The Best Beaches on the Big Island...

Many people who come to the Big Island of Hawaii for the first time may go home feeling a little disappointed with the island if they aren't lucky enough to discover at least one really good beach. Hawaii is "supposed to be" all beaches, sand, and water - isn't that the best thing about an island? The Big Island, being so much newer than all the other islands (Kilauea Volcano still adds hundreds of acres of new land a year) doesn't have a lot of really good stretches of beach. Beaches and their sand are made by hundreds of thousands of years of ocean surf pounding against shells and rock as well as by the help of a few select fish who eat then....coral. Many coastal areas of the Big Island are only 100 to 1000 years old - hence, no sand, only rock. The Big Island has many other incredible attributes that more than make up for this lack of beaches -We have a few really nice beaches too! Read on to find the best ones ... 

Anaeho'omalu Beach
Part of this beach is directly behind the Royal Waikoloan Hotel - but there is public access on the South end. The beach is white, long, covered with palm trees and is very well maintained with good restrooms and some nice history plaques about the historic fish ponds directly behind it. There is very little surf, good swimming and good snorkeling. Anaeho'omalu is pronounced Ah nye ho-oh mah loo - but if that's too much for you you can say A-bay, lots of people do. It is about 20 miles north of Kona. Go towards the ocean on Waikoloa Beach drive and take a left across from the Kings shops at the sign that says beach.

Kauna'oa Beach
Want to go to a beach that has been voted "The best beach in the world" twice by Conde-Nash Traveller? Here it is, baby! It's even free but in order to keep the beach clean, pristine, and full of coral and fish life (and not so crowded) the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel that owns it limits access to 30 passes at a time. Try and get there by 9:00 to get in right away - or you can wait till someone leaves. It is definitely worth it. Kauna'oa is pronounced cow na-oh ah. This is located near the Mauna Kea Beach hotel, about 31 miles north of Kona.

Hapuna Beach
This beach is a "classic hawaiian beach". You will be amazed and in awe when you step through the bushes and palms and see the almost mile long stretch of clean white sand. The beach is great for body surfing, surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing and just hanging out. There are covered pavillion areas, restrooms, grassy areas, and palm trees. You can rent snorkels and boogie boards or buy ice cream and shave ice (snow cones). A lot of people go here so don't go on a weekend - and get there early if you can. Hapuna is pronounced just like it looks - Hah poo nah and means "the spring that gives forth life". Tis beach has been on quite a few "America's best beach lists" and is located about 30 miles north of Kona on Highway 19 - you'll see the signs.

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
This beach is unique for two reasons: 1. the sand is completely black (black volcanic rock ground up to make sand) and 2. It is a very popular nesting ground for large sea turtles. The access isn't incredible - it's a little rocky and the facilities are a little far away and small (my friend was very upset at the outside shower) but the snorkeling is decent, and you are almost guaranteed to see a large sea turtle. One warning - don't touch the turtles, it's illegal and causes ulcers on their shells - but feel free to take pictures! Punalu'u is pronounced poo nah loo-oo and the beach is located in south of Kona in the Ka'u district near the 63 mile marker of Highway 11.

So, if you are on the Big Island, don't be discouraged by the rocky coastline or by the teeny-tiny patches of sand along Ali'i Drive in Kona. Enjoy it for what it is: unique rugged beauty of a still-growing land, and know the world-class beaches are only a few miles away.

The information on this page was accurate at the time it was published, but we suggest you confirm all details before making travel plans.