiking with dinner at Beach House so we don't have to make the long drive multiple times from Hanalei Bay Resort. Is there somewhere we could freshen up before dinner? We are celebrating my son's graduation, so I wanted a nice dinner, but maybe we should just get Puka dogs and sit on the beach! Is there a good sunset/moonrise view from Poipu beach? Also, would you recommend Beach House for a happy hour stop or the full dinner menu experience? I'm excited to be able to get a monkeypod mai tai one way or another! Thanks everyone.

Answer

Congratulations on your son’s graduation! Combining a day of hiking at Waimea Canyon with an evening dinner at The Beach House in Poipu is definitely doable, though you’ll want to plan for about a 1.5–2 hour drive each way from Hanalei Bay Resort.

Regarding freshening up before dinner, options on the south side are somewhat limited unless you’re staying at a hotel or resort in Poipu. Here are some possibilities:

Resort day passes: Some resorts near Poipu offer day passes that include access to showers and changing facilities. You could call in advance to see if a brief freshen-up is possible.
Public facilities: Poipu Beach Park has public restrooms with basic facilities, but no showers. You could use these for quick touch-ups.
Paid services: Some tour operators or fitness centers may allow drop-in access to showers, but this is less common. Booking a spa appointment could also serve the dual purpose of freshening up and relaxing before dinner.

For sunset or moonrise views, Poipu Beach is excellent. The beach faces southwest, so it’s ideal for catching stunning sunsets over the ocean. Moonrise views will depend on the lunar cycle, but the beach is open and scenic, providing a beautiful backdrop.

As for The Beach House:

Happy hour: Offers lighter bites and drinks, including cocktails like the Monkeypod Mai Tai. Good for a casual pre-dinner experience with sunset views.
Full dinner menu: Recommended if you want a celebratory meal with the full dining experience, especially for an occasion like a graduation. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season.

Alternative casual option: grabbing Puka Dogs and enjoying the beach is a fun, low-stress way to celebrate while still soaking in the sunset. You could even combine a light beach snack with a later dinner at a restaurant if you prefer both experiences.

Overall, if the focus is on a special evening, The Beach House full dinner is worth it, but for a laid-back, sunset celebration, the beach picnic approach works wonderfully as well.