Wow, how lucky we are! We got a spot! Usually, they only allow 10 parking spots open but in the temporary lot, there's many more guest beach parking The security guard at the entrance will let you know if you are able to come through and he will give you a parking pass here. They will give you a parking pass if there are spots open. Currently there is construction to build a larger parking lot to allow more than 10 parking spots so you will be sent to another parking area that allows a lot more spots. Everyone is excited for the new parking lot. This beach is really fun for boogie boarding, building sand castles, and (if you like small waves )surfing . The walk from the temporary parking lot to the beach was really nice included a lot of trees, flowers, and a garden. Tucked away behind the garden a gift shop. The gift shop also sells boogie boards, but you can bring your own read more

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In my humble opinion, this is the most lively beach on The Big Island. It's not black sand, it's not great for boogie boarding, it's also not packed with tourists. It's a gorgeous beach adjacent to Mauna Kea Resort, a pretty exclusive hotel and part of the autograph collection of Marriott. This is a great beach to walk end to end, in the water or on the beach. You can snorkel or swim out your one of the platforms or just lay and work on your tan. It's my solo go to beach while on the island. Afterwards there is a great beach restaurant to meander over to and imbibe and nibble. Not always an easy beach to gain access to but well worth the effort. read more

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This is one of my favorite beaches on the island. It's great for snorkeling on the left or right side of the inlet. We saw turtles and lots of fish and lovely coral. They have a night light that they shine for the manta rays to come visit at night. There is not a lot of shade on the beach but we found one of the few spots under a tree. The sand is super soft and great for sand castles and the water is mild with small waves to make for a fun "beach style day" or a mild lagoon swim. read more

The beach is on hotel grounds, but they have a designated parking spot for visitors. In the morning, you can ask at the hotel entrance if they have a parking space. If one is available, they'll give you a ticket and directions. It's a 5-7-minute walk from the parking lot to the beach. The path is shaded by trees, so it's not too tiring. There are sun loungers on the beach for hotel guests, but you can also bring your own umbrella. It sounds a bit strange, and I've never seen this before, but it's true. There were no restrooms or changing rooms. The restrooms along the path from the parking lot to the beach were closed. We stayed on the beach from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. After that, it gets very hot. The color and clarity of the water are mesmerizing! read more

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Stunning beach with soft white sand,snorkel sites, manta ray lights at night, free parking thru gated security , beautiful walkway, perfect manicured lawn. Restaurants on site to please your epicurean mind, tongue and stomach. read more

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What a stunning beach. The pure white sand, calm water, and gentle walk-in make it ideal for swimmers of all ages. And the sunsets werejust incredible. Although it's technically a private beach, there are still a handful of public parking spots and access points, even with the hotel construction happening. If you're in the area and craving a relaxing place to unwind, this is absolutely worth checking out. read more

Nice beach. We arrived on Tuesday around 4pm after a 6 hour flight from Sacramento, CA. We were looking to eat but Copper Bar wasn't opened yet so headed down to the grill on the beach. Waitress told us last call for lunch due to construction (closes at 5pm.) We ordered drinks, fish tacos, and fish burger. The fish was so moist in both dishes! We would definitely eat here again. We walked the property hoping to see mantas but we were too early for "night viewing". read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Fish Tacos - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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At the Mauna Kea, as well as at the Westin resort, one can participate with this wonderful woman at 5:45 in the morning with her cultural "E Ala E," and welcoming in the sun and thinking the day for beginning. She has a beautiful voice and will help you sing as the clouds break, and the sun creeps up over the hillside. You will feel so enlightened and amazing throughout the day!! This particular cultural event, I had no idea what we were in store for and I wore regular clothes. As you participate to walk into the ocean and forgive everything that is negative and bring on aloha, gratitude and thoughtfulness as you exit the water. since it was so early in the morning, I didn't care and I walked in full clothes and all. My boyfriend, however, went down to his boxers, and we had the beach all to ourselves! I've honestly never experienced anything so wonderful and enlightening as this so I think everybody should try it at least once!! Just giving everyone a heads up if you try, wear a bathing suit just in case. The water was so warm at 6 AM. I had no idea! I'm freezing cold! No joke I'm always cold even in Hawaii's water! But something about this particular morning or maybe the good Vibes, essence, aloha feeling I was warmed from the inside out!! This was the perfect way to start our vacation for the week!! read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Best way to start out my week in Hawaii at 5:45am! - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

