Beach sights in Hawai'i (The Big Island)
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Kapa'a Beach Park
This relatively unused beach park affords access to clear waters and great snorkeling if you venture past the rocky shore. The views of Maui can be spectacular. The park itself is mostly parking lot, with only a falling-apart wooden picnic pavilion and portable toilets. You will need a county permit to camp, but the beach is rocky and the ground uneven. There is only one really choice spot with a picnic table near the water.
reviewed
-
B
Old Kona Airport State Park
Despite being only a mile from downtown, the 217-acre Old Kona Airport State Park is often overlooked by visitors. Its lengthy shore offers solitude and the relaxing sound of waves, and it's a good place to picnic or stroll. The old airport runway skirts a long sandy beach laced with thick strips of black lava rock. Though there are a couple of breaks allowing entry into the water, fishing, not swimming, is the major activity here.
At low tide, the rocks reveal countless aquariumlike tide pools holding tiny sea urchins, crabs and bits of coral. One at the southern end of the park is large enough to be a keiki (child) pool. The waters offshore of the park and adjacent priv…
reviewed
-
C
Kahalu'u Bay
Kahalu'u Bay is an easy-access snorkeling spot and a giant natural aquarium loaded with rainbow parrotfish, silver needlefish, brilliant yellow tangs and Moorish idol. At high tide green sea turtles often swim into the bay to feed or rest on the beach. They're endangered, so give them space. According to legend an ancient breakwater was built on the reef by the menehune (Hawai'i's mythical race of little people) and protects the bay.
This surf spot is popular with locals. It's normally a long-board wave, but when the surf is high Kahalu'u can harbor strong rip currents that pull northward into the rocks. If you're a novice, talk to a lifeguard about the day's conditions b…
reviewed
-
D
Mahukona Beach Park
Mahukona Beach Park has a rather ratty oceanfront picnic area and an abandoned landing. Once a key port for the Kohala Sugar Company, the landing was connected to sugar mills by rail. Today locals fish off it and use its ladder to get in and out of the water to swim or spearfish. Despite the name, there is no beach here.
Beyond the landing are interesting snorkeling and diving spots, although they're usually too rough in winter. Heading north, it's possible to follow an anchor chain out to a submerged boiler and the remains of a ship in about 25ft of water. You can rinse off at a shower near the ladder. The oceanfront picnic area has portable toilets, an unkempt wooden pa…
reviewed
-
E
Pine Trees Surfing Break
Pine Trees Surfing Break, one of west Hawai'i's best, is just south of Nelha. Why Pine Trees? Early surfers spied mangrove trees near the break, which they thought were pines. No mangroves (or pines) are visible today, but the name stuck. The break is along a long, pretty, rocky beach that makes swimming difficult. Gates are closed between 20:00 and 06:00.
There is surf at a number of points along this stretch, depending on the tide and swell. The final bay gets the most consistent yet more forgiving waves. An incoming midtide is favorable in general, but as the swell picks up in the winter these breaks often close out. This place attracts a crowd, so if you plan to paddl…
reviewed
-
F
Ho'okena beach
Ho'okena beach is medium-sized with soft dark sands backed by a steep green hillside. The bay's waters are often calm and great for swimming and kayaking. The snorkeling is decent, with a fair amount of coral, some fish, and often dolphins and sea turtles, though it drops off quickly. Be aware of strong currents further out. The beach park has a picnic pavilion, bathrooms, showers and a hang-loose vibe, but no drinking water.
Camping here is pretty choice, so much so that some folks live out of the campground for short periods. Sites are right on the sand, and the shady ones fill up quickly. When the winter surf is up, local kids hit the waves with bodyboards. A county pe…
reviewed
-
G
Isaac Hale Beach Park
Isaac Hale Beach Park (Hale is pronounced 'ha-lay') at Pohoiki Bay is basically a line of parking spaces along a rocky beach with a boat ramp at one end. On weekends there's usually a frenzy of activity, as local families and teens picnic, fish, swim, surf and hang out. However, the swimming is limited due to the rough water, which makes for challenging surfing so long as you avoid the rocks.
Beyond the boat ramp a well-worn path leads past a house to a small natural hot pond that's large enough to hold a handful of folks. It's well worth searching out. The park has portapotties and an outdoor shower, but no drinking water. Camping is allowed, but it isn't recommended, du…
reviewed
-
H
Ka'upulehu
Even if you're not high-rolling enough to stay at either of the two exclusive resorts in Ka'upulehu, you can still visit the area's beautiful white-sand beaches, thanks to shoreline public access laws. A mile-long coastal footpath winds through reddish lava and brackish water, where turtles can be seen, and a string of pristine, easily accessible little coves lies further south. Showers, rest rooms and drinking water are available.
Ka'upulehu's first incarnation was a remote fishing village, accessible only by boat. After being destroyed in the 1946 tsunami, the area was abandoned until the early 1960s, when a wealthy yachter anchored offshore came up with an idea that sp…
reviewed
-
I
Ahalanui Beach Park
Ahalanui Beach Park is also called 'the hot pond' because of its main attraction - a large, spring-fed thermal pool set in lava rock that's deep enough for swimming. It makes for a pretty sweet bathtub: water temperatures average 90°F, cement borders make for easy access, tropical fish abound, and, though the ocean pounds the adjacent seawall, the pool remains mellow.
