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Kahalu'u Beach Park
1 review
Kailua Kona, HI
Category: Beaches
Kahalu'u Beach Park
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
17 reviews for Kahalu'u Beach Park
This is a great place beginners learning to snorkel or surf. It was still crowded even in off-season, so I could see how it would get really packed.
The shore itself is rocky, but the snorkeling is amazing. I'd been snorkeling twice before, but still consider myself a bit of a novice. There are dozens of different kinds of tropical fish swimming around the reefs, and the water is less than 6' deep in most places - do be careful not to stand on the reefs, though since they're very fragile.
There are also turtles swimming along the shore that are fun to watch, but they are an endangered so don't get too close.
The beach itself isn't that exciting, though there is sand so you can relax and read that Grisham or Steele novel after snorkeling. There are even some shaded spots a little ways back from the water under the trees.
A great beach. I've never been there to snorkel, but paddling above the reef to go surfing at the break, it looks breathtaking. Depending on what you go there to do..
A) Go surfing, on the northern part of the beach, right where the menehune wall ends there is a break going left (from the beach: right) and can get up to 6ft. This is a beginner spot and surf lessons are often taken here (there is a surf instructor just across the street) and Rory Russell, a former Pipeline Master also gives instruction here. So if you go, the locals are aware that it IS a beginner spot and won't really want to drown you as much as if it were at Banyans, a break more north with heavy localism.
B) Go snorkeling, the snorkeling is very spectacular with a wide variety of corals and fish. But please, DONT STEP OR TOUCH THE CORAL, even just touching it will polute its pores with the oil on your skin and maybe cause it to die. My class went down there on a fieldtrip once to instruct tourists on how to care for the reef, we will probably be going there a few more times. You might even see me.
*** JUST A SIDE NOTE: ***
Getting within 20 feet of a basking turtle is a Federal offense, and I am pretty sure the fine can be up to $500. So DO NOT get within 20 feet of them or even touch them.
A . MA . ZING. and how lucky was i to be staying in a condo right across the street from this beach? so damn lucky. this is one of the best snorkeling beaches on the island, and although it does get a little busy here, it's totally worth coming to. since i was so close, i could get out there before the crowds came and scared all the turtles away : ).
and man were there turtles! every morning they would come up to lie on the lava rocks to warm up - there are underwater fresh springs there that cool down the water, but a hot lava rock is just what a turtle needs to warm up and get some shut eye. and please people, did you know you're not supposed to touch the turtles? man, thankfully there was a student group out there educating all the sunburt tourists on what NOT to do.
a couple comes out there every day (except every other Tues or something like that) and rents out snorkle gear, boogie boards, chairs, etc by the day or week, and sells reasonably priced sunscreen, snorkles, towels, hats, etc. if you left the condo without yours. and of course the shave ice folks come by too - make sure to get yours with a sno-cap (sweetened condensed milk).
there are lots of bathrooms, a lifeguard on duty, and outdoor showers to rinse off in. and there is also plenty of shade, either by tree or the 2 palapas that also have picnic tables, bbq pits and electricity - park is open till 11pm so you can have a party out there, complete w/ a DJ if you want, and many people did while we were staying there.
the Outrigger Beach Resort is right next door and they have a great garden - as you're looking at the water, head to your left past one of the palapas and you'll see a gate - go through there and meander around. on the far side of the resort they are actually restoring some heiau (temples) so go check it out at low tide, walk over the lava rocks and take a look at the tide pools. beautiful.
If you're used to white sand beaches, the black sand and rocks here can be very deceiving. "What an ugly place!" was my thought when we first arrived.
First, parking can be a problem because the adjacent parking lot is not big enough to handle the crowds. If you're lucky, you might be able to find street parking which can actually be closer to the beach. By mid-morning, the parking lot was full and the beach area was very crowded.
The beach area is also relatively small. There isn't a lot of space to lay out, especially with the crowds. The black sand is rough so you won't be inclined to take strolls on this beach.
The saving grace for this beach park is the snorkeling! After being frustrated by the rain at Hanauma Bay earlier on the trip, it was great to see so much marine life in this area.
You won't have to go very far to start seeing the sea life. Almost from the moment you look down in the water, you'll see schools of fish swimming around. I swam along the corral and was just amazed at the amount of sea life living in such a small area.
Don't come here if you want to lay out and relax. This is not your ideal white sand beach, but it does offer an amazing snorkeling experience.
We snorkeled here two days in a row since we stayed next door at the Outrigger Beach Resort. On both days, we swam with sea turtles which was awesome. We saw a spotted eel one day which was cool since these are usually reclusive and difficult to find. There wre tons of tropical fishes to swim with. This bay is shallow, so it's a great place for everyone. The water can get murky at times, but you won't be disappointed on any trip here.
If you're looking for crystal blue waters and white sand beaches, this is not the place for you. If, however, you're looking for a place to see a shit ton of fish in calm waters then Kahalu'u Beach Park should be on your list of must-visit beaches on your next trip to Hawaii. I had an awful time at Hanauma Bay on Oahu so I can't really compare the quality of snorkeling but this is definitely in the top three I've experienced on any of the Hawaiian islands. The other great thing about this beach is there is equipment for rent and a shave ice truck which is perfect on a glaring hot summer day.
While Kahalu'u wasn't the best snorkeling spot we found around Kona, being right in town, it was a great choice for our first day on the island. Luckily we got there early as the beach filled up to the point that other groups/families were a bit too close to us for comfort.
The water is relatively cold getting in as there are fresh water springs bubbling up into the ocean, once you get deeper it warms up quite a bit.
There was a monk seal sunning here the day we went, which is apparently a really big deal.
