Discover the 11 Best Beaches in Kona: Paradise Found on Hawaii’s West Coast

Kailua Kona town or just known as Kona is the sunny, touristy part of the west side of the Big Island and the beaches are smaller here but still fantastic places to hang out, swim, snorkel or if the waves are good bogey board or surf. You’ll find the best beaches in Kona feel like small local beaches and friendly but if you are looking for larger beaches, there are a few to go to on a nice and short road trip on the west side.

If you’re ready for some beach time in the Kona area, check out all these local beaches to enjoy now.

When is the best time to visit Kona

Kona is a year-round destination spot on the Big Island and the most popular times to visit are during the winter season for the warmer and mild climate and summer time when families tend to have more time to visit.

Visiting during the shoulder season is also a great time to visit Kona area with less crowds. The beaches around Kona are more quiet and easier to find a parking space. You’ll definitely be able to spread your towel and hang out without crowded beach areas. You’ll find that the average temperature changes by just a few degrees from low 80s to low 90s depending on the time of the year that you visit, so quite pleasant.

11 Best beaches in Kailua Kona area to visit and enjoy some beach time

1. King Kamehameha / Kamakahonu Beach

Location: 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, United States.

Also known as King Kam Beach is located next to the Kona pier and the King Kam Hotel. You do not have to be a guest to use the beach but the hotel is a perfect stay to visit the beach or even just to enjoy a nice meal in their outdoor patio area. The white sand beach is protected and relatively shallow until you go further out, but mostly this beach is family friendly with little waves rolling into the sandy beach area.

There are fun water activities and water rentals that you can check out with kayaks, Sup boards and snorkeling gear if you want to do something a little bit more active on the water.

There is a lifeguard on duty and parking is mostly street parking or hotel parking with hourly fee or you can do streetside parking.

Here’s a visit above and below King Kamehameha / Kamakahonu Beach

2. Kahalu’u Beach Park

Location: 78-6740 Ali’i Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

One of the most popular beach parks in Kona with a smaller sandy beach but with flatter rocky areas to also sun bath in. The beach is well known for the fantastic snorkeling in the area with abundant tropical fish, healthy coral and marine life you will find in the area. Just to the right of the beach area is a surfing and boogey boarding spot where some outfits give surfing classes for different levels.

There is a lifeguard on duty with facilities, showers and picnic areas along with a decent size parking area or street park.

There is a small parking area and street side parking available

Check out our post to visiting Kahalu’u Beach park here for more information and images.

A visit to Kahalu’u Beach Park below

https://youtu.be/LJmpGmld1uY

3. Magic Sands Beach

Location: 77-6467 Ali’i Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

A very popular local beach and surfing spot Magics is just that magical and named because the beach part sometimes disappears with heavy winter storms and comes back again during the spring to summer season to enjoy. Mornings to mid day is perfect for calmer waters to swim in and the late afternoon creates swells for strong shore breaks and surfing or boogey boarding fun in the area. Consider snorkeling adventure in the morning time frame and closer to the rocky areas on the edge of the beach area.

Parking is available in a small parking lot across the beach park or streetside parking

Check out our post on visiting Magic Sands beach here for more information and images.

A favorite local beach for boogey board and body surfers below

Close to Kona town beaches

4. Honokohau beach

Location: 74-380 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

Also known as the Dog beach because you can actually bring your dogs out to this beach to play and enjoy the waters. The water here is warm and perfectly clear so it’s great for snorkeling and swimming fun. To get to the beach you have to walk through a lava rock area which is not bad until your reach the beach area which is nice and also protected from the rough surf at various places.

You can park by the boat launch area parking lot and walk to the beach area of Honokohau.

Check out my post here of visiting Honokohau National Monument and park area here for more information and images.

Here’s a look above ground and below at Honokohau beach

5. Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Landmark

Location: 74-380 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

This historic national park is well known for the beautiful fishponds and other cultural treasures at the park grounds. But the gem is the protected beach area that is warm, clear and safe in this gorgeous setting to enjoy some time on the beach and clear waters of Kaloko. You can use facilities at the national park information center but the beach areas do not have any facilities or lifeguard at the site, so you need to take out what you bring in. This typically is not a very busy beach area so you can practically have most of the beach to yourself when you arrive and enjoy some time here.

Check out our post to visiting Kaloko Honokoau National Park here for more information and images.

Here’s a fun tour checking out all the landmarks around Koloko Honokohau

6. Kohanaiki Beach Park

Location: 75-5560 Kuakini Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

Located right before the airport area, Kohanaiki beach park is also known as Pine Trees beach park. A very popular local beach area with mostly rocky and sandy beach and known mostly as a surfing spot to enjoy some of the waves and away from the tourist crowds in the area. Swimming is not as good here with stronger surf and shore breaks with lots of rocks in the bottom so this is mostly for watching, picnicking or enjoying the beach scene here. Torwards the end of the trail is a small crescent cove beach area that is perfect for sunning and swimming.

There are no facilities at this site and just casual parking areas on sandy and gravel areas.

Parking is right on the oceanside trail that runs parallel to the waterfront area.

Here’s a look at what Kohanaiki looks like below

7. Honaunau Bay – Two Step

Location: Two Step is 1871 Trail, Captain Cook, Hawaii, 96704

With a smaller beach area and mostly flat rock area you can spread your towels in, this quiet bay is a very popular snorkeling and swimming spot. You’ll find fantastic tropical fish, corals and marine life thriving in the area. There’s some water rental craft occasionally for rent to do kayaking or sup boarding in the area or bring your own gear and enjoy some water time out at 2 Step.

