Kohala Coast Beaches

Where are the beaches?

Aloha again everybody. Since you know from our previous post where to stay on the Kohala Coast, we want to answer the most asked question by Kohala Coast visitors is 'Where are the beaches?'. Depending on your preferences, you can choose from: Spencer Beach Park (perfect for families with small children) and Kauna’oa (Mauna Kea Beach w/public part - never crowded and separate from hotel part, so you don't need to mingle with the hotel crowd) and Hapuna Beach State Park. All three beaches feature shower and restroom facilities. Mauna Kea and Hapuna beach have both been ranked among the best beaches in the world by Conde Nast Magazine. Other great options are Wailea Bay in Puako or Anaeho’omalu Beach (called 'A Bay' by the locals) in Waikoloa Beach Resort. Just to name the most well-known and most gorgeous white sand beaches in our area on the Kohala Coast. Locate beaches on our Kohala Coast map.

Mauna Kea Beach

Kauna'oa Beach (Mauna Kea beach), 2 miles south from Kawaihae Harbor & Marina, also known as Mauna Kea beach has been voted one of the the top beaches world wide by Conde Nesta magazine. Located on the property of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, beach access is by way of a beach pass obtained at the entrance. Get there early to assured of a pass, otherwise hop on over to Hapuna Beach Park next door.

Mauna Kea beach is a quarter mile crescent of white sand offering swimming, snorkeling, boogie-boarding and surfing depending on the conditions. Food and drink are available at the Hau Tree Cafe on the beach (not inexpensive). Better you bring your cooler if staying very long. Outdoor showers and bathrooms on the public beach at the south end are maintained by the hotel. Don't forget your sunscreen. Enjoy!

Hapuna Beach Park

Hapuna Beach Park, 3 miles south of Kawaihae Harbor & Marina, Hapuna Beach State Park is located 2 miles south of Kawaihae Harbor & Marina. Hapuna offers one of the best white sand beaches on the island, the other being Mauna Kea beach. Beach activities such as swimming, snorkeling, boogie-boarding and surfing are available year around, though dangerous rip tides can appear during periods of high surf.

Sunbathing and picnicking are available year around due to the abundance of sunshine and warm temperatures, almost 360 days a year. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available. Picnic areas with BBQ pits make for a relaxing day on the beach. If you forgot food, a snack bar offers various basic food fare and drinks.

Spencer Beach Park

Spencer Beach Park, next to Kawaihae Village Harbor and Marina. As this beach is very protected from big ocean waves even in winter, it's the favorite beach for families with small children. Spencer Beach is also preferred by local residents for BBQs and family reunions as it kept the old Hawaiian style atmopshere. Camping permits are available for this beach. The Heiau next to Spencer Beach Park also attracts Kohala Coast visitors who are interested in Hawaii's history and culture.

Puako Beaches

Puako Beach 69 or Wailea Bay Puako Beach 69 (named after electric pole 69!) or also known as Wailea Bay is a more secluded beach well know by residents or return visitors to Puako, a tiny oceanfront village, next to famous Hapuna Beach. The south end of the beach is perfect for snorkeling and encounters with the green sea turtles and occasional Manta Rays or Eagle Rays. In addition to Wailea Bay, Puako offers many more beach access along Puako Drive. As Puako is the dry side of the island and gets less than 11" of rain per year, oceanfront Puako has developed into one of the most desired area for Kohala Coast visitors.

Mauna Lani Beach

Mauna Lani Beach Club is one of Mauna Lani Resort's nicest white sand beaches. All Mauna Lani condo visitors, like the Islands, Mauna Lani Point and Mauna Lani Terrace, have access to this beach from the road through their access card. However, as each beach in Hawaii is public, other Kohala Coast visitors can access this lovely beach by parking at public parking of Mauna Lani Bay and walk left past Mauna Lani Fish Ponds. It's an easy 10-minute walk. The beach is a crescent white sand lagoon with calm waters and a huge array of tropical fish, turtles and rays. Ocean activities like Scuba and Snorkeling are offered. Restrooms, outdoor showers and an ocean front restaurant make this beach a hidden gem on the Kohala Coast.

A-Bay Beach

Anaeho'omalu Bay in Waikoloa Beach Resort, also known as A-Bay, is one of South Kohala’s treasures. In the summer months this long curving sandy beach is great for swimming and snorkeling. Nestled on beautiful Anaeho'omalu Bay is Hawaii Ocean Sports which offers snorkeling, kayaking, diving, whale watching, sailing on a catamaran or relaxing on the beach. It's fun for the entire family.

