Don't let the drive in stop you unless you have a super low riding car. The road in is both paved in spots and incredibly rough in others. Take your time and it will be worth it. We didn't stay at the beach at the parking lot, choosing to park and hike into the trees and the gorgeous beach at the end of the trail. We arrived early morning and were one of only 2-3 cars already here. By the time we left at 1:00 the parking lot was much fuller. Take snorkel gear, water, and anything that will allow you to stay and relax both the water and on the beach. There are some trees for shade but don't expect them to be unoccupied. Plan ahead. We spent lots of time snorkeling with turtles, which we left a,one as much as possible. One of them seemed interested in us and we had to repeatedly trying to to avoid him for his own safety. Our swim was really enjoyable and families can bring young children as this bay area seems safely out of strong water tides and pull. There are rough rocks in areas so watch where you enter, swim and exit. read more

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Hard to get to (off-roading vibe) but secluded beaches It has multiple decent (non-flushing) toilets read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - At the end of bumpy off roading... - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Snorkeling here was so wonderful, lots of underwater beauty to gaze at, every color of the rainbow. Both days saw turtles and gave them their respective wide berth while looking lovingly at them. read more

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Loved this beach. Road is not for faint of heart. Waves looked scarier than they felt. Perfect to bob in the water and take in the sights. Loves the planes flying over. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

First off I must address that this review is for Kekaha kai state beach which also leads to Mahai'ula beach. THIS IS A DIFFERENT ROAD from the one that leads to Kua Bay. This road absolutely requires a lifted vehicle or 4x4. I have seen people get stuck, so don't listen to some of those older reviews that tell you that you can drive a regular vehicle. They do not take into account years of continued deterioration. The entrance to the park is deceiving because it is paved. But it shortly turns into an unpaved road with deep potholes and lava rock. Even if you take it slowly you will bottom out in a car. Once you navigate the treacherous road, you will have the option of parking in the first parking lot or continuing on to a second parking lot. In the first lot is a gate that leads to a walking path. The path will take you to Mahai'ula beach, and if you continue to walk about a half a mile north to Makalawena beach. If you proceed to the second lot, there are picnic tables and a nice beach area. The beach is beautiful and worth the effort to get here. Just make sure you are in the right vehicle. read more

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Drive in on the unmaintained road was much more difficult than I ever imagined. We had a small SUV rental and the driving was horrid. Beach was beautiful but very difficult to access without a lifted sports vehicle. read more

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What a beautiful piece of big island! The long and bumpy road out to the park should only be done in a 4x4 but we saw several cars including a small Toyota make it. The ride is definitely part of the adventure! After making the drive we walked around the beach and dipped in just a little. The surf was rough but mesmerizing. We watched planes coming into the airport and boats out in the ocean. It was pretty relaxing. The bathrooms are those rustic types that smell sooooo bad but can be used in a pitch. There was no sink. There are also picnic tables and places to grill. I love this beach. Please keep it clean and pick up/ recycle. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Best to have a 4WD vehicle like a Jeep to get through especially the rough stretches of the dirt road, otherwise you would most likely have to park your regular sedan out at the main entrance and then hike in the rest of the way. Though I did see some folks amazingly get through in their regular vehicles, but I highly do not recommend that. It's very bumpy and difficult to drive on, so please go slowly! Once you do get to the main parking lot, there is plenty of space for relaxing at the picnic benches and beach, or you can go hiking to two of the other beaches. It is a very nice and scenic park to check out. Pretty quiet, secluded, and peaceful for the most part with waves that are not too bad. You'll have airplanes flying overhead periodically as they approach nearby Kona Airport. read more

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I love coming here. It's worth the drive down unimproved road and easier if you have an SUV or a Jeep, but passable in any rental. Once you get there you will find white sand beaches with hardly a soul in sight. Being snack and chairs or towels and watch the planes come in right above you. It's a great spot for a beach day on the Big Island. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

The only reason this beach doesn't get 5 stars is because the drive across the lava fields is a real bear. Just over a mile of bone jarring, suspension cracking, mind numbing potholes will get you there. I've done it twice, both times in a 4X4 Jeep. Each time I see idiots trying to get down there in mini vans and sports cars. Today there was a Tesla being towed out on a flatbed. If you don't have a truck, Jeep or SUV than just don't do it. Just when you think you've got this, it gets so much worse before the end, The tow truck companies are pulling people out of here all day long! Now that that is out of the way, if you can get to the beach it is absolutely gorgeous! There are grills available but bring your own wood in. There are tables and benches and two ways to get from the parking lots to the beach. One is down a concrete path to sand and some craggy rocks along the shoreline with tide pools, and the other is a brief walk down a cinder path to a sandier part of the beach. The restrooms are currently closed down here so go before you go. There are also plenty of wild mongoose (Mongeese?) running around too. They are fun to look at but will go after your food given half a chance. read more

