Big Island beaches
The Big Island of Hawaii has a coastline of about 266 miles (428 km). Big Island beaches are the most diverse in all of Hawaii. Here you can find black sand beaches, red sand beaches, golden sand beaches and even green sand beaches. Most beaches, however, are rather rocky and have an offshore reef, which makes for poor swimming conditions.
The best sandy swimming beaches are located on the Kona coast. This is where many hotels are located and where most visitors like to stay for their Big Island vacation. Snorkeling and diving locations on the Big Island are plentiful. And then there are several tide pool locations, such as the Kapoho Tide Pools, which are like an outdoor Jacuzzi - with the only difference that they are volcanically heated.
Big Island beach list
| AHALANUI
PARK |
| Located on the Big Island's east shore near Pahoa, Ahalanui Park (also known as Pualaa County Park) offers a bathing experience that is unique in the Hawaiian Islands. Here you can have a bath in a spring-fed, walled-in pool, which is volcanically heated to a comfortable 90 degrees F (32 C). Read
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| AIOPIO
BEACH |
| Aiopio Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii is part of the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, a rich archaeological site just north of Honokohau Harbor. Here you can find artifacts showing how Hawaiians lived in the past, before the time of James Cook and the civilization that followed suit.
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| ALULA
BEACH |
| Alula Beach, located at the entrance to Honokohau Harbor, is a secluded cove with a small white-sand beach dotted with pieces of black lava rock. During times of calm waters, the snorkeling conditions are excellent here. The beach is a popular take-off point for offshore divers and snorkelers.
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| ANAEHOOMALU
BEACH |
| Anaehoomalu Beach located near the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach Resort, is one of the prettiest beaches in this area, featuring a long white-sand beach, fish ponds and a large grove of coconut palms. The beach is popular for a variety of ocean sports, including swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing, scuba diving, surfing and net-fishing.
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| CRYSTAL
COVE |
| Crystal Cove is often times referred to as the Big Island's giant aquarium. There are some steep cliffs here and the shoreline is rocky. The cove is a popular dive spot. The area inside the cove is a good spot for beginners since the water is between 20-40 feet deep and home to some nice coral gardens.
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| HAKALAU
BAY |
| Hakalau Bay is mainly a place to go to take pictures rather than go swimming or snorkeling. The small bay has deep offshore waters and dangerous water conditions develop during times of high surf. At the head of the bay, Hakalau Stream flows into the ocean, so the inshore waters are always murky. Read
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| HAPUNA
BEACH STATE PARK |
| Hapuna Beach Park is one of the real gems on the Big Island. Conde Nast Traveller, a prestigious travel magazine, has repeatedly voted it the best beach in the U.S. Golden white sands and clear, deep blue waters make this beach a popular spot for weddings, photo and video shoots and beach parties.
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| HILO
BAY BEACHFRONT PARK |
| Hilo Bay Beachfront Park is one of the longest beaches on the Big Island. But it's surprisingly uncrowded. The culprit? A heavy industrial boom in the mid-1900s that has left the waters murky and the shores polluted. Nevertheless, it is still a nice place for a picnic and a popular surfing, fishing and canoeing beach.
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| HOLOHOLOKAI
BEACH PARK |
 Holoholokai Beach Park on the Big Island is
not your typical picture-perfect white sand beach.
This rocky strip of coastline boasts something completely
different. The beach is connected to the Malama Petroglyph Trail, the largest collection of petroglyphs in the state.
Read More |
| HONAUNAU
BAY |
| A former stronghold of Hawaiian chiefs, Honaunau Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii has some of the best underwater sights on the island, if not the entire state. Rare fish and sea turtles can be seen playing amidst colorful coral reefs. The water is especially inviting to snorkelers and scuba divers, as it is clear and calm throughout the year.
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| HONOKOHAU
BEACH |
| Honokohau is one of the many beaches that form the Kalolo-Honokohau National Historic Park. This 1160-acre (4.7 sq. km) park boasts some of the best archaeological sites and artifacts in the state, including ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings), temples, burial sites, trails, house platforms and three fishponds.