This is a family friendly beautiful beach. It was not packed the day we went. The only entrance is through the resort parking but space is limited for non guests so you may be turned away at the gate. I would suggest packing light or ensuring everyone can carry everything they need in one trip, as the parking lot to the beach area is a 10+ minute walk depending on where you find your perfect spot. We went twice and lucked out both days. Clear and calm waters, not enough waves for the kids to boogie board but good areas to snorkel. We saw a sea turtle and it was beautiful, overall a great experience! Will visit again. read more

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Best beach on the island in my opinion. We are lucky to stay at Mauna Kea (another gem). Nice reefs to snorkel and a turtle whom is a staple here. read more

well folks... of all the beaches I am blessed to travel to when on vacation...after 15 yrs this one remains on the top of my lists! the sand, the views, the snorkeling, the 6 shades of blue and green in the water... if you are able to get here...put it on your bucket list..you won't be disappointed. I took us three tries to get in on this trip..third time a charm... read more

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Best Beach in this side of the island! It's PEAK beach vibes! Sandy, clear water, not too rough, restaurant with good food and drinks at the beach. 10/10 read more

Visiting here feels like a secret hack, even though I know it's not. You pull up to the guard shack and say, "I'd like to visit the beach, " and if you are lucky they hand you a parking pass. There are only 40 public spots here. You drive to the fourth driveway on the right and push the button on the gate to gain entry. Then you walk about 10 minutes to the beach and then about 10 minutes more to the other end of the beach, and yes it is a journey but in the end you are treated to this beautiful, quiet, private feeling beach. We came here three times during our 1 week stay in waikoloa. We gained entry twice. Our tip is to go early or go after 2pm or so. The beach itself is lovely and there is decent snorkeling around the rocks. We had a 9pm flight home so we came here & snorkeled and beached it up. Rinsed off as best we could with the outdoor showers, returned our snorkel gear, grabbed a quick dinner and hit the road. My sadness at leaving the magic of Hawaii behind was slightly eased by arriving home with a bit of salt and sand from Mauna Kea Beach still clinging to my hair. read more

This is my favorite beach on the big island. Calm waters, blue tranquil ocean. Most importantly I wanted to write this review so others know that if beach parking is full, you can tell the guard that you are going to the Mauna Kea for lunch. No reservations needed. Valet is $40 and they validate $20 if you buy food or drink. We got nachos and ate on the beach (you can also eat at a table or at the bar). There is shade on the public side of the beach. Don't let the lack of public parking stop you! We brought out all our snorkel gear, boogie boards etc from our car.. no problem. read more

This is a beautiful beach with limited access so it doesn't feel crowded. The guard station only allows about 20 parking spots in for public use so get there early or go during non peak times. The beach itself is great - white sand and beautiful views. Bring a body board for some fun. There are some nice shady spots to hang out in. You can do a little bit of snorkeling on the rockier ends of the beach but there are other places better for that. read more

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This is probably one of the better beaches on the island. It's not really rocky at all, very fine sand, and you can walk a fair distance out before it gets deeper than the average person (maybe 50 yards?). This is part of a resort, however. They have to allow you access, and they do. You need a ticket from the booth, and then you enter it when you get to the visitor lot. The visitor lot is not very big. It is a short walk from there to the beach. I would hope that they would tell you if the lot was full. It was nearly so when we were there, but there were a few spaces. Competition for shady spots was fierce, but if you could do without shade there was a lot of sand you could set-up on. All in all, a nice day. read more

Ugh, this beach is the beach of our dreams Silk soft sand that extends out into the ocean waves. No need for shoes that protect your feet, unless you want protection from the warm sand. Nearby showers and neat bathrooms Trees with large overhanging branches that provide natural shade with plenty of space for everyone. I also ran to the Mauna Kauna Resort and Marketplace to grab food in between reading on the beach and swimming in the beautiful waters. People snorkeled and there were reports of turtles, manta rays, and little fishes all around. Parking is difficult, but You have two options. 1. Wait a bit in the public parking and try to land a spot 2. Pay for valet parking $40 and buy something at the resort and it will come down to $25 for the whole day. Definitely a beach worth visiting. read more

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This must be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Gorgeous setting and view.