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Way off the main road then you have to go down a bumpy ass road. Make sure you have a 4x4 or go super slow because there are major potholes and limitations for a small car. We went about half way and couldn't make it anymore with our small car rental. Wish we knew and rented a Jeep or something. The reward is a secluded beach. It's very peaceful and nice. Just takes some dedication to get there! read more

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You can park at the first parking lot and walk along way in. Or you can take the 80% paved road. U will need an SUV/truck or rental car if u don't mind off roading it. If u can't get over the speed bumps u should hike in.there is parking at the beach. I added a Picture of someone's car leaking oil and picture of the beautiful beach. You can surf, have lunch and there are plenty of trees for shade. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Parking lot after 2 miles of off roading. - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

If you have a 4WD vehicle, then this might be the park for you. We made a quick stop into Kekaha State Park, thinking it would be like other state parks - passable roads. But we turned around after going over broken pavement. Thought we were going to do damage to the rental. But we did not! The lava formations are incredible at the front section by the sign. They might be better further in by the water, but we couldn't chance damage to the Hyundai Accent rental. read more

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Only go if u have suv or similar car with high clearance...sign states, "unimproved road, proceed at your own risk"...uh they weren't kidding...pot holes galore...felt like we were driving thru mine field... Once we got there, no running water, pit toilet only... Eh, skip this beach...there are more beaches on Kona that won't trash your car rental... read more

Kekaha Kai State Beach is a beautiful beach at the end of a lava flow. Water shoes recommended if wading out in water over the lava. Water appears to be deep enough to swim but you do have to get past the lava. Trees provide shady spots to sit and enjoy the waves and scenery. Note of caution: The road to get to this beach is an unimproved road over a lava flow and is NOT recommended for low clearance vehicles. You must have a high clearance vehicle such as a Jeep or truck to traverse this road. You don't need 4-wheel drive, but you do need some ground clearance. If you have the right vehicle, this beach is worth a visit. read more

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Just north of Kailua-Kona (past the airport) sits this relatively undeveloped Hawaiian state park featuring 3 fantastic beaches ... all discovered by traversing across a mesmerizing black lava wasteland (via 4WD vehicle "with clearance" or long hike from a parking lot near Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy). Previously known as the Kona Coast State Park, it now takes its name from a Hawaiian phrase "ke kaha kai" (often translated as "the shore line" in English). Either works for me because the Hawaiian park is along the shore and coast of Kona. The real challenges of getting to the beaches made Kekaha Kai the quietest and most relaxing excursion on our most recent visit to the Big Island. We were only occasionally interrupted by a passing partridge, Hawaiian stilt, or airplane on its way to nearby Ellison Onizuka Airport. * Maniniowali Bay (Kua Bay) * Makalawena Beach at Puu Alii Bay, * Mahaiula Bay. There was lots of space to sunbath away from others while making quick excursions into the waves for swimming, playing, or snorkeling. Please heed warnings about high surf (over 3 feet) and rip tides because there are no lifeguards on duty. Another highlight included exploring part of the 4.5-mile hike on the historic coastal Ala Kahakai Trail and Kua Bay. We did not take time to climb the summit of the 342-foot cinder cone Pu'u Ku'ili which offers remarkable views of the Kona coastline. Note that the volcanic wilderness is quite dry and hot with no drinking water so plan accordingly. Parking was free with signs noting the closing times. Whether you're a local or a visitor, I recommend Kekaha Kai as a beautiful (of course) and convenient park (by location) that is literally (because of the undeveloped road) off the beaten path (aka Hwy 19 north of Kailua-Kona). read more

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Hmmm how should I say this . Don't go on this road it felt like our mini van was in a monstertruck ramp course. But beach was nice

Turquoise water, rolling waves, awesome light almost white sand beach. Road to get there is not maintained. Jeep, Truck, SUV that is slightly raised recommend. Some people walked from the main road. Walk or drive, well worth the time to get there. Gorgeous read more

What a mission to get down to the beach Uneven paved roads so if you have a small car be careful. Easy for trucks and jeeps. There's parking lot near the entrance but I felt like it was forever til we reached it. Water is beautiful and calm. Wasn't too busy today at 1230pm. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Beautiful family friendly beach. Waimanu, an endangered monk seal, and her friends will sunbathe and hunt for a snack quite often! Must keep distance from them and the turtles as they are federally and state protected, I protect them as well. Put up the signs and let everyone know that the volunteers are on their way. read more

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Difficult and bumpy road. A 4-wheel would do it easily. A lot of coral on the beach. Not really easy access to swim. Windy.

