Best local beach ever. Great for small kids and snorkeling. I would bring water shoes. It has…read moreshaded area close to the water.

We hand a great time at the beach. Bring your own shade. Not much shade around, a few spots but…read moretake quickly.

Great beach. Loads…read moreof parking and shade. No large waves! Great for the kiddos and family's.

SSBP is an ideal destination for beachgoers who loves to idle on a day. The park is also perfect…read morefor picnics with great family facilities available in the area: drinking water, restrooms, outdoor showers, large picnic pavilion with tables and electrical outlets for your crockpot. - keiki friendly - plenty of camping sites - routine security guard from 1900-0400 - great spot for snorkeling Definitely this beach park is a gem. And if I am residing in this island, this will be my kind of go-to beach mostly on weekdays where I can have the serene place for my peaceful idle afternoon microadventure. Unquestionably I highly recommend this beach park! Cons: parking here can be challenging though! Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps!

This area is also known as Kekaha Kai State Park…read more This is one of the best beach parks in Kona, if not on the entire island or in the whole state. I have to disagree with another reviewer, who said that "locals (not kama'aina) haven't been to this beach". First, technically speaking, locals are kama'aina. Second, plenty kama'aina know where this place is, and in fact venture to it on the weekends. If you visit on the weekend, you will find local campers, local boogie boarders (depending on surf conditions) and local families setting up for bbq and family reunions and such. But even then, none of the beaches really get crowded. I would be willing to bet that the people who say that these beaches are pretty much deserted are the ones who usually venture to Oahu. If you are a tourist who has spent all your time on Oahu, then yes, the beaches will seem deserted. But understanding that the entire Big Island has less than 180,000 people living on it and it's larger than the rest of the islands combined, then you will have some understanding that this is a local beach, where locals frequent, and locals appreciate it. The water is superbly clear, the sand is soft but not too powdery like the beaches that tourist flock to on Oahu (Lanikai and Kailua beaches...you can't get that sand off for nothin!), and it is a popular spot for our local Honu, who bathe in the sun and use this as nesting grounds. Be respectful as you enter and exit this beach park, as there are cultural sights in the lava fields that surround it. Also, make sure that you take what you need (no water, no snacks, and a long drive for either), and don't leave anything on the beach. Be respectful at all times, and respect will be shown to you. Make a mess of the beach and you will probably get confronted kindly. Get confronted kindly and act like a jerk, and you will find yourself on the wrong end of a local-style education. Fair warning...be kind to the land and to the people and they will be kind to you. This is a popular fishing spot for locals, so be mindful of that as you enter the water. It is also an excellent snorkel spot, which you should also be mindful of. Usually, the water is fairly swimmable (at the first beach that is...the other 2 can get a little rough), even in heavy surf, because there is a bit of a natural breaker that the reef creates just about 20 or 30 yards from the shore. But always be cautious of rip currents, no matter how calm the water looks. It's a perfect place for families because of the abundant shade trees and picnic tables, lots of area to stretch out and throw a blanket down. The best way to enjoy this beach is to bring a cooler, a couple of blankets to throw down, and some snacks and spend the entire day. Also, be sure that you understand that the road into this beach park is just a shade under being categorized as a 4wd only path. It's very rough in places, and cars with low clearances will have a rough time traversing some of the hills, cracks, and crevices. That being said, if you drive slow, use your head, and take your time, you can navigate it just fine. My 4door, 2wd, 6cyl sedan has no trouble on the entire path. The first beach that you come to is probably the best for families with small children, since it is close to the bathrooms and the parking lot. You can walk another 10-15 minutes and get to the next beach up, which is incredibly beautiful, but out of the way. Then there's still one more beach to the north which is another 15 minute hike...it's a long and hot hike and probably not the best for children. The first beach is just fine for anything that visitors would want to accomplish there. I would recommend sticking to that one. I am from Hawaii, and I've been to almost all the major islands, and have lived on Oahu and currently live on Big Island, and I'm here to tell you that you won't find a better beach park anywhere! Enjoy!

