Beach

• Many public beaches are at the hotels, and they’re open to all
• Sands: White, black, gray and green
• The green sand beach is just east of South Point and accessible only by four-wheel drive or 3-mile hike

Anaehoomalu Beach
- nickname: “A-Bay”
- salt and pepper sand
- lots of sharp rocks and coral in the water — wear foot protection
- windsurfing, sailboarding
- restrooms, showers
- entrance through Waikola Beach Resort off Route 19

Coconut Island Park
- access via footbridge behind the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
- locals’ favorite for fishing, picnicking, swimming
- once known as “healing island”

Hapuna Beach State Park
- west side of the island, north of Puaho on Route 19
- favorite of locals
- restrooms, showers
- bodysurfing, boogie boarding — beware strong currents & undertow

Hilo Bayfront Park
- gray sand
- not good for swimming, but fishing is popular
- home to canoe clubs, with canoe races year-round

Honaunau Bay
- snorkeling, shore diving, canoe teams practicing
- small sandy beach

Honokahau Harbor
- part of Koloko Honokahau National Park
- long, private area of white sand beaches
- snorkeling, shore diving

Ho’okena State Park
- gray sand - watershoes highly recommended
- snorkeling, advanced body boarding, shore diving (not recommended when surf is up)

Kahalu’u Beach Park
- favorite snorkel spot, good for calm body boarding

Kaunaoa Beach
- located at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Route 19
- bodysurfing, boogie boarding — beware strong currents & undertow
- restrooms

Ka’upulehu Beach
- white sand
- fishing, with eco-restrictions
- restrooms, showers

Kealakekua Beach
- located at Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District and Underwater Park - off route 11 south of the town center
- salt and pepper sand
- good dolphin-watching, snorkeling, kayaking

Keauhou Bay
- birthplace of King Kamehameha III
- local canoe club & beach volleyballers meeting place

Keaukaha Beach Park
- lush green grasses
- picnicking, fishing

Keokea Beach Park
- near the end of Route 270
- camping allowed
- year round high surf

King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
- calm surf, good for young children
- white sand
- snorkeling, especially beyond the inner bay; SCUBA, dive instruction and novice diving
- near the temple (Ahu’ena Heiau), where King Kamehameha I ruled and died

Kolekole Beach Park
- fresh water river meets the ocean here
- fishing, picnicking

Kona Coast State Park
- black and white sand
- snorkeling, shore diving, body boarding and seasonal whale watching

Laupahoehoe Point Park
- created by a lava flow from Mauna Kea, forming a wide, leaf-shaped flat point
- favorite campground

Old Airport Beach Park
- Former Kona Airport
- numerous tide pools contain lots of little ocean creatures

Pu’ala’a Beach Park
- lava lined pool heated to 95 degrees by volcanic stream
- 2 miles from Mackenzie State Park, a pine forest with steep cliffs and pounding surf

Punalu’u Beach Park
- black sand
- picnicking, snorkeling
Spencer Park
- off Route 270 near the intersection of Route 19
- King Kamehakameha I�s temple nearby

White Sands Beach Park
- called “Disappearing Sands” because the beach loses its sand during the high surf months, November through April, but returns in the spring
- advanced body boarding, shore diving to 60 feet with caverns and lava tubes