 |
|
|
Beaches
White
Sands Beach Park
Also called "Disappearing
Sands" because the beach loses its sand during the high surf months, November
through April, but returns in the spring - advanced body boarding, shore
diving to 60 feet with caverns and lava tubes. The most popular bodysurfing
and bodyboarding beach in North Kona. Site of the Annual Magic Sands Bodysurfing
Championship. Good snorkeling when sea is calm. Lifeguard services
Kahaluu
Beach Park
The largest sand beach between Kailua and
Keauhou. In the days of the Hawaiian kings, with many of the islands' beaches
having dangerous surf and riptides, King Kamehameha wanted a safe place
for his family to enjoy the ocean. He had his workers construct a seawall
in the surf to protect a small cove on the sunny side of the Big Island.
This cove today is known as "Kahaluu Beach Park". One of the most
popular swimming and best snorkeling sites in the Kona district. Home to
sea turtles and dolphins. Picnic area. Lifeguard services.
Anaehoomalu
Bay (A-Bay)
This popular, peppered, gold-sand beach,
fringed by a grove of palms and backed by royal fishponds still full of
mullet, is one of Hawaii's most beautiful. It fronts the Outrigger Waikoloa
Beach Resort and is enjoyed by guests and locals alike. The beach slopes
gently from shallow to deep water; swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking,
and windsurfing are all excellent here. Equipment rental and snorkeling,
scuba, and windsurfing instruction are available at the north end of the
beach. At the far edge of the bay is a rare-turtle cleaning station, where
snorkelers and divers can watch endangered green sea turtles line up, waiting
their turn to have small fish clean them. There are rest rooms, showers,
picnic tables, and plenty of parking.
Kaunaoa
Beach aka Mauna Kea Beach
Kaunaoa Beach on the Big Island tops a
list of America’s best beaches by “Dr. Beach”. For 25 years, this
gold-sand beach at the foot of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has been the top vacation
spot among America's corporate chiefs. A coconut grove sweeps around this
golden crescent, where the water is calm and protected by two black-lava
points. The sandy bottom slopes gently into the bay, which often fills
not only with schools of tropical fish but green sea turtles and manta
rays, especially at night, when the hotel lights flood the shore. Swimming
is excellent year-round, except in rare winter storms. Snorkelers prefer
the rocky points, where fish thrive in the surge. Facilities include rest
rooms, showers, and ample parking, but there's no lifeguard. Beach can
only be accessed through the resort Hotel. They have a limitednumber of
public access parking spots available. When those are filled you are out
of luck in terms of getting in. However, if you are one of the lucky few
to make it in you won't regret it!
Hapuna
Beach
Rated the "Number one beach in America"
by Conde Nast Traveler. Hapuna Beach is a long stretch of pristine white
sand. Just off Queen Kaahumanu Highway, south of the Hapuna Beach
Prince Hotel, lies this crescent of gold sand-big, wide, and a half-mile
long. In summer, when the beach is widest, the ocean calmest. This is the
island's best beach for swimming, snorkeling, and bodysurfing. Facilities
include A-frame cabins for camping, pavilions, rest rooms, showers, and
plenty of parking. Located 10 minutes north of our condo.
