Hāpuna Beach

From the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA), take Highway 19 north for about 25 miles, then turn left onto Hāpuna Beach road. Follow the road about a half-mile as it veers left. Hāpuna Beach will be on your immediate right.

You do not need a reservation for Hāpuna Beach, but there are fees. $5 per person to access the beach and $10 per vehicle to park. Kamaʻāina are exempt from both fees.

Parents and kids love the warm, gentle waters that lap at the sand, perfect for castle-building and sibling-burying. The water is shallow enough to wade in, allowing you to wander into the waves quite a distance before the gently sloping sands become unreachable by toes. On the beach’s north end, the water is shallow and protected by lava rock, creating a pool ideal for small children.

Since this is a popular beach, you should plan to arrive as early as possible to secure a parking spot. The parking lot opens each day at 7 a.m.

On the south end, snorkelers can find lava caves to explore. For the best visibility, swim to deeper waters or head to the rocky points on either end of the beach. While I was swimming at Hāpuna Beach for the first time, someone excitedly pointed out a sea turtle paddling casually nearby. It was easy to see the honu through the translucent water, along with tropical reef fish swimming around the protected rocky end of the beach. During whale season, November to March, you can see humpback whales breaching from the shore.

When there’s a gentle surf, bodyboarders come out, riding the waves all the way into shore. This is not a surfing beach, however. The generally calmer waters here are good for SUPs to enter and exit.

Restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables, a shaded pavilion and full-time lifeguards.

Shade is a bit difficult to find on this exposed stretch of beach, especially if arriving later in the day. What little there is to be found goes quickly as the beach fills up. The first-come, first-served shaded pavilion with picnic tables fills quickly, so to be safe I recommend bringing an umbrella to protect yourself from UV rays.

I also recommend bringing a cooler with drinks and food. There are no snack bars or eateries on site and the closest restaurants, cafés and bars are at the Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort. Mauna Kea Resort and Puako General Store are also good options, 2.5 miles away.

Hāpuna Beach is absolutely worth a visit. The sugary, soft sand is idyllic for beach days and little ones to play in, while the water is translucent with only a gentle surf usually, conducive to swimming for all skill levels. It also has some of the best beach views on the island. It’s a consistent favorite of island visitors.

Historical hike

You can explore the coastline’s deeply rooted history from Hāpuna Beach as well. Hikers and history buffs can embark on a 3-mile loop of the 175-mile Ala Kahakai Trail — a national historic trail that follows the footsteps of ancient Hawaiian rulers along with fishers who found sustenance in the age-old fishponds here. While this portion of the trail runs between Kawaihae on the north end and Anaehoʻomalu Bay to the south, only the section between Spencer Beach Park and the Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve — which includes Hāpuna — has interpretive signage often with scannable QR codes helping tell the region’s tales and sharing information on the kiʻi pōhaku, or ancient petroglyphs, here that date back to A.D. 1200. The loop takes about two to three hours to complete and has very little shade, so it’s best to hike it early in the morning. Beware of sheer cliffs and rocky portions along the trail and wear sturdy shoes with good grip.

Nearby water activities

During the winter months, enjoy a whale watching sunset cruise. Pick up is 10 minutes from Hāpuna Beach at Kohala Divers on Kawaihae Harbor. You can also take snorkeling or scuba tours from the same harbor.

Accommodations

Hāpuna Beach is within walking distance from the Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort on the north end of the beach and 2.5 miles from Mauna Kea Resort. There are also several rustic A-frame cabins along the beach available for nonresidents to rent for $70 per night — these are managed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks.

• Surf: Don't enter the water during high-surf advisories. Warning signs will be placed by lifeguards helping you decide, when needed.
• Sunscreen: Use only reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaiʻi prohibits the sale and use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.
• Snorkeling: Never go snorkeling alone, it can be dangerous. Lifeguards are present here, but they can’t always keep track of snorkelers once they’re underwater.
• Emergency pathways: Be aware of blocking the lifeguard’s emergency paths to the water, clearly marked in front of their stands.

• Take your trash, leave everything else: Do not remove sand, rocks or coral from the beach.
• Wildlife distance: If you see a monk seal on the beach, stay at least 50 feet away and don't approach for photos. Do not touch honu, or green sea turtles, either. Stay at least 10 feet away. Both are federally protected.