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| HONOLII
BEACH PARK |
| Located on the Big Island's east coast just north of Hilo, Honolii Beach Park is popular among the local surf crowd. Unlike most surfing beaches on the Big Island, Honolii sees action all year round. The beach itself is a mix of black sand, coral rubble, rocks and beach glass.
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| HOOKENA
BEACH PARK |
| Hookena was once an important inter-island steamship landing site. In the early 1880s, it grew into a busy trading village, featuring a wharf, a school, a courthouse and even a jail. Hookena's beach has fine, black detrital sand mixed with white sand, giving it a gray color.
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| ISAAC
HALE BEACH PARK |
 Located on the eastern edge of Pohoiki Bay on the Big Island's east shore, Isaac Hale Beach Park is a small two-acre (8,094 sq. m) park and is often times quite crowded. It's popular among picnickers, shoreline fishermen, surfers, campers and boaters.
Read More |
| JAMES
KEALOHA BEACH PARK |
| Named in 1963 after the first elected lieutenant governor of the state of Hawaii, James Kealoha Beach Park is also known as "4 Miles" among local residents - not because of its length, but because it is exactly 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Hilo Post Office, the main starting point for mileage markers in the area.
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| KAHALUU
BEACH |
| The Big Island has some outstanding underwater scenery, but Kahaluu Beach on the island's west coast just south of Kailua-Kona stands out in particular. The fish here aren't at all wary of the swimmers, as they tend to be in other areas. Indeed, if you hang around long enough, some of them will come up to you and swim by your side.
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| KAHUWAI
BAY |
| Kahuwai Bay is a well-guarded secret of the Big Island diving community. The sandy beach is home to about 40 different diving sites, most of them within easy walking distance. The underwater lava rocks form beautiful archways and canyons that look almost surreal in the sunlight.
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| KAMAKAHONU
BEACH |
| Nicknamed "Children's Beach" because of the gentle waves and shallow water, Kamakahonu is one of the safest swimming beaches in Kona. It is also an important historical site, having served as the final home of King Kamehameha the Great, who lived here from 1812 until his death in 1819.
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| KAPAA
BEACH PARK |
| If you like your beaches small and private, you'll love this quiet rocky beach on the Big Island's northwestern shore. However, the shoreline here is rocky and the beach is not good for swimming. Kapaa is mainly visited by picnickers and fishermen.
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| KAPOHO
TIDE POOLS |
| Located on the Big Island's east shore at Kapoho Bay, the Kapoho Tide Pools offer a unique outdoor bathing experience. There are numerous and interconnecting tide pools that extend up to 200 yards (183 m) offshore. Some of the pools are volcanically heated and quite warm, up to about 90 degrees F (32.2 C).
Read More |
| KAUNAOA
BEACH |
| "Perfect" has been used to describe Kaunaoa Beach on several occasions, and one look is enough to see why. Fringed with leafy palm trees and fine, golden sand, this beach is considered one of the island's best. White-sand beaches like this one are rare on the Big Island.
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| KEALAKEKUA
BAY |
 Few other spots have as much historical meaning as Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island’s Kona Coast. This is where Captain James Cook (the British explorer who discovered the Hawaiian Islands in 1778) docked during his second voyage to the Hawaiian Islands in January 1779.
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| KEEI
BEACH |
| Just beside the well-known Kealakekua Bay is a small beach unknown to most visitors. Keei Beach is one of the best-kept secrets on the Big Island's Kona Coast, visited mostly by local fishermen, surfers and the occasional sightseer. Keei Beach has white sand speckled with black lava fragments and is a good spot for a picnic.
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| KEHENA
BEACH |
 Located in the Big Island's Puna district, Kehena Beach is one of the few unofficial "clothing optional" beaches in Hawaii. It is a long, but narrow black-sand beach, which local residents also call Dolphin Beach because of the frequent appearances of spinner dolphins in this area.
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| KEOKEA
BEACH PARK |
| Located on the Big Island's rocky North Kohala shoreline, Keokea Beach is a boulder beach surrounded by sea cliffs. The swimming conditions are rather poor here because the bay is not protected by offshore reefs, so the surf is strong and the water rough on most days. Local residents have built a breakwater of boulders to improve the cove.