There are many more beaches along the Kohala Coast. Talk to locals and return visitors for smaller, hidden beaches. Believe me there is a beach for everybody's taste! A hui hou. Aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

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Tags: Hawaii, Big Island, Kohala Coast, Puako, Best Hawaii beaches

Kohala Coast Vacation Rentals & Vacation Homes

Kohala Coast Vacation Homes

In our recent post, we talked about Kohala Coast Resorts and Hotels. This article will provide the Big Island visitor with some 'insider' knowledge about vacation rentals on the Kohala Coast, from affordable to luxury.
Kohala Coast vacation rentals are near the best Kohala Coast beaches, such as Mauna Kea Beach and Hapuna Beach, and adventurous Big Island attractions, many beyond the ordinary. Kohala Vacation Guide also offers luxury Kohala Coast vacation homes or affordable Kohala Coast vacation condos, which provide privacy and comfort at your own vacation home. Discover the unique beauty of the Kohala Coast for your next Big Island vacation on the Kohala Coast.

If you missed our first Kohala Coast post, here is a little summary again. The Kohala Coast, also referred to as the Gold Coast has sunshine all year round and stretches of beautiful white sand beaches and spectacular championship golf courses. It is located on the west coast of the Big Island...north of the Kona Coast. The Kohala Coast features 5-star ocean front resorts & hotels. This is where Big island visitors find the best white sand beaches...Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea Beach, Spencer Beach Park or A-Bay (Anaehoomalu Beach). However, the budget traveler will not find private Kohala Coast vacation rentals in any of the Kohala Coast resort areas like Waikoloa Beach Resort, Mauna Lani Beach Resort or Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

Kohala Coast Vacation Rentals

Kohala Coast Vacation Guide offers a variety of unique vacation rentals, vacation homes & condos, from affordable to luxury beachfront, on the Big Island’s exclusive Kohala Coast. Here is a fine selection of hand-picked vacation rental homes for their ambience and location. These Kohala Coast vacation rentals combine many of the amenities of a Kohala Coast hotel with the comfort, character and privacy of a beautiful Kohala Coast home to make your Hawaii vacation experience memorable and affordable. Our Kohala Coast vacation rentals offer significantly better value than 5-star Kohala Coast hotels for both vacation and business travelers. View our Kohala Coast map to find the location of your vacation rental. These Kohala Coast vacation rental homes are within a short driving distance to Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel or Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and offer a great affordable alternative option when attending conferences at Kohala Coast hotels.

Puako Beachfront Vacation Home & Puako Condos

You want to be right on the beach, go to sleep and wake up to the sound of gentle ocean waves, try our Beachfront Vacation Home in Puako. Last but not least, we have to mention Puako, which has become one of the most desired areas on the Big Island and the Kohala Coast. Puako is the only non-resort area where the traveler can find ocean front vacation rentals on the Kohala Coast. The former old time Hawaiiana ocean front village has become a favorite Kohala Coast vacation spot for beach lovers with quite a number of vacation houses located on both sides of Puako Dr (mauka or makai side) and lots of beautiful ocean front vacation homes in the area of gorgeous Wailea Bay. Puako's hidden beaches are not only favored by vacationers but also by the big green sea turtles, which one can spot frequently sunbathing when wandering the Puako beaches. Puako also offers easy ocean access spots for guests at Kohala Coast vacation condos, who are passionate snorkelers and divers.

Well, as you know, we could go on and on. Best you bookmark our Kohala Coast blog and come back frequently to check on new posts from the Kohala Coast Vacation Guide editors. Warm aloha, Pua

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Kohala Coast Resorts and Hotels

Kohala Coast Resorts and Hotels

This post is sponsored by Kohala Coast Hotels & Resorts

Aloha Hawaii friends,
After we gave you in our first blog about the Kohala Coast lots of good reasons why to vacation on the Big Island's Kohala Coast, we would to give you some ideas about places to stay. The Kohala Coast features a select number of 5-star ocean front Kohala Coast resorts & hotels starting with the fairly recently built Hualalai Beach Resort and the traditional Hawaiian old-fashioned Kona Village resort.

Waikoloa Beach Resort Hotels

Going further north, visitors will find Waikoloa Beach Resort with Marriott Hotel (former Outrigger), Hilton Waikoloa and with beautiful ocean view Kohala Coast vacation condos like 'The Bay Club', 'The Vistas' and 'The Fairways', which are located on beautiful Waikoloa Beach Golf Course, which golf players love. It's a short drive from these golfcourse condos to A-Bay Beach. Golfcondo rates are in the medