Big Island Beaches
Jellyfish Schedule
Jellyfish can be an event you’ll want your clients to be aware of in Hawaii. They may never experience one and even during high probability, it may not happen on every beach, so it’s nothing to make them afraid, but more so to mention to be informed. They typically appear 8 to 10 days after the full moon, and usually found in shallow waters, particularly in bays, and over sandy-bottomed shorelines. You can find the jellyfish schedule HERE
Waikoloa / Kohala Coast Area (West Shore)
Hapuna Beach State Park
Large and wide, sandy beach offering restrooms, picnic areas & lifeguards. It’s popular with families & locals and probably the best beach on the island. Great for swimming, snorkeling, bodyboarding and sunbathing.
Waialea Beach
This shaded white-sand beach is a popular snorkeling & scuba spot with public showers & restrooms. You can often find sea turtles basking in the sun here.
'Ohai'ula Beach Park
This beach is well protected by an outside reef, which allows for calm swimming and snorkeling waters on most days. The Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site is also close by. Restroom, showers and lifeguards here.
Keokea Beach
This beach is a boulder beach backed by sea cliffs. Non swimmable beach. Restrooms are available.
Kona Area (Southwest Shore)
‘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.
Honokohau Beach
This beach is a long salt-and-pepper sand beach that is a great spot for snorkeling. There is a trail that leads across a lava field to a brackish-water pool, known as Queen’s Bath. You’ll also find many ancient Hawaiian archaeological features in the area.
Ho‘okena Beach Park
This was once a steamship landing site from the 1800’s. The beach has fine, black sand mixed with white sand, giving it a gray color. The shoreline is rocky, but there are a few sandy entry and exit points to get in and out of the water. The waters are generally calm here, but strong currents can occur during times of high surf.
Kahalu’u Beach Park
The beach is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island. Over 100 species of fish can be observed here. You may also find sea turtles here. It’s also ideal for beginner swimmers since the waters are almost always calm.
Kekaha Kai State Beach
Great beach for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. In the winter it has great waves for surfing. Restrooms available.
Magic Sands Beach Park
one of the best-known beaches along Alii Drive south of Kailua-Kona. Swimmable beach with a lifeguard and volleyball nets.
Mahana Beach
This is the famous Green Sand Beach that is located near the southernmost tip of the island. It’s one of 4 green sand beaches found in the world. This beach is for those that are a little more adventurous. This secluded beach cove has olive-colored sand is accessed by hiking down a 2-mile trail and then descending down a ledge until you reach the sand.
Makalawena Beach
White-sand beaches, lava rock & tranquil waves are the draws at this remote cove with 2 lava pools.
Pebble Beach
This beach gets its name from the black lava pebbles along the shore. The shorebreak is pretty bad here and strong currents are almost always present so it’s a non swimmable beach. The beach is also not the best place to sit down for a picnic because there is no sand and the pebbles can get quite hot during mid-day..
Pololu Valley Beach
This beach is one of the most photographed spots on the Big Island. The small black-sand beach is surrounded by high sea cliffs. accessible on foot, but quite a challenge for inexperienced hikers. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the beach and you’ll have to walk down steep steps on a zigzagging dirt path. Non Swimmable beach and mosquitos can be common here.
Punalu'u Beach Park (Black Sand Beach)
This beach is the most popular black sand beach on Big Island and it’s the most accessible. Restrooms & Showers are available. It is also a well-known nesting place for sea turtles. You’ll often find sea turtles basking in the sun here. At one end of the beach is a natural freshwater pool perfect for wading and cooling down. NOTE: Legend has it that anyone who takes a stone from this beach will be cursed by the volcano goddess Pele and be forgiven only when the stone is returned.
Wawaloli Beach Park
The main attraction on this small beach is the sand-filled tide pools, which are protected from high surf by rock walls. These shallow basins are nice play areas for children and offer a cool retreat for adults. Restrooms available.
Hilo Area (East Shore)
Kehena Beach
This beach is one of the few unofficial “clothing optional” beaches in Hawaii. It is a long and narrow black-sand beach, which local residents also call Dolphin Beach because of the frequent visits of spinner dolphins. Swimming is possible when the ocean is calm.
Shipman / Ha'ena Beach
This secluded beach is about a 2.5 mile hike down an easy and scenic trail.
Hilo Bayfront Beach Park
One of the longest beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii, but was polluted badly in the past and they’re still making efforts to resort it. The waters are murky so it’s not popular for swimming.
Honoli'i Beach Park
Popular surfing beach. In the summer, the waves are calmer for beginning surfers. Winter season is for the pros only. Lifeguard on duty and restrooms and showers available. Limited parking. NOTE: You must be able to climb stairs to get to this beach.
Lehia Beach Park
A quiet beach with plenty of tide pools. Restrooms available.
Onekahakaha Beach Park
This is the ideal beach for families with small children. A sand-bottomed cove that is separated from the open ocean by a boulder break making the water very calm. Lifeguards and restrooms on site.
Reeds Bay Beach Park
Located right on the road where most of the hotels are located, it’s a calm and shallow swimming area.