Hawaiʻi Island Beaches
White-sand Kohala, heritage sites and snorkeling on the Kona Coast, black sand in Kaʻū — the island's beaches by coast.
The beaches on Hawaiʻi Island vary dramatically. I've looked out at the ocean from cliffs of lava rock and from a shorebed of stones in many parts of the island, especially on the Hilo side; I was in awe of how many preserved heritage sites line the beaches of the Kona Coast; and I was surprised to find the white sand of Hāpuna stretching along the Kohala Coast, right next to coal-black lava fields. Have you ever been on a black sand beach? There are six on Hawaiʻi Island. What about a loko iʻa, or Hawaiian fishpond? There are at least 20. I wouldn't come here just to lie on the beach — there's so much else to do — but there's no shortage of coastline to explore. It's the only Hawaiian island that offers evening manta ray snorkeling, and the only one to keep so many of its historic cultural landmarks along its waters, open to everyone. (A note on the name: the island's official name is Hawaiʻi Island; because many visitors know it as the Big Island, we use that name below to avoid confusion.)
Best For
Hawaiʻi Island isn't a lounge-all-day beach island, but the right beach for each kind of day is easy to name.
Best white sand beach
Hāpuna Beach on the Kohala Coast — gentle waves, a lifeguard on duty, and good conditions for swimming, snorkeling and bodyboarding.
Best easy snorkeling
Kahaluʻu Beach Park and Two Step in Hōnaunau Bay — the top snorkeling on the island for protected water and abundant sea life. Choose Kahaluʻu for the safer option, with a lifeguard on duty.
Best for families
Kahaluʻu Beach Park or Hāpuna Beach. Kahaluʻu has tide pools and calm, protected snorkeling kids love; Hāpuna offers a classic resort-beach experience with more room to play. Both have lifeguards.
Best black sand beach
Punaluʻu, where Hawaiian green sea turtles regularly crawl ashore to rest — the best black sand beach on the island and one of the most distinctive beach experiences in Hawaiʻi.
Most secluded
Makalawena Beach — a 20- to 30-minute hike over a lava-rock trail, with a mostly empty white sand beach as the payoff.
Best resort beach experience
Mauna Kea Beach at Kaunaʻoa Bay — best for guests of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or nearby resorts. Public parking is limited, so arrive early or have a backup plan.
Best calm swim on the Hilo side
Carlsmith Beach Park — a protected cove, calm water and a lifeguard stand make it the top swimming beach on the Hilo side, with tide pools and regular sea turtle sightings.
Kohala Coast
North of Kona on the west side is where you'll find the best white sand beaches on the island. If you're dreaming of sunny days, lounging in the sand and hopping in and out of the ocean, this is the coast to base yourself on. Hāpuna, Mauna Kea Beach and Maniniʻowali (Kua Bay) are the most popular, but there are several more up and down the coast — many tucked behind resorts but still accessible to the public. Resorts here tend to run pricier, making the Kohala Coast a strong fit for couples celebrating something special or families after a higher-end experience.
Kona Coast
The Kona Coast is where you go for preserved heritage sites and snorkeling. Starting from the south, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau — the Place of Refuge — is an ancient sanctuary that once protected those who broke kapu, or sacred law. Across Hōnaunau Bay sits Two Step, a popular snorkeling spot with protected water and abundant sea life. Further north, Kealakekua Bay offers the Captain Cook Trail for hikers and boat tours to the Captain Cook Monument and one of the best snorkel sites on the island. Kahaluʻu Beach Park is an important marine conservation area with tide pools and easy snorkeling. At Laʻaloa Beach Park you'll find the ancient Haukalua Heiau — and in winter, high tide pushes the sand offshore entirely, earning it the nickname Magic Sands (or Disappearing Sands). Further north the beaches shrink until the coast opens again at the mile-long Old Kona Airport Beach and Kohanaiki (Pine Trees), a lava-rock beach popular for surfing. The Kona Coast is best for history lovers, snorkelers and surfers.