Hey Yelpers - important note, there are 4 beaches at Kekaha Kai - Maniniowali Bay (Kua Bay) which is accessed by unannounced road (i.e., no highway signs, its across from the Veterans Cemetary), and then Makalawena beach at Puu Alii Bay, Mahaiula Bay and Ka Elehuluhulu beach, all of which are accessed by a road exit which is marked by a highway sign for 'Kekaha Kai'. Ka Elehuluhulu beach is at the very end. Kua Bay and duplicate page Kua Bay Beach Park have their own Yelp pages, so will not review here. So this road is a real gem, it fools you by being nicely paved until you pass the gate, then turns into a demon of a dirt/broken pavement road with hidden potholes and twists and turns. If dont care about your vehicle or your passengers, you can drive fairly fast, but otherwise I timed an 11minute slow passage. Mahaiula Bay (and secretly the trail head for Makalawena beach at Puu Alii Bay) are accessed parking about 100 yards before the end. Wife and I visited Ka Elehuluhulu which has a small parking lot at the very end of the road. Currently (10/1/2018), no water or facilities except porta-potties here, but they are building a facility. LOTS of shaded picnic tables and plenty of beach here, there were very few visitors here on a Friday. Snorkeling here was disappointing compared to other places, but I did see some locals come out with spearfishing catches. You can see Maui from here and a nice view of the Kohala volcano, as well as jets landing at the airport just south. I like this beach for its relative quiet, shady trees and few visitors. Makalawena beach looks to be a decent (20min?) hike, will try for that next time. read more

For a free and fun adventure, go to Kekaha Kai State Park! Tons of lava rocks! We had a jeep for off-roading and off-roading we got! The unpaved road to Mahai'ula was bumpy but piece of cake for the jeep. Regular sedans are manageable but I don't think the ones we saw were having as much fun. If you follow the main road in, you'll end up at the beach. It's a nice grainy sand beach with picnic tables. If you want to continue your off-roading adventure, there's a road on the left-hand side right before the beach parking lot. It's marked by two wooden posts. This road is ridiculously bumpy. At some point, the road curves towards the coast leading to a rocky beach. Very secluded obviously. To reach the unpaved road, head 1.5 miles north from the Kona airport. The road entrance will be on the left. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - lava rocks - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Great free thing to do here. The Big Island isn't known for its lovely sand beaches but this one is a treasure. free entrance and parking but parking is limited. Great beach .. so pretty and great for water sports. There are bathrooms and place to spray off but if you want seating and shade you better bring your own .. in addition to the usual sun screen, towels, water and snacks, if you want floaties or boogie board or snorkel. Shoes are a really REALLY good idea to get down to beach ..lots of jagged rocks and big step downs .. so if your old or mobility issues you might find getting to the beach tricky. sometimes the water is calm and sometime waves. when if was calm the snorkeling by the rocks was nice .. but if there is waves .. getting near the rocks is dangerous. Sometimes the water is this gorgeous turquoise color. I really liked the big rocks in the ocean .. very picturesque. Great for families too ... we went on spring break so lots of families and kids around. We went once in the late fall and it wasn't as crowded and the water was much calmer. This wasn't far from our hotel at the Hilton .. across from Western Veterans Cemetery and right near to small mountains I call the boobie hills ..look like boobies. read more