There was a good amount of parking, bathrooms, and lifeguards. Alcohol consumption is allowed at this park. It would have been nice to have somewhere close by to purchase water considering how built up the area is. I had been counting on the convenience store on the drive over, and it wasn't open yet at 10am.
Great place for beginning snorkelers. You can rent snorkel gear right on the beach. Go EARLY in the morning, otherwise there are a LOT of people and it will be hard to find parking. Make sure to give the turtles their space!
I don't care that it's a tourist park. Guess who's a tourist here? Also, there really are a ridiculous amount of turtles and tropical fish here.
Since I never get to go snorkeling, I always have a hard time getting my mask, breathing, flippering and all that jazz together, so I really do appreciate having such a safe place to muck about with all that. Even in rather sad weather, you can still experience some of the awesome natural wonders that is Hawaii.
Lots of parking, full array of life guards there, rentals available, and some food. there's a hotel right next door, so I bet you could gussy up a little after swimtime, and get a nice lunch as well.
This is a great snorkel spot for beginners. I recommend coming here first thing in the morning, because the water is more calm, and thus the clarity is better. (Although the water is typically calm here.) Additionally, there is a MESS of people here by late morning, who don't really know what they're doing. I'm definitely still a novice, but these people were kicking up a storm, scaring away the fish, potentially hurting coral, etc. When you first enter the water, there is just sand and slippery rocks and the clarity is no good, but as you move further out, there is TONS of coral, and PLENTY of fish/eels to look at. Be careful of the mommy humuhumunukunukupuah'ahs. They are PROTECTIVE of their eggs! One mom started lunging at my face, and another one was biting my boyfriend's foot. (Luckily he had water shoes on.) The eels are a little defensive too, so probably best to just swim away. At the shoreline, there are turtles which come out to sunbathe and eat algae off the rocks. They are VERY used to people and are NOT scared by people walking by. Don't touch them though, unless you want to get fined a kazillion dollars! They are protected by law.
I have friends who swim, snorkel and dive, and simply love the water. They jump at every opportunity they can get to get wet. Me? Not so much.
However! Kahalu'u Beach is a *great* place for a novice snorkeler and sometimes swimmer... it's teeming with gorgeous fish and turtles that let you get up close, and is blessed with fairly calm, clear and warm waters.
The beach itself is covered with pebbles and lava rock -- not the most comfortable surface for lounging, but very bearable. It might make sense to double up with a straw mat underneath your towel if you have one.
It's also right next to the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort, and if you're lucky, as I was, your honey will duck away for a quick minute and return with some mai tais and a plumeria lei for you.
We headed to Kahalu'u Beach to give the snorkeling a try. I've never done it before, so, well, it was a challenge at first. ;) The instant you put your mask into the water, you're just surrounded by fish. It's like walking into an aquarium. It was insanely cool.
Once I got the hang of snorkeling, it was a blast. We saw so many fish, in such varied colors! And we were surprised to find three different huge sea turtles! Crazy! And they were just all around us, just inches from our fingertips. It was a ton of fun.
Good snorkeling spot if you're on the Kona side of the Big Island. I enjoy snorkeling, but get freaked out if we're the only ones out there, so I actually liked that this place was on the busy side. Not teeming with people, but not at all empty. The water is calm, too, helping keep cautious snorkelers like me happy.
Heard it was a good place for turtles, but alas, we saw none. (Did see a turtle lounging on the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, though). But the fish were plentiful and varied.
The water's a little wacky here though. Gets clearer the further you go out, but the temperature fluctuates from being nearly as warm as bath water to ice cold in spots throughout the area. Just had to swim away from the cold spots when we encountered 'em.
Plenty of people were sunbathing here, but if that's all you want to do, head somewhere else. It's a bit crowded and the sand's not the softest. But if you're looking for good snorkeling, you've come to the right place.
Be careful of your footing when getting in and out of the water. The rocks are a bit slippery (which can be a challenge if you're uncoordinated like me).
Free, but crowded, parking lot. Bathrooms. Right along Ali'i Drive for easy access.
This is one of the most wonderful snorkeling spots anywhere -- beats the Caribbean IMHO. The best time is around 7 AM when few people have disturbed the fish and turtles. I once stepped into a shallow pool and a turtle stepped on my swim fin!
And nearby is the platform of an ancient Hawaiian temple dedicated to the surfing gods. (No kidding.)
This has to be the best snorkeling spot on the Kona Coast. Lots of gorgeous fish, sea turtles, palm trees, picnic tables, BBQ, etc. A great place to spend the afternoon with the family! Beware of the "shark sighting" signs, though. :)
The sand was extremely course, especially compared to the beaches we had been visiting earlier. It's black and white and mostly the size of tiny pebbles. The lava rocks were really neat to walk on, especially near the water, where you can see marine life like teeny crabs and fish putter around. We also saw a medium-sized turtle sunbathe near the entrance of the beach. The beach is extremely small and crowded, though, so if you're looking for a place to relax, this isn't it. We didn't go snorkeling because the water was too cold for us.
Kahalu'u was one of the first places I went in Kona when I used to live there. This is a great snorkel spot and a great place to learn how to surf. Along Alii Dr. are a few shops that offer surf lessons and you can walk across the street and hop in the water. The waves are pretty mellow and there tend to be a lot of people there, but its perfect for beginners. The snorkeling is shallow and usually really clear. And this is the perfect place to spot sea turtles. Just remember, its illegal to touch them. So don't do it! There's also a little restaurant/bar area where you can grab food and drinks. And I believe, sometimes there is a form of a farmers market there. Definitely make a stop if you're down there!