Hilo / East Side
Long stretches of the east side are sheer cliffs dropping straight into the ocean, but a few beaches are worth seeking out — mostly lava-rock shore rather than sand. Carlsmith Beach Park has a calm lagoon ideal for swimming, snorkeling and spotting sea turtles. Pohoiki, a black sand beach formed by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, is one of the newest beaches in the state. Richardson Ocean Park is another Hilo black sand beach worth a look, and nearby Leleiwi Beach Park has tide pools and freshwater springs. In general the east side is quieter, far less crowded than the Kohala Coast and much lusher from all the rain. If your itinerary includes waterfall hikes, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park or Mauna Kea, these beaches are much closer than anything on the west side.
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach: What to Know
Punaluʻu sits in the Kaʻū district on the south side, about an hour from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and an hour and a half from Kona. Set aside at least an hour. The black sand forms when lava from nearby volcanic activity reaches the ocean and shatters into fine dark grains over thousands of years. The sand is finite — taking even a little home is illegal and, in Native Hawaiian tradition, deeply disrespectful.
What draws most visitors, beyond the sand itself, is the honu. Hawaiian green sea turtles bask at Punaluʻu regularly, especially on warm, sunny days. Honu are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, so stay at least 10 feet back — do not approach, touch or pose with them. Any of these will earn you public shaming or a hefty fine.
Punaluʻu is a wahi pana, a storied place in Native Hawaiian tradition, so treat it accordingly — a sacred cultural site that happens to be open to the public.
Entry and parking are free, and there are restrooms and covered picnic areas. Visit in the morning for the best chance of seeing turtles before the crowds. The currents here are strong; this is not a swimming or surfing beach, and lifeguards are on duty weekends only.
More Big Island Beach Guides
A couple more guides to round out your Big Island beach planning.
Browse by Category
Editor's Pick
Pohoiki is one of the most remarkable beach stories in Hawaiʻi right now, and almost no one outside the local community is talking about it. The 2018 Kīlauea eruption buried the old boat ramp and surrounding area under lava, and the ocean began grinding that lava into black sand, creating an entirely new beach in a matter of months. There's even a naturally heated pond nearby, fed by geothermal activity. The beach is young and constantly evolving — not a resort experience, but a reminder that this island is still being made.
— Sarah Burchard
Know Before You Go
Honu etiquette at Punaluʻu
Hawaiian green sea turtles bask at Punaluʻu regularly. Under the Endangered Species Act it is illegal to approach, touch or disturb a honu — always keep at least 10 feet away. Locals will informally enforce this, and the park has the authority to report you for a fine. Beyond the law, Punaluʻu carries significant cultural weight in Native Hawaiian tradition. The turtles, like this beach, are sacred.
Mauna Kea Beach access
Mauna Kea Beach at Kaunaʻoa Bay fronts the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, but under Hawaiʻi state law all beaches are public. The catch is parking: the public lot holds only about 28 vehicles and fills early. If you're not staying at the hotel, arrive before 9 a.m. for a slim shot at a spot — and if the lot is full, Hāpuna is five minutes south with a much larger public lot and an even better beach.
Hilo side beaches are quieter
The Hilo side doesn't have the long white sand beaches of the Kohala Coast, but it does have a few beautiful ones. Carlsmith Beach Park has a protected swimming cove with sea turtles; Pohoiki is a black sand beach formed by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption; there are tide pools at Richardson Ocean Park and lush coastal scenery near Onomea Bay. If you're staying on the east side or building a day around Volcanoes National Park, these are worth the stop — expect fewer people and a coastline that feels nothing like the rest of Hawaiʻi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sarah Burchard
Editor · Oʻahu
Sarah Burchard has called Oʻahu home since 2017. A Honolulu-based freelance writer and editor, she covers food, culture and travel for publications including Hawaii.com, Hana Hou, FLUX Hawaiʻi, Forbes, Hawaiʻi Magazine and Honolulu Magazine. What keeps her rooted here goes beyond the balance of city life and sunny beaches — it is the people, the values and the culture of aloha that make her stay. Sarah is also a devout yogi and regularly volunteers with ʻāina-based organizations across the island. Read more of her work at sarahburchard.com.
More from Sarah →