Spencer Beach Park (ʻŌhaiʻula Beach)

What to expect

The park road heads downhill past the Puʻukoholā Heiau visitor center and ends at a free lot beside a sandy beach backed by tree-shaded lawns. Picnic pavilions, tables, and barbecue grills sit under the trees, with restrooms and showers nearby, and the county campsites share the grounds. An outside reef usually keeps the water calm for swimming and snorkeling, with tropical fish and sometimes sea turtles. Puʻukoholā Heiau is about 0.1 mile away, so it’s easy to add to a beach day. Kawaihae’s harbor-side food spots are a few minutes’ drive away.

Know before you go

Getting there

From Highway 19, turn onto Highway 270 (Kawaihae Road). After about half a mile, turn left on the road to Puʻukoholā Heiau and follow it downhill. Day use and parking are free.

Lifeguards

The county has listed weekend and holiday lifeguards (9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.), while the state ocean-safety site lists daily coverage from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Check that the tower is staffed when you arrive.

Kids

The reef-sheltered water suits small children, but calm-looking water isn’t a guarantee. An adult should watch kids in or near the water at all times.

Camping

Camping overnight requires a Hawaiʻi County permit.

Whales

From roughly November through May, humpback whales may be visible offshore, with the peak from January through March.