Not easy to get to...which locals prize. Not many tourists. Aloha…read more If you do trek it over the semi-rough terrain, enjoy the surf breaks, warm water and soft sand. Bring your Ohana and have a picnic/bbq. There are plenty of Ohana that chill in tents and fish around this spot. I heart these Kama'aina beaches, far far far away from resort mainlanders. Mahalo

What a beautiful sandy beach also known as Magic Sands/Disappearing Sands due to the strong surf…read more It was packed here & we ate at the adjoining restaurant which was beautiful with a phenomenal view. (Magic Sands Restaurant). We were able to park for free just across the street. This beach is super small and busy. Note, it is thee only sandy beach near Kona. All the rest are super rocky & dangerous. It has shade, lifeguards, toilet facilities and a little shallow water. Be very careful of that surf & the lava rocks underneath. But the water is so beautiful and clear with a gorgeous turquoise hue. We were told we may see turtles but we didn't today. I'm assuming it was just too busy. I'm sure if we were there super early we may have a better shot at it. Do not miss.

This beach can get quite crowded, but it boasts an excellent restaurant right next to it. It…read morefeatures a volleyball area for family fun, pristine white sand, and minimal rocks.

Wow, how lucky we are! We got a spot! Usually, they only allow 10 parking spots open but in the…read moretemporary 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

In my humble opinion, this is the most lively beach on The Big Island. It's not black sand, it's…read morenot 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.

Our oceanfront two bedroom suite faced Anaehoomalu Bay aka A-Bay. We woke up each morning to a…read moreserene view of A-Bay. Wind surfing, canoeing, swimming, snorkeling, turtle spotting, sunbathing, etc. A-Bay has it all including sunset watching on its salt and pepper sand. Surrounded by ancient Hawaiian ponds that you can walk along. We spent a good portion of our time glazing out each morning, afternoon, and especially the evening watching the sun go down. This by far was one of our favorite activities while staying in Waikoloa. The only thing I can't speak to is parking although Hawaii law states every beach must have public access.

This is a very calm harbor bay. A couple of sailboats anchored , a lot of shade , restrooms and…read moreshowers. White sand beach with palm trees. marked parking in lave field. A long walk with gear to the Water. No surf, done Snorklers in the Water. .

Are you wanting a relaxing day with minimal crowds? Go to Molokai then...just kidding. This beach…read morehas a basic bathroom and limited parking. Shade is plentiful at Beach 69 with all the trees. Bring a hammock and enjoy the day. Fishing is okay on the shoreline but there is competition with swimmers. Snorkeling is okay, you see fish small to medium size. Bottom is mostly rock so not great for walking and wading in the ocean. Depth is about 2-6' for about 40' then gets deeper.

This is one of my favorite beaches in Hawaii, but I was sad when we showed up and the parking meter…read morewas broken, so instead of paying a little hourly rate they were making everyone buy the day pass for $30. We paid it none the less, and we enjoyed our day snorkeling, swimming, tanning, picnicking and interacting with the local chickens. It's a very family friendly beach with lots of little kids laughing and families playing in the sand. This beach is unique because of how close the trees come to the water creating little amphitheaters of seating under the shade. While it makes for minimal spots for people, it is so relaxing and paradise-making to get one of the spots.

Great place to snorkel! Bring a scuba mask and prepare to be amazed. There's so many fish of…read morevarious sizes and colors, some with unique patterns. There's also an abundance of coral, which is equally as impressive. 10/10 beach!?

Tucked away and definitely a bit of a hidden gem. This black sand beach is very small and intimate,…read morewhich honestly adds to its charm. Parking is extremely limited--first come, first served--so plan accordingly or be ready for a bit of a walk. We actually hiked in from Hilton Kings' Land, which made the experience feel even more special. The beach itself is great for snorkeling, with lots of people already out in the water exploring. Despite a steady flow of visitors, it still feels surprisingly private since it's located within a gated community. There are bathrooms available, which is a nice plus for such a tucked-away spot. Overall, if you're looking for a quieter, less crowded beach with excellent snorkeling, this one is worth the effort--as long as you're prepared for the parking situation! Parking lot full very early in the am. Better to walk. Or even get dropped off.