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Pros: three beautiful beaches, in this state park four if you count Kua Bay Not too crowded and gate is open early The best sand, great shade, good swimming, and ok snorkeling. Cons: Go slow on the rough road. Gate closes at 7pm. Porta potties only. These are our favorites!!! Our Top 10 not to be missed beach picks #1 Mauna Kea beach (Kauna'oa) -prettiest beach on the island. Blue Ocean, Soft Sand, but beware limited parking spots so better be there before 9:30am 60 minutes from Kona. #2 Hapuna - just perfect. A great place to relax and body surf in the waves. Big beach with Lots of parking, facilities and some shade. 60 minutes from Kona. #3 Kahalu'u (Just south of Downtown) Decent Snorkeling & turtles too. Crowded after 11am #4 Kekaha Kai Beach Park has three beaches. This is the best of the three shirt walk, port-a-potty. Ahhh this is the perfect Hawaiian Beach #5 Manini owali/ Kua bay has the most amazing azure blue blue water, enjoy playing in the waves #6 Honanaunau also known as 2 Step. (No beach here, just good snorkeling) #7 Makalawena is a short hike across lava path (30 min total) worth the effort Swim, snorkel, Sun bathe #8 Beach 69 (Waialea Bay)60 minutes from Kona. - soft golden sand, shade, nice waves and some snorkeling. #9 Kikuau point (Four Seasons) My new favorite. Gentle swimming area for kiddos. Beautiful palm trees good facilities. 30 Parking my spots so be there by 11 or after 1pm to get a spot. 45 minutes from Kona. #10 Black sands beaches. On kona side there are a few. Beach 49, Ke awa iki, is Okay but the most famous is Punalu'u on the south end of island. We here there are some new blacksands beaches with the last eruption, time to explore more. read more

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I was hesitant at first. The drive in was super rough and this wasn't an ordinary-looking beach - but definitely worth in the end. Once you get off the highway, you're in for a bumpy ride. We were able to pull it off in our small car by driving (perhaps excessively) slowly, but would be much easier in a bigger car. There's a pretty spacious parking area at the end of the road with unmarked spots. When it got full, people were sorta making up spots in the middle of the parking area. Just make sure not to block anyone if you do this. No need to pay for parking or entry, just walk on in! You'll be greeted by a beach with lots of lava rocks and a blend of soft, white sand and coarse sand with beautiful rocks and shells. We were lucky to see some turtles, but not as lucky that the waves and currents were dangerously rough. The setting is what makes the trek worth it. The lava fields, the sand, and the palm trees are all lovely! If you have your heart set on swimming though, maybe not this beach. read more

This was such a fun experience and a perfect beach to spend the day at since it's not packed and not run down with other tourists. It's quite the hidden gem! This park is north of the airport but you can easily miss the turn. The sign isn't quite visible from the highway. We came here on a whim not knowing what to expect. I saw numerous cars go through the very bumpy lava road. It made me cringe. We had a rented Jeep and we went slow. I had to take my seatbelt off as some bumps made it feel like you were inside of a salt shaker. It felt like forever driving only a couple of miles. Everywhere we drove, we were always prepared. We always packed our nikes just in case we had to go for a rough hike. We would always have water and snacks in a backpack along with our swimsuits and a couple of beach towels. We never know where we'll end up along our drive. There are 3 beaches here. If you drive straight into the end of the road, there's a gravel area to park and bathrooms available near the parking area. Be forewarned, the bathrooms are basically a private room with a toilet over a hole. There is a malodorous stench, which is to be expected. There is no sink to wash your hands but there is a hand sanitizer. This part of the beach is part coral and sand -- a bit rough on your feet so I kept my flip flops on. There are picnic tables and garbage bins. After spending some time here, we drove back and parked near the lava area. There is a little bit of a hike to get to the other side of the beach. You'll hike through a paved lava section. It isn't too bad a hike as we were able to do it while wearing flip flops. There are a couple outhouses as you get closer to the beach. The end is quite a treat! A gorgeous curved soft white sand beach. In this section, I was able to forgo wearing any footwear. The water is a clear aquamarine color and wasn't too rough at the time. I didn't see many other tourists -- more locals and they were quite friendly. Bring your own amenities. There is nothing else available except sand, water, and palm trees. The park is open from 8am until 7pm. read more

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Went swimming and snorkeling here on my first day in Kona! This beach seems to be very popular as we arrived at 9am and had difficulty finding parking! That being said, it was very much worth finding a spot. People can tan, swim, snorkel, and climb the nearby rocks at this beach. The waters were very calm, clear and warm and the sand felt like butter between my toes! Because the waves aren't too crazy, you're able to snorkel along the rocks on the far right side of the beach -- our friends saw turtles! Great place to swim with family and little ones, or to lay out and get a tan. The beach also has a lifeguard, so we felt very safe. Overall great beach to visit, just keep in mind the parking. I believe some locals parked back at the entrance sign, because finding a spot can be challenging. Will be back again! read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

There are a lot of limitations to coming to this park. First, there are 3 trailheads and trailheads 1 and 2 really do need 4WD. I tried diving on trailhead 1 on my super weak rental car (2 wheel drive) and the road was SOOOO loose and rocky and full of pot holes I turned around in the middle because I was terrified of getting a flat. I didn't even attempted trail head 2. Trailhead three is a nice paved road down to Kua Bay. Parking REALLY fills up fast and I went during the off season on a weekday and still barely got parking. Go early if you wish to secure a spot. The beach is small but very nice and a great spot for surfing and body boarding. I initially attempted the hike from Kua Bay down to Makole'a blck sand beach but WOW was it hot. This was at 9:30am in the winter months too. The sun was just beating down and the terrain was super rocky. I had to turn back after a half mile out. I will say there is a fantastic peak I would recommend anyone climbs. It is on the Kua Bay access road and the peak is called Pu'u Ku'ili. It is a steep climb but if you are able bodied enough you can do it. The top gives you a FANTASTIC view of the bay. It wasn't too busy too except for this ziplining company setting up when I was there. That was a bit annoying since they took up so much room but what can you do? Anyway, you can find the trailhead about halfway into Kua bay access road. There are NO signs to the trailhead but if you so this LARGE pull out that kind of looks like an unkempt parking area but you have to drive down a small steep, uneven hill, it means you went too far. Go back and look for a side of the road pull out and walk along the road until you see a faint trail headed into the peak. The trail is made of brown dirt and is very obvious once you are on it. read more

This was one of our favorite beaches...maybe even more beautiful than Hapuna! Plenty of natural shade available and we saw lots of cool animals including wild goats and sea turtles! As the previous reviewer mentioned, access is kinda crappy on the 1 1/2 mile "unimproved" road. We did it without problem in a rental car w/o 4wd but saw plenty of folks turn around. The sand here was super-fine and white and the water was extremely clear and aquamarine close to the shore. The blue book recommended the northern beach and we have to agree. The sand was less steep and there's even a cool abandoned house Apparently the house belonged to Japanese investors that wanted to develop the land int o a resort, but were turned-down by the state. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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The blue book does it again!! We really knew what we were getting into! And getting here was such a hoot....my dear son-in-law had quite a challenge!! The first beach is rocky...so we hiked over to the second one. Soo cool....picnic table in the shade, blondie here really appreciated that!! The sand was heaven, what a beautiful cove. It was pretty uncrowded, it seems that many folks can't hack the road. The goats were fun to watch, and we saw turtles, too!! Well worth the bumpy ride!!! read more

Came through the south end of the state park. Followed the lava bumpy road. Must have a suv or Jeep to go through this the road or drive really really slow. The area is filled with rocks from the lava, the sand had black specks from it. There are picnic tables in the area for a nice lunch and view. We were on our way to Hāpuna beach state park. read more

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Waves are good sized, however, since it is one of the better beaches closer to the Kona airport side, this beach is crowded. The water is just not as clear as Beach 69, but it is nice for an afternoon dip. Parking is decent but if you dn't come early or at a good time you will have to walk pretty far and down the lot and rocks. Not one of my favorite beaches, but the color is wonderful. read more

People often come up to me and they ask "John, you're an expert, what is the best kind of car for a super rough dirt/lava track in the middle of a lava field?" When you weigh all the costs and benefits, and consider the give-and-take of high-speed performance versus off-road, I'd have to go with "rented." A new rented Dodge Charger worked fine. I saw many convertible Mustangs and Camaros, so we know those are all rented too. This is a cool adventure if mostly because of the off-road-road experience. The "road" to the beach from the highway is really more a suggestion carved from a massive lava flow and once upon a time it was paved but subsidence has taken its toll. It is one of the roughest I've come across in the US, particularly in what is ostensibly a state park. Take it slow. If you're driving a rental, go slow and be good to your ride. It's not "OMG we're going to fall in the volcano" dangerous --- It's all at ground level --- but the broken pavement/major potholes will really screw up your rims or you may bottom out hard and you'd hate to be that ha'ole tourist who had to be towed out of there. I'm surprised the rental agencies don't forbid people from going down there the way they used to do on bad Maui roads. There are two beaches. The one at the south (which is at the end of the main road) is mixed lava and lava/coral sand. The water is a stunning light turquoise which is quite different from the lovely aqua color of Kailua over on O'ahu, for example. I attribute this to the color of the bottom (it being mostly lava shelf and broken coral). The one at the north (make a right off the main road before parking lot or walk the trail north) is one of very few white sand crescent shaped tropical paradise beaches anywhere on the Big Island. You are right under the approach for Kona Airport, so 737s and 757s buzz the beach on the way in. Wind and waves are pretty loud anyway planes not a big deal. ANGRY LOCALS? NO, NOT HERE. People are pretty damn nice on the Big Island. Surprisingly so. I have had no issues here with angry locals; therefore this beach gets John's seal of approval. The arduous journey also helps sort the more lame tourists from those who mean business. Actually I've had no angry locals issues on the Big Island. Probably because people have elbow room here unlike O'ahu. HEALTH AND SAFETY Note that the Kona Coast is hot at sea level. It's humid. It's hot. It is also hot. Plus, there's the heat. The sun is relentless, the black lava sucks up the heat, and white coral sand reflects glare. People, the vog may block the brightness of the sun, but the UV passes through. Don't be stupid.There are trees at the back of the beach which do provide shade --- USE THEM. BRING SHADES, BRING YOUR OWN PLATE LUNCH; DEFINITELY BRING ENOUGH WATER. read more

