Big Island

BEST BEACHES – BIG ISLAND (HAWAII)

Kua Bay (Manini’owali Beach) – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Between Mile Marker 88 & 89 and turn on the road towards the beach which is Kua Bay. (Beach is not marked on road) It is simply awesome when the beach is still there (depending on tides) and can have some great waves. One of my absolute favs.
Great sand to build sand castles and have a sand ball fight.

Makalawena Beach – Kalaoa, Hawaii

This one is a hidden gem and requires some work to get to. However, the journey is part of the destination. The beach is a ‘MUST’ visit on a sunny day and is real special. If you are feeling adventurous and put the work in to get to this beach, you will be rewarded with a slice of heaven called Makalawena Beach. You have to drive to Kehaha Kai State Beach (south of the 4 Seasons/Hualalai – but north of the airport — about 20 minutes) and drive down a really, really super bumpy dirt/rocky road for about a 1-1/2 miles. (I have done it in a regular car but an SUV is better and its about a 15 min. drive). There is a parking lot at the bottom, by the shore. Walk north (right) along the beach to an abandoned red colored house and then cut inwards at the fishponds to a completely black lava trail which takes about 15 minutes to walk and continue going north. After the lava trail continue on the sand path and dunes for about 15 minutes and go to the very far beach area and plop down and enjoy this unbelievable place. Bring alot of bottled water and snacks. This is Makalaweena. The only other inhabitants should be some wild goats, a few roosters, and maybe a few other sunbathers.

Beach 69 (Waialea Beach) – Big Island, Hawaii

Beach 69 is another personal favorite. Drive north on Queen K highway (which is the main road) and turn left at – Puako between mile markers 71 and 70 – about 5 minutes north of Mauna Lani. Turn Left, and start to wind down the hill. Make the first possible right hand turn onto a paved road — it’s just across from the Transfer Station. It will start to get hilly, and the road narrows to a single lane. After a few up and downs look for the number “71” on the telephone polls to your left and you’ll see a metal gate, and a road on your left that leads to a parking lot. Park there and take path to the beach. The right side has the best swimming and the left can be more quiet to chill. (Neil Young has the big green house out on the southern point.) This is a protected marine reserve and bit more wild than Hapuna Beach. The snorkeling is great – you must swim out about 75 yards to see the coral. You can also swim or walk to the northern end of the beach, which may have turtles.