Hawaiʻi Island · Beaches
Big Island Beaches
White-sand coves, young black-sand beaches, and the reefs worth bringing a mask for — with honest notes on surf, fees, and access.
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Captain Cook Snorkel
The most protected snorkeling on the Kona coast lies off the white obelisk of the Captain Cook Monument — and the easiest way to reach it is by boat.
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Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Float at the surface under the lights while reef mantas loop and barrel-roll beneath you. It’s the Big Island’s signature night out — here’s how to choose the boat.
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Snorkel Spots
Reefs you can swim to from shore — turtles, butterflyfish, and clear water.
Kohala Coast
Waialeʻa Bay (Beach 69)
Real shade is rare on this sun-blasted coast, and here the trees run right down to the sand. On a calm day you can snorkel straight from the beach.
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Snorkel SpotsKona
Kahaluʻu Beach Park
If you've never snorkeled, start here. It's calm and shallow, and the reef is full of fish and turtles. Just treat that reef as the living thing it is.
Read moreSnorkel SpotsSouth Kona
Two Step (Hōnaunau Bay)
There's no sand and there are no facilities, yet this is some of the best shore snorkeling in Hawaiʻi. On a calm morning the visibility is remarkable.
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Snorkel SpotsHilo
Richardson Ocean Park
Think of it as Hilo's answer to Kahaluʻu: free, lifeguarded, and full of turtles. The water is cooler than on the Kona side, which feels great on a muggy Hilo afternoon.
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Swimming Beaches
Long, sandy, and swimmable on calm days — the family-friendly picks.
Swimming BeachesKohala Coast
Hāpuna Beach
Wide, soft, and watched by lifeguards, it's the easiest big-beach day on the Kohala Coast. Come early, when the water is calmest and the lot still has room.
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Swimming BeachesKohala Coast
Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea Beach)
This is the postcard Kohala beach: a gentle slope, soft sand, and resort polish, all without a room key. You just have to show up early enough to get a pass.
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Swimming BeachesKohala Coast
ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay)
Easy parking, gentle water, and real history a few steps from your towel make it a great first-day beach for families. Mornings are calmest, and the wind picks up in the afternoon.
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Swimming BeachesKona
Maniniʻōwali Beach (Kua Bay)
The water color alone is worth the stop. On a flat summer morning it's one of the best swims on the Kona side. On a big winter day, enjoy it from the sand.
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Lāʻaloa Beach Park (Magic Sands)
It has a lifeguard, it's close to town, and it's genuinely fun when the waves are small. This is the Kailua-Kona beach for a quick late-afternoon session.
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Swimming BeachesHilo
Carlsmith Beach Park (Four Mile)
Some of Hilo's calmest swimming water, with a lawn for your towel and no sand in your bag.
Read moreKohala Coast
Spencer Beach Park (ʻŌhaiʻula Beach)
It's the Kohala Coast's best bet for small kids, with gentle water and picnic tables. Pair it with the short walk to Puʻukoholā next door.
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Black Sand
Volcanic beaches you can only find on a young island — some of them only a few years old.
Beaches
Secluded Beaches
Hike-in and off-the-highway coves for when the resorts feel crowded.
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Tours that pair well
Getting around
You’ll want a rental car.
Public transit is limited and the best sights are hours apart. Pick up at Kona (KOA) or Hilo (ITO) and compare every major company in one search.