However, while ocean waters flush the pond, some warn of a risk of bacterial infection; don't enter if you have any cuts. While the park has official opening and closing times, the gates are never locked and nighttime soaks are possible. The park has picnic tables, portapotties and a lifeguard daily. Don't…
reviewed
-
J
Keauhou Bay
Keauhou Bay has a launch ramp and a small boat harbor, and is one of the most protected on the west coast. It has a small grassy area, a couple of palm-shaded picnic tables, showers and rest rooms. Two sand volleyball courts stand between the headquarters of the local outrigger canoe club and the lapping bay. Against the hillside, just south of the dive shacks, a plaque marks the site where Kamehameha III was born in 1814.
The young prince was said to have been stillborn and brought back to life by a visiting kahuna (priest). To get to the bay, turn makai (seaward) off Ali'i Dr onto Kamehameha III Rd. See for information about excursions out of this harbor.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
White Sands Beach Park
White Sands Beach Park is a mini-paradise with crystal turquoise waters and shady palms. Its ability to lose its sand literally overnight during high winter surf has earned it nicknames such as Magic Sands and Disappearing Sands. When its rocks and coral are exposed, the beach becomes too treacherous for most swimmers. Gradually the sand magically returns, transforming the shore back into its former beachy self.
White Sands is always packed and is an ideal bodyboarding and bodysurfing spot. Facilities include rest rooms, showers, picnic tables and a volleyball court; a lifeguard is on duty. The park is about four miles south of the center.
reviewed
-
L
'Anaeho'omalu Beach Park's Beach
'Anaeho'omalu Beach Park's beach is a narrow strip of sand with shady palms that separates an extremely calm bay from two ancient fishponds. Popular with families, swimmers and picnickers. This is perhaps the only beach suited to windsurfing; snorkeling is decent at the north end, directly in front of the sluice gate; and drinking water, showers and bathrooms are available.
Archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation here dating back more than 1000 years. A short footpath with interpretive plaques starts near the showers and passes fishponds, caves, ancient house platforms and a shrine.
reviewed
-
M
Honoli'i Beach Park
North of downtown Hilo, the protected cove at Honoli'i Beach Park has Hilo's best bodyboarding and surfing, particularly for beginners. A lovely, well-tended grassy picnic area fronts the beach, with fantastic views of Hilo, plus there are rest rooms, outdoor showers and a lifeguard. Honoli'i isn't the best for swimming, as the adjacent river often muddies the waters.
From Hilo, take Hwy 19 north; after the 4-mile marker, turn right onto Nahala St, then left onto Kahoa St. People park on the roadside and walk down to the park.
reviewed
-
N
Manini'owali (Kua Bay)
Manini'owali (Kua Bay) is idyllic, with crescent-shaped white sands and turquoise waters. Due to its easy access, Manini'owali packs on weekends. Most of the year, the conditions are suited to swimmers, but in winter the waves kick up for bodyboarders and bodysurfers and the storms can generate currents that temporarily strip the beach of sand. There are bathrooms and showers and picnic tables, but very little vegetation or shade.
On the way to the beach you'll see Pu'u Ku'ili, a 342ft grassy cinder cone.
reviewed
-
O
Mau'umae Beach
Just north of Mauna Kea Beach is delightful Mau'umae Beach, with soft white sand, shady trees and protected waters. Locals are proprietary about this beach, so don't overstep your welcome. To get here, go toward the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, turn right on Kamahoi and cross two wooden bridges. Look for telephone pole 22 on the left and park. Walk down the trail to the Ala Kahakai sign and turn left toward the beach.
reviewed
-
P
Mahai'ula Beach
Mahai'ula Beach has salt-and-pepper sand, along with coral rubble, and the inshore waters are shallow. Snorkeling and swimming are usually good, but, during periods of high surf, which are frequent in winter, surfing is the sport of choice. There are picnic tables and portable toilets. The road to Mahai'ula Beach is unpaved and barely passable in a 2WD. From the first parking area, take a five-minute walk north.
reviewed
-
Q
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park encompasses a wide, calm bay shouldered by a low lava point to the north, tall reddish pali (cliffs) in the center and miles of green mountain slopes to the south. The bay, which is both a state park and a marine-life conservation district, has a wide variety of life in its pristine waters, including spinner dolphins.
reviewed
-
R
Punalu'u Beach Park
Punalu'u Beach Park provides easy access to a pretty little bay with a black-sand beach famous for basking green sea turtles. The turtles are both endangered and very sensitive to human disturbance - don't approach them. Punalu'u is one of the few beaches where rare hawksbill turtles lay their eggs, so take caution not to disturb their sandy nests.
reviewed
-
S
Kauna'oa Bay (aka Mauna Kea Beach)
Kauna'oa Bay (aka 'Mauna Kea Beach') might be the most visually stunning beach on the Big Island. The crescent-shaped cove has fine white sand and a gradual slope that fosters excellent swimming conditions most of the year. On the north end, snorkeling conditions are good during calm waters.
reviewed
