What Are the Best Beaches on the Big Island of Hawai‘i?
The Big Island doesn’t do sand like the other Hawaiian islands, and that’s the fun of it. You get the classic golden-white Kohala beaches, jet-black lava-born coves, green olivine sand at the southernmost point of the United States, and some of the best snorkel bays in the state.
Here’s a locals’ map to the beaches worth planning a day around.
Classic white sand (Kohala Coast)
Hāpuna Beach
The gold standard: a long half-mile crescent of soft white sand on the Kohala coast. Good for swimming in summer, more surf in winter. State park, big parking lot, lifeguard, restrooms, modest entry fee.
Kua Bay (Manini‘ōwali)
Shorter, steeper sand, and some of the bluest water on the island. Incredible in summer, rough shorebreak in winter — read the posted warnings.
Mauna Kea Beach (Kauna‘oa Bay)
The quiet, crescent-shaped beach in front of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Limited public parking — come early.
Makalawena
A 20-minute hike over lava is the price of entry, and you end up on a near-empty three-cove beach. No lifeguard, strong shorebreak, nothing but you and the ocean.
Black sand
Punalu‘u
The most famous black sand beach in Hawai‘i. Green sea turtles routinely haul out here to bask — give them the legally-required 10 feet (3 meters) of space. Calm-ish conditions most days, but don’t expect a soft beach day — the sand is coarse lava pebbles.
Pololū Black Sand Beach
Reached via a steep 20-minute trail down from the Pololū Valley lookout at the end of Kohala Mountain Road. The view from the top is one of the most photographed on the island, and the beach below is wild and dramatic.
Green sand
Papakōlea (Green Sand Beach)
A 2.5-mile (one-way) hike from South Point down a rough coastal track. The sand is olive-green from olivine crystals. Unofficial local shuttles run from the parking area — pricey, bumpy, and not something your rental-car insurance covers. See our green sand beach post for the full playbook.
Best snorkeling beaches
Two Step (Hōnaunau Bay)
Next to Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Not really a beach — you step in from the lava ledge — but the reef below is some of the best snorkeling in the state. Spinner dolphins occasionally swing through.
Kahalu‘u Beach Park
South of Kailua-Kona. Shallow, protected and full of fish and turtles. The best beginner snorkel on the island.
Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook Monument)
A marine life conservation district with some of the clearest water and healthiest coral in Hawai‘i. You have to kayak, hike or boat in — access is restricted to protect the reef.
Explore the Big Island with Ohana Tours
Our Kohala beach day and South Kona snorkel day tours put together the best of these, including gear, parking, reef-safe sunscreen and the timing that avoids the crowds. If you just want a single stress-free beach day, ask us which one fits your group — we’ll be honest.
Punaluʻu — the famous black sand beach with resident sea turtles — is a scheduled stop on our full-day Circle Island Tour, and beach-focused custom routes are a popular request on our private Big Island tours.
Ready to plan your trip? Browse our Big Island experiences at ohanatours.com or reach out at aloha@ohanatours.com — we’ll build the itinerary around you.
Mahalo for reading — the Ohana Tours team