This is the Maniniʻōwali section of Kekaha Kai State Park, a small white-sand cove with clear, bright blue water plus restrooms and showers. DLNR describes it as good for swimming when the sea is calm and for bodysurfing when there's shore break.
Why we love it
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.
What to expect
A paved road leaves Highway 19 between mile markers 88 and 89 and cuts down through the lava to the lot. That makes Kua Bay the easiest of the three Kekaha Kai beaches to reach, with no rough road or hike. The sand is powdery and framed by stark black lava rock, and there’s no natural shade anywhere. On calm days the clear green-blue water is good for swimming. When a shore break is running, it becomes a bodysurfing spot for people who know waves. Green sea turtles visit occasionally, and humpbacks may pass offshore in winter.
Know before you go
- Fees and hours
- Since January 2026, non-residents have paid $5 per person and $10 per vehicle, by credit card only. Hawaiʻi residents get in free with ID. The park is open 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m., and the gates close at 7 p.m.
- Parking
- On weekends the lot is often full by 10 a.m.
- Water conditions
- There are no lifeguards. DLNR warns of dangerous rip currents and pounding shore break in high surf, and says waves over 3 feet are for experts only.
- Shade and facilities
- There’s no natural shade, so bring an umbrella and plenty of water. Restrooms, showers, and picnic tables are near the lot.
- Wildlife
- Hawaiian monk seals are sometimes seen along Kekaha Kai. If one hauls out, stay at least 50 feet away, or 150 feet from a mother and pup.
- Rules
- State park rules prohibit alcohol and drones. DLNR closes Kekaha Kai for some events, as it did on Oct. 10, 2026, for IRONMAN, so check park notices around race weekends.
Photo: dronepicr via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
