Hilo Bay Beachfront Park at a Glance
With close to 3,000 feet (914 m) of coastline, Hilo Bay Beachfront Park is one of the longest beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii. 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 due to sewage and industrial waste that was dumped into the ocean.
The past two decades have seen tremendous efforts by the government to restore the area. It’s still a work in progress, but on a good day, you can already glimpse some of Hilo Bay’s former glory. It was once considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Nevertheless, it is still a nice place for a picnic and a popular surfing, fishing and canoeing beach.
Swimming is not very popular, as the water hasn’t quite gained back its clear blue shade and is colder than on other beaches due to the discharge of freshwater from the nearby rivers. Nevertheless, the shore makes for a nice viewing spot, especially during sunset. It is a black sand beach and the unique color adds a lot of interest to the scene.
Much of Hilo Bay is a protected area, as there is some interesting marine wildlife around. It takes some luck and patience to spot some of the fish, but it’s certainly worth it. Most of them hang around far from shore, where there’s quite a bit of leftover sewage. Try paddling past the first few meters and they just might make an appearance.
Hilo Bay Beachfront Park is well-furnished despite its current condition. On the shore, you’ll find a number of picnic tables and shaded areas. Restrooms and showers can be found further back, as well as a few beach shops.
Hilo Bay Beachfront Park in Bullet Points
- Black sand beach once bordered the entire length of Hilo Bay, but because of extensive erosion during the 20th century, the beach today is half its original size
- Hammerhead sharks are common in the bay
- Water is murky and swimming conditions are poor
Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Facilities
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- Restrooms
- Showers
- Parking
- No lifeguard
Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Water Activities
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Kayaking
- Sailing
Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Driving Directions / Location
The beach is located in Hilo along Kamehameha Avenue.
Address: 251 Banyan Dr., Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Map (top)
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Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Weather
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Now
79°F
Windchill:
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
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Location: Hilo, HI, US
Wind: 8 mph E
Humidity: 50%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 30.04 in falling
Sunrise: 6:29 am
Sunset: 6:29 pm
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Sun
Hi: 77°F
Low: 65°F
Showers
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Mon
Hi: 76°F
Low: 65°F
Showers
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Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Photos (click to enlarge)
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Hilo Bay Beachfront Park Reviews and Comments
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Safety Tip
Whatever beach in Hawaii you visit, please have in mind that the ocean can
be very dangerous. Never turn your back against the waves and watch out for underwater
currents and always check the surf conditions. Pay attention to signs posted on
the beach. If you are not sure about the conditions, ask the lifeguards (if any
on the beach). Please
click here to
read more about ocean safety in Hawaii.
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