There are no facilities or lifeguards at Two Step but you can visit the Honaunau state park next door if you need to use the bathroom facilities and also visit this very historic and sacred site next to Two Step.

Parking also on street or private guarded parking area across from the beach park

Here’s a visit to the whole Two Step experience below

8. Kua Bay

Location: 80-5592 Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740

This is one of the most popular beaches in Hawaii to visit and close to airport past the Hualalai resort area and called Manini’owali in Hawaiian. The beach is part of Kehaka kai State Park and Kua Bay is just one of those perfect white sandy beaches you dream about visiting in Hawaii with two major sections to hang out in and soft white powdery sandy beach to enjoy. The waters here range in stunning colors from aqua to deep blue further out and the surf kicks up later in the afternoons for boogey boarding or surfing fun at the beach. There are lifeguards stationed along with street parking areas and bathroom and shower facilities on site.su

Check out our post on visiting Kua Bay here for more information and images.

Small parking areas or street parking with facilities and lifeguards on site.

Kua Bay below is very popular with locals and tourists to this gorgeous beach

9. Mahai’ula Bay

Location: First exit sign and drive at Kekaha Kai State Park, past the airport

The first beach of the three beaches of Kehaka Kai State park, Mahi’ula bay has a nice beach and park area with picnic areas and grills and toilet facilities. Also, there are some cool brackish ponds with indigenous shrimp and small fish growing in these habitats. The beach area is just a short hike from the parking lot to a nice crescent shaped sandy white sand beach. There are no lifeguards or bathroom/shower facilities available in the beach area, but this beach is nice and not typically a crowded beach for locals or for visitors looking to hike to Makalawena beach or drive down to Kua Bay.

Parking is available at the trailhead to the park or further down towards the ocean

Check out the beautiful Mahai’ula bay below

10. Makalawena Beach

Location: Enter Kehaka Kai State park towards Mahi’ula bay to trailhead and follow trail to the beach area.

Part of the Kehaka Kai State park, Makalawena is one of the jewels of the gorgeous sandy beaches on the Big Island. But you have to hike to get to it along rocky and graveled pathways that skirt the rocky shorelines in this area. Once you arrive Makalawena, it will really feel like paradise with super soft sandy white beach areas and smaller beaches and lagoons to discover here. With less crowds it’s easy to find a nice spot and explore, swim, snorkel or just enjoy all this beautiful coastline to yourself or with friends.

Check out our post to visiting Makalawena Beach here for more information and images.

Parking available from Mahi’ula bay trailhead parking area.

There are no facilities or lifeguards on duty so pack up what you take in and be aware that this is a very sacred beach area so be respectful.

Here’s a drone view from above to Makalawena beach below

11. Kikaua Point Beach Park

Kikaua Point Beach Park is conveniently reached by way of the Kukio Golf Resort between 87 and 88 milemarker. To ensure a hassle-free visit, consider arriving early to secure parking which is limited. The small, protected cove and beach is perfect for families and is typically quiet since it is off the beaten tourist trail.

The path leading from the parking area to the beach is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and baby strollers, making it a great choice for families with children and older individuals.

More inside tips to visiting the top beaches in Kona area

When you get a chance to visit the top beaches around Kona, don’t expect large white sandy beaches. The one’s closer to Kona town tend to be smaller local beaches that are nice with snorkeling venues that make it easy to explore.

Parking is limited

You’ll have to find street parking or small lots, so arrive early morning or late in the afternoon when you will find easier parking in the local beach areas.

Pay attention to beach safety

Always follow the beach safety guidelines and what the lifeguards on duty are saying.

Pay attenting to the warming signs with high winds or surfing conditions in the area along with strong currents.

Snorkeling venues

Many of these smaller Kona beaches offer a variety of snorkeling opportunities. You’ll find the most popular snorkeling venues in the Kona area at Kahalu’u beach park and Two-Step in Honaunau Bay

Pay attention to Sun Protection

Protect yourself from the strong Hawaiian sun with wearing sunscreen with a high SPF along with other essentials including a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Make sure that you reapply sunscreen regularly with a reef safe lotion.

Beach amenities

Most of the larger beach parks have amenities to includ restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and even barbecue grills. It’s worth researching beforehand to find beaches that offer the amenities you desire and scarcity of the amenity

Marine life in the area

You’ll find a variety of Marine Life Encounters: make sure to keep an eye out for different marine life that includes sea turtles, colorful fish, and dolphins. Remember to maintain a respectful distance and avoid touching or disturbing the wildlife.

Pack Essentials: Prepare for your beach adventure by bringing essentials like towels, beach chairs or mats, umbrellas for shade, plenty of water, snacks, and a cooler for keeping your drinks and food cool.Explore Beyond the Beach: While the beaches in Kona are undoubtedly stunning, consider exploring beyond the shoreline. Nearby attractions like lava tubes, hiking trails, and historical sites add another layer of adventure and discovery to your Kona

Check out these other posts to visit in the area

Things to do in Kona town

Top places to eat in Kailua Kona

Farmers markets in Kona

What to do in Waikoloa

Conclusion to best 11 beaches in Kona to visit

In conclusion, the beaches in Kona offer a truly remarkable experience for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. Whether you seek relaxation, snorkeling adventures, or a glimpse of Hawaii’s captivating marine life, Kona’s top beaches have it all.

Thanks for reading this post on the best beaches in Kona, hope it was inspiring and that you’ll visit soon. Please share your thoughts and comments below.

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