Big Island of Hawaii - Kailua-Kona

Big Island of Hawaii

Adventures on Water - Beaches

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Kamakahonu Bay, next to the Kailua Pier, is a little swath of beach in the heart of town. The Ahu`ena Heiau is in plain view, a reminder that King Kamehameha the Great used to live here. More recently, it’s where local families used to picnic and play after church on Sundays, until the 5 o’clock bell at Moku`aikaua Church signaled that it was time to head home. Now the locals are joined by guests at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

Old Kona Airport Marine Life Conservation District. This is more of a picnic area than a swimming beach (lots of lava), but it is so large that it can be a relaxing place to find some space. There are many picnic tables scattered throughout tidy beach heliotrope trees, tide pools and public restrooms. It’s fun to drive to the beach along the old runway. You’ll see lots of dive boats offshore at the nearby Garden Eel Cove. To get here, follow Kuakini Hwy north through Kailua-Kona until it leads onto the runway.

White Sands Beach Park (aka La`aloa Bay, Magic Sands, Disappearing Sands). La`aloa translates to “very sacred” in Hawaiian, but this place doesn’t look very sacred anymore. While it certainly has the whitest sand in Kailua-Kona, this beach is wildly popular with locals who flock into the water with boogie boards, competing with 20 others for space on a wave. Its prime location on Alii Drive means a lot of tourists come here too. That said, the lively scene makes for some colorful people-watching. There is a lifeguard on duty here, and public restrooms.

Coconut Grove Beach Volleyball Court. One of the most popular beach destinations in Kona is man-made, surrounded by shops and restaurants, and right on the Alii strip. This free, lighted beach volleyball court is nearly always swinging. Tourists and locals stop and watch the more intense matches, usually two-on-two. You’re welcome to try it yourself!

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