Carlsmith Beach Park

Big Island Beach Guide

Carlsmith Beach Park

Carlsmith Beach Park is a Hilo lagoon park on the Big Island, known for calm-condition swimming, snorkeling, sea turtles, picnic areas, parking and seasonal lifeguards.

Beach Park in Hilo
Beach Park in Hilo

Carlsmith Beach Park, Big Island

Carlsmith Beach Park is one of the nicer beaches in the Hilo area. This side of the Big Island is mainly made up of lava rocks, but Carlsmith Beach Park has a sandy ocean bottom.

There is no sandy beach, but it’s a great place for swimming and snorkeling because the nearshore waters are protected by a reef. The entire area consists of several relatively large lagoons. Freshwater bubbles up from the bottom in several areas, so there are some cooler spots throughout the lagoons.

Sea turtles can often times be seen here. They are tame and don’t seem to mind the people in the water. They sometimes even swim up to snorkelers instead of away from them. The beach park has a spacious grassy area with trees, so there is plenty of room for a picnic.

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Reviews and Ratings

5.0

Rated 5.0 out of 5 based on 2 rated visitor reviews.

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Terrie Dishman

Sun Jul 12, 2015

Was there more then once, very beautiful and memorable place and looking forward to be back there next year! Aloha

Martha

Sun Aug 18, 2013

We visited Carlsmith Beach in March and we really loved it there, so we went back there a few times even though we were staying in the Pahoa area. The beach park has a few protected crystal clear coves, perfect for swimming and bathing, which was great for me because I'm not a good swimmer. Even two baby turtles came very close to me :) It seems Carlsmith Beach is also very popular among local residents. One downside of this park is that the parking lot is small and since it was busy we had to park on the side of the road and walk a bit to get to the beach.

Photo gallery

Browse Carlsmith Beach Park photos featuring Hilo's clear tropical lagoons, black lava rocks, park trees, picnic areas, shoreline walkways, sea turtles and calm ocean views.

Location, Parking and Directions

Carlsmith Beach Park is located on Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo, HI 96720, on the Big Island's east shore. From downtown Hilo, drive east on Kalanianaole Avenue. The beach park parking lot is on the left side of the street near the shoreline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Carlsmith Beach Park located?

Carlsmith Beach Park is located on Kalanianaole Avenue in Hilo on the Big Island's east shore.

Is Carlsmith Beach Park good for swimming?

Yes. Swimming is one of the listed activities, and the reef-sheltered lagoon areas can be calm when conditions are good.

Can you snorkel at Carlsmith Beach Park?

Yes. Snorkeling is one of the listed activities, and the clear lagoon areas can be good for easy-access snorkeling when the ocean is calm.

Are there lifeguards at Carlsmith Beach Park?

The source page lists a seasonal lifeguard at Carlsmith Beach Park.

What facilities are available at Carlsmith Beach Park?

Facilities include showers, restrooms, seasonal lifeguard coverage and parking.