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This beach is freaking beautiful. Parking is doable here, but the lot gets pretty full. The white sand here is simply AMAZING. It gets a little sticky when wet, but there's a place to hose off your feet near the lot. My only complaint would be that it would be nice if they extended the concrete path farther into the beach - the sidewalk ends and you still have to walk over a stretch of jagged rocks. Easy to cut your feet open if you're not careful. What makes this beach extremely picturesque is that the water looks turquoise hear the shore (helped by the white sand), but then turns a rich blue as the ocean floor drops off. An added bonus is that unlike Waikiki, the beach is large enough that it's not completely flooded with people. read more

Don't miss the turn to get in. Keep going down for 1.5 or so... Pretty bumpy but if you have a Jeep it's not so bad. Restrooms and BBQ. The beach is rocky so bring a chair or at least a towel and find a sandy area. The airport is nearby so it's pretty cool to see the planes fly over. Parking was free when I went so not sure why some people said they charged to park. You can park and walk right to beach. The park is very quiet and family oriented. Have fun!! read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

One of my top 3 favorite beaches in the world. Perhaps my favorite item of our trip! We only had 4.5 days but we came here twice XD It's absolutely gorgeous, with ultra fine light colored sand and the most beautiful hues of blue water. The water is crystal clear. I regretted not bringing my snorkel mask down because three turtles were up near shore in the water swimming with us!! There was also an elephant seal basking on the beach. It's not terribly crowded as well... definitely my #1 favorite beach on the big island (mauna kea beach, hapuna and punaluu were so blase in comparison). read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Makalawena Beach at the Kekaha Kai State Park is beautiful with surfing and snorkelling opportunities. The beach is about a 25 or 30 minute walk from the parking area near the bottom of a bumpy partially paved road that meets Hwy 19 between mile markers 90 and 91. The walk starts on what I'd call a skid trail (suitable only for off-road vehicles) through part of the lava flow, then past a former beach house of sorts, then a trail across a more granular lava to sand dunes and the beach. An interesting trek with a great beach as a reward. There was a mix of snorkelers and skim boarders and surfers among the limited number of people there. The current is strong, so weak swimmers or children must be extra careful and all should be aware of rock hazards. That said, it's absolutely beautiful with fantastic contrasts of colour, sand and lava, dune and sea, with sand above the water line that's deep and soft. There are no services at this beach, but two porta-potties near the parking lot. read more

Kekaha Kai State Park - Beaches Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Very tough and rugged road to access the beach. Highly recommend four wheel drive! Or hike in, pack in and pack out. If you do, please be prepared with proper sun care,, hat and ample water. Crystal clear water and nice sandy beaches. You may see turtles, Hawaiian Monk Seals and other marine life. Please let them be and admire them from afar. read more

This year we managed to find a really good, paved parking space at about 9:00 AM. The short walk down to the beach is very rocky and can be treacherous, but once you're down there, you won't want to come back. The extremely warm water was a glowing aquamarine even up close and a little murky white because of the over-saturation of salt. The waves were soft, even when the got bigger towards noon. Swimming at this beach is like swimming at the pool. For the brave, there is also a huge rock of about 20 feet people jump off of. The best part about this beach is the sand. The fine sand is soft and easily molded and carved--perfect for building sand castles and turtles. Although the beach is small and popular, it is not crowded. The bathrooms are really clean, too. read more