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| KIHOLO
BAY |
| If you were to squeeze the Big Island into a single beach, you’ll end up with something like Kiholo Bay. This Kohala Coast beach has a little of everything: beautiful sights, fascinating wildlife, tide pools, ancient ponds and rock formations. There’s even a mini-island made of lava rock right at the heart of the bay.
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More |
| KOLEKOLE
BEACH PARK |
| Located about 10.5 miles (16.9 km) north of Hilo, Kolekole Beach Park is a popular beach park among residents in the Hilo area, mainly because of its beautiful scenery, spacious grassy areas and because of its facilities. On the weekends and on holidays, it is often times crowded with picnickers.
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| KONA
COAST STATE PARK |
| The Kona Coast State Park (also known as Kekaha Kai) on the Big Island's west coast comprises two of the best beaches in the area, Mahaiula Beach and Kua Bay (also known as Manini'owali). The entire shoreline in this area is beautiful. The dark lava rocks, white sandy coves, green vegetation and deep blue water make for a nice contrast in colors.
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| KUA
BAY |
| Kua Bay (Manini'owali) is part of the Kona Coast State Park (Kekaha Kai), which
is located along the leeward coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kua Bay marks the northern end of this park and features
several hiking trails and a number of lookout
points from which you can enjoy great views of the salt-and-pepper
coastline.
Read More |
| KUKIO
BEACH |
| Located north of Kikaua Point on the Big Island’s Kohala coast, Kukio Beach is a pretty white-sand beach, which can most conveniently be accessed at the Hualalai Four Seasons Resort. Entering the water is a little tricky here because shoreline rocks line almost the entire length of the beach.
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| LAPAKAHI
STATE HISTORICAL BEACH PARK |
 Nature and history come together in this 265-acre
beach park just a short drive from the Kawaihae
district. Lapakahi State Historical Beach Park marks
the starting point of an ancient fishing community,
Koaie, which dates back to the 14th century.
Read More |
| LELEIWI
BEACH PARK |
| For a small beach, Leleiwi Beach Park has a
lot to offer, from fishing and sunbathing to magnificent
ocean views. But most people come here for hours
and hours of snorkeling, made possible by the calm,
shallow waters.
Read More |
| MACKENZIE
STATE PARK |
 This
sprawling state park has one of the most dramatic
ocean fronts, but people don’t come here for the
swimming. Mackenzie State Park is mostly popular
among sunbathers, picnickers, and fishing enthusiasts.
Strong currents make it unsafe for swimmers and
snorkelers.
Read More |
| MAHUKONA
BEACH |
| Mahukona Beach is unusual in more ways than
one. For one thing, it’s not a real beach-it used
to be a commercial harbor run by a local sugar mill.
Remnants of the area’s enterprising past can still
be found underwater and are in fact one of its main
attractions.
Read
More |
| MAKALAWENA
BEACH |
| The Kona Coast has its share of “secret” beaches-little
strips of paradise conveniently hidden by larger,
more mainstream spots. The Makalawena Beach is one
such place, nestled on top of a small hill and accessible
by a 20-minute hike through a rough lava trail.
Read
More |
| NAPOOPOO
BEACH PARK |
| A quaint historical charm surrounds the rugged
landscape of Napoopoo Beach Park, a cultural gem
on western Big Island. This is where Captain James
Cook first set foot on Hawaii and held the first
Christian service on the island.
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| OLD
KONA AIRPORT BEACH STATE PARK |
| The old Kona Airport closed down decades ago,
but developers have certainly put the site to good
use. In its place now lies a mile-long beach and
state park, the old runway conveniently turned into
a parking lot.
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More |
| ONEKAHAKAHA
BEACH PARK |
| Searching for the perfect family-friendly beach?
Look no further than southern Hilo on Hawaii’s Big
Island. The Onekahakaha Beach Park is one of the
safest beaches on the island, protected from the
surf and brimming with beautiful sights of the Hilo
Bay.
