The beach is central to any vacation in the Hawaiian Islands, and first-time visitors may be a little perplexed when they first arrive on the Big Island. On first glance, tourists would be forgiven for thinking that there are no ‘real beaches’ on the island. The good news is, beaches are here – you just have to know how to find them.
Finding the best Big Island beach depends a great deal on what you value. Some vacationers prefer facilities over seclusion, while others are willing to hike two or three miles just to escape the crowds.
Big Island Beaches
This quiet bay is still the home to several local families. The rocky shoreline contrasts with the warm crystal clear waters that are a favorite od divers and snorkelers. However, this bay is one of the more significant historical sites in the Hawaiian Islands. Just off the rocky coastline is where Captain Cook and his […]
Known to most as the City of Refuge, this oceanfront park is one of the more extraordinary in all of Hawaii. The park is filled with significant Hawaiian archeological sites along with clear ocean waters and more. The entrance fee can be combined with that of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to make it more […]
Located at the very end of Kalanianaole Avenue in Keaukaha is Hilo’s closest black sand beach. This is Richardson Beach Park and it also provides the best snorkeling close to Hilo town. Keaukaha is where people in Hilo go for a day at the beach. The coastline hosts a number of beaches with pavilions, showers, […]
Big Island’s western side is world famous for its pristine coastal waters. Indeed, there seem to be spectacular snorkel spots every few hundred yards down the shore, but because of lava shelves and heavy shorebreak many of these places are either accessible only by boat, or from shore by the more experienced ocean-goer. This is […]
Just north of the city limits Hilo surfers get their fix at Honoli’i, east Big Island’s most popular surfbeach. There aren’t many accessible surf breaks around the Hilo area, so when the surf is good you can be sure everyone’s at Honoli’i. The beach is a short 2-mile drive north of Hilo and is a […]
For those that have never seen a black sand beach, Punalu’u is an eye-opening stop on the road from Volcano to south point. However, if you’ve seen other black sand beaches you may be unimpressed by this, the most heavily touristed area in Big Island’s Ka’u district. Unlike other often remote black sand beaches this […]
Kawa’a Beach is a hidden beach in Ka’u that sits between Punalu’u (black sands) beach and Honuapo (Whittington Beach park). For many years ownership of this sacred land has been contested. Abel Lui, known to locals as Uncle Abel, has lived here for more than 30 years protecting this beach and keeping it clean. He […]
The Puna coastline is vast and rugged. With rocky cliffs and crashing waves, there aren’t many places to access the ocean in Puna, but Pohoiki makes up for that by having just about everything right in one place. Pohoiki, also known as Isaac Hale Beach Park, is the only surf spot in Puna and the […]
Located just north of the small town of Naalehu in Big Island’s Kau district sits the remnants of a more prosperous time. The town of Honuapo was once a bustling sugar cane town but today all that’s left is the rusted skeleton of a shipping pier jutting into the bay at Whittington Beach Park. Whittington is a […]
Just offshore from Hilo’s famed Lili’uokalani Gardens sits Mokuola, known popularly today as Coconut Island. This is Hilo’s most popular and convenient beach. It offers swimming, a tower to jump from into the ocean, picnic tables, a grassy area, and good sea turtle watching. The island is connected via a wide footbridge. The bridge is […]
