Hawaii Best Beaches
Kohala Coast Beaches
If you're fortunate enough to be touring Hawaii's beautiful Kohala Coast, be sure to plan a trip to one of Hawaii's must-see beaches: Hapuna Beach State Park.
This is an extremely popular beach for both locals and visitors. Conde Nast Traveler magazine has often ranked it as one of the top beaches in the U.S., and it is hard to argue that this half-mile stretch of pristine golden sand and crystal blue water is anything but a little slice of heaven. In fact, the beach is so wildly popular that tour buses often bring visitors here.
Hapuna Beach State Park - Aerial panorama
From the north end of the beach, you can view the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.
There are several covered pavilions to enjoy an afternoon picnic and restrooms are available. There is occasionally a lifeguard on duty, despite the "no lifeguard on duty" sign.
Don't expect a lot of shade on this beach. Consequently, the golden sand heats to an unbearable temperature on a sunny day. During the summer months, the sand reaches 200 ft. wide, so unless you want fried toes, be sure to wear sandals or water shoes.
During the summer, the water here is generally calm, but in the winter the surf can be treacherous, so monitor conditions carefully before entering the ocean. For snorkelers, the south end of the beach provides a variety of fish and coral.
On the weekends Hapuna Beach is absolutely packed and parking can be an issue. As is the case with most beach parks on the island, the gate at Hapuna opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m.
To get there, take Highway 19 north from Kona. Turn left at the access road just before Mile Marker #69. Go to the end of the road, turn left, and then take an immediate right. Follow this road to the parking.
Kohala Coast Accommodations
The Big Island's lovely Kohala region has a wide variety of hotels for every type of traveler and every budget. Here are some of our picks for the best places to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii's Kohala Coast.