Read More |
| PAHOEHOE
BEACH PARK |
| Here’s one for the snorkeling experts. Pahoehoe
Beach Park offers great snorkeling for advanced
divers, with its ancient lava flows, interesting
wildlife, and beautiful coral reefs. Beginners are
not advised to dive in because of the rocky bottom
and occasionally rough current.
Read More |
| PAPAKOLEA
GREEN SAND BEACH |
| There’s black sand, white sand, and coral-filled
salt and pepper-but I bet you’ve never seen anything
like the Papakolea Green Sand Beach. The coast of
this secluded beach is sprinkled with olivine, a
semi-precious stone, crushed into fine sand by years
of lava cooling and erosion.
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| PAUOA
BAY |
| One can feel an immediate sense of calm upon
entering this white sand beach in Kamuela, Hawaii
County. From the shore, the bay looks just like
a small pond with the crescent-shaped lava walls
protecting the calm blue waters.
Read More |
| PEBBLE
BEACH |
| Once can feel a soft sense of calm hanging over
this remote beach at the Kona Coast. Pebble Beach
gets its name from the black lava pebbles that line
its coast, creating a unique and attractive landscape.
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| PELEKANE
BEACH |
| This beach on the South Kohala Coast isn’t for
the typical beach-goer or watersports enthusiast.
Pelekane Beach is for those with an eye for culture,
a grasp of spirituality, and a deep appreciation
of Hawaii’s religious history.
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More |
| PINE
TREES BEACH |
| You won’t find any actual pines on this beach-it
was hastily named by a clueless visitor who thought
the nearby mangroves were pine trees. Funny names
aside, Pine Trees Beach is one of the best barbecue
sites on the Kona Coast and arguably the best surfing
spot on the Big Island.
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More |
| POLOLU
VALLEY BEACH |
| You might feel a sense of déjà-vu upon setting
foot on Pololu Valley Beach. Your hunches are probably
right-this beach is one of the most photographed
spots on the Big Island. You’ve probably seen it
in postcards, book covers, and countless magazines
and brochures.
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| PUAKO
BAY |
| Puako Bay is the sunniest spot on the Big Island,
with an annual rainfall of under six inches, and
is home to the largest collection of petroglyphs
in the state.
Read More |
| PUNALUU
BLACK SAND BEACH |
| Black sand beaches are all over the Big Island,
but Punaluu Beach on the south of Kona is hands-down
the most popular. This spacious beach boasts a shore
of shiny, jet black sand, mostly made up of ground
lava from years of volcanic activity.
Read More |
| RICHARDSON
BEACH PARK |
| Also known as Richardson’s Ocean Center, this
park has calm, safe waters, excellent snorkeling,
lots of shade, and several tide pools where children
can play away from the surf. Oh, and there’s also
the perfect weather and picturesque coastline views.
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| ROAD
TO THE SEA BLACK SAND BEACH |
| The Road to the Sea is one that’s hardly traveled,
and it’s easy to see why. The six-mile trail is
dotted with sharp rock and lava, surrounded by steep
ledges, and riddled with cracks and potholes.
Read More |
| SPENCER
BEACH PARK |
| Here’s a beach that’s sure to please everyone
in the family. Spencer Beach Park offers excellent
swimming and snorkeling, ample shade under large
native trees, and a calm, friendly atmosphere that
families simply love.
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More |
| WAIALEA
BAY BEACH |
| Here’s where you can enjoy a lazy weekend away
from the tourist-packed Kohala streets. Waialea
Bay Beach is one of the few white sand beaches on
the Big Island, and arguably one of the most peaceful.
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More |
| WAIPIO
BEACH |
| Waipio Valley has been called the Valley of
the Gods, and one look at this secluded place is
all it takes to see why. The place is marked by
ancient sacred temples, tropical rainforests, and
high cliffs rising 2000 feet against the sky.
Read More |
| WAWALOI
BEACH PARK |
| Think you can’t have your own private pool on
a public beach? Wait till you see the Wawaloi Beach
Park-a quiet, secluded beach featuring several sand-filled
tide pools conveniently protected from the high
surf.
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More |
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