This is a great beach to hangout. Public parking however will be hard to get unless you are a hotel guest. Hapuna beach is down the road which is also great and have more ample parking (if you get there early enough). read more

Beautiful, soft sandy beach with lots of area to spread out it in the sun or shade. Shade is more limited. Make sure to get there early as in 8am. We came one morning around 8:50 and it was already full so we made sure we got there around 7:30 the next am. Parking lot is small and is clearly marked for the beach spots. It's shared with Golfers. The beach is MUCH less crowded than next door Hapuna Beach. It has a paved pathway and bathrooms/showers very close to beach. We had a great day here and I know you will as well. read more

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Amazing! Just amazing! This beach is located at a resort so you'll have to get a public beach pass at the guard shack. Once you make your way down the drive, there will be a "parking machine", slide the pass into the cash slot to open the gate. Park and walk down the trail. This beach is immaculate! Pristine clear water and the breeze is perfection! Bring your own umbrella, chairs, towels, etc. snorkel gear is a must because of the clear water. read more

Came here during July 4th weekend. First attempt we couldn't get in. Attendant told us they opened the gates at 6:30a so next time we got there at 7a and was able to get in. Very disappointed. For a private beach the hype was not worth it. I HIGHLY recommend Kua Bay. It does get crowded but it's so much more beautiful with turquoise waters, rocks to climb, and sea turtles! read more

What can I say this beach was my favorite spot on the Big Island! This is a resort beach so it isn't as crowded as it could be! However be aware of the limited parking and to get there you have to go through the hotel area to get to the public beach parking! Also there is amazing swimmable water all along this beach and some areas close to the far end that are a bit more secluded and away from the hype of the resort chairs and umbrellas and boats! Needless to say THIS BEACH IS AMAZING! The Water, The Sand, and the air is just amazing! read more

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This beach is part of the Mauna Kea Hotel but is open to the public as well. It's great because it is a rather wide beach with silky sand. It's a spacious beach so you won't feel cramped. The beach itself has a couple tree-shaded areas set back away from the water. There is a small parking lot with designated beach parking spaces, but apparently if there are no spaces there you'll have to valet which is pricey pricey pricey. From the lot there's about a 5-10 min walk down a paved pathway to get to the restroom area with outdoor rinse-off shower stations and then to he beach. Not great for snorkeling bc there's not much to see in the ocean there, just sand and water and people. read more

The most beautiful beach on the big island. Parking is limited so get here early enough to get a spot!!! read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

I've visited just about all of the Big Island beaches I could in a week and nothing compares to Mauna Kea Beach: - Located within the Mauna Kea Beach resort - Limited to about 30 visitors/cars a day so you know it won't be overcrowded - Shower area and restrooms to change & clean up, before and after a fun day in the sun - White sandy beach with calmer waters - A safe section for children to play - A mini protected area to snorkel and see the fishies My advice is to go earlier in the daytime before it fills up. I went three times and got in twice, one time at about 10 am on a weekday and 9 am on a weekend. I got the NO at 11:30 am on a Friday (sad). The security guard at the gate will radio the parking lot dude and confirm any openings before letting you in. read more

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It is true the parking lot will be full by 9am or shortly there after. You will be turned away until a space opens up around 12 or 1pm in the afternoon. This is a perfect beach, better even than Hapuna. The sand is silly soft golden powder. The waves are usually gentle and easy to play in. There is some shade and facilities including showers. There is some snorkeling near the rocks on either side of the rocks. Especially great for kids and families or those new to the ocean. The limited parking means less crowded and more relaxed and quiet. read more

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It was beautiful there! Try to go early as it get filled up quick. They only allow a certain number in at a time. The parking is very limited. read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Got here at 8:34am on Thursday and parking lot was full. Parking attendant was a royal a**hole. Wouldn't even let me drop off the rest of our party. Wouldn't even let us down the hilltop see the resort or use the resort valet like many other reviewers said. read more

Perfect chill spot with plenty of space to isolate yourself or have an ocean front cookout. Just look out for the goats. LOL read more

This beach was beautiful white sand. So to get here it's a private gated neighborhood. The guard at the security house told us that beach goers get 42 parking spots so I assume you have to get there early to park. You can only park in the yellow lines parking spaces. Once at the parking lot it's a small hike to the beach maybe about a half a mile or a mile. The beach is beautiful and calm a lot of shade and trees. Loved every minute there. read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

If you want a beautiful beach with fine soft-in-between your toes type of sand, this is your beach. To get here, you have drive to the Mauna Kea Resort, which is gated with a guard out in front. Just drive up and tell the guard you want access to the beach. We came late afternoon during the week and there were quite a few stalls to park at. At the end of the parking area, there's a paved walking area to get to the beach. Once you get to the beach, you'll immediately notice the fine sand. The water wasn't too rough when we came to visit. A walk to the other side of the beach is the Mauna Kea Resort. We primarily hung out at the opposite end where there weren't as many people. It was perfect for a swim and just to relax. Great location to watch the sunset. read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - The sand is so silky soft! - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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Wife said to give it 5 stars so there you go. Great beach, beautiful view, good size. Attached to a hotel so amenities - can rent snorkel gear, use chairs, kayaks, SUP, get a drink, eat, bathroom, etc. If you're not a hotel guest though public spots are limited to about 25 parking spots when you come in. Come early (we came 9:30am and got last) or off season to enjoy, there is a guard tower to come in and they might not let you. read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Beautiful beach, limited access, one of the best. - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Excellent for snorkeling or for laying on the beach. We got there by 8:30am and literally got the last available spot for public parking. Go early if you aren't staying at the resort - they have parking spots for members of the public. There is a bathroom, outdoor shower spigot to rinse off and I believe someone renting snorkeling gear (we just rented some from Snorkel Bob's). We saw people on SUP and kayaks and canoes. The water is very shallow for a long distance and then it drops off to 5 - 30 feet. Stay to the right side of the rocks (north end of the beach) for the best snorkeling! read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

I wasn't sure about the 2 names but Kauna'oa Beach is also known as Mauna Kea Beach because it's in front of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. It's one of the prettiest white sand beaches I've seen on the island. Most say it's the best and it truly is. The beach stretches for about half a mile and waters are generally calm. Nothing compares to these soft sandy beaches. They are clean, the shoreline is pretty and the view is spectacular. The beach area is fairly protected because it sits in a bay but can also be a great spot for boogie boarding and other water activities. It's a perfect spot for sunset watching. We were lucky enough to stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel so we had easy access to this beach everyday. There is limited public access here so the beach never feels crowded. Gorgeous, stunning and the beach you want to be at. read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

This beach is accessed through the resort. The guard at the front gate will tell you the lot is full. There are only 40 spots for public beach access. We showed up at 1030am and one spot was left. You can drop your gear in beach lot and valet. The walk along the paved path is about 6 minutes and passes a restroom. The beach has some shade trees that fill up early. This place is a must. Go weekdays for sure read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Wed at Kaunaoa beach...maybe two people in water - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

First off the guard at the gate; BRANDON, gets the Royal A**hole Award for Hawaii... totally rude and disrespectful. Let me just say "don't bite the hand that feeds" you BRANDON... he wouldn't even let us try to get in at 9am; claimed that there were no parking spaces... even telling him we were going to eat breakfast at Manta. He even said he has video cameras on the parking lot to see when people leave; I laughed...Arguing with this intellectual we turned around and went across the street to the golf course and get a pass to park to go to Hapuna Beach... Jesse at the gate was awesome! Respectful and courteous and explained everything to us. We were also the first ones in... Jesse explained we could walk to Kauna'oa Beach on the trail from Hapuna but why... the beach was awesome and the trail from the parking lot lead you to a shaded tree area against the rocks... I was tempted to walk to Kauna'oa Beach and tell BRANDON hi but why bother :) Leaving the beach around 1pm we gave our pass to Jesse and he explained how Kauna'oa Beach worked and you get a token and you are allowed to drive in to look around etc. If you make it to Kauna'oa Beach tell BRANDON I said hi! read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - BS from Mauna Kea - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

The gate guard tells you the parking is full even if it's not, they only want guests at the hotel there. Just drive in and find parking!!

The beach was a wonderful place where the kids had lots of fun swimming. The water was warm and calm and the beach was wide enough for throwing frisbee with my kids. Nice place to see the sunset and we did just that. There is also a bathroom facility to shower and rinse off the sand when you're all done. I just don't like it how it's incorporated next to the stupid resort that completely destroys the mood. There were so many signs that made you feel alienated and pretty much said "Keep off the lawn" unless you're a snooty hotel guest. The guard at the entrance was an extreme asshole when I told him I was with the car ahead of me, who were our friends taking us there for the first time, while going to the beach. He said that I had to "Tell him exactly where I was going". Where in heck do you think I'm going you stupid lolo-head. I think it's stupid that you have to go through hotel property just to get to the beach and surrender a "parking pass" to the security guard roaming around in a golf cart just for the stupid resort formalities. It's Hawaiian law that everyone has the right to beach access but it's stupid that you have to go through that lame guard shack. read more

Interesting enough there are rip currents here too. Went to Hapuna Beach day before because couldn't get in here and it's the same. Had to arrive at 8am. Went here before and it was the calmest of waters so expected the same. Not so much. A Plus $14 mai tais nearby. ( is it a plus?) still a lovely beach with less crowd. read more

Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Current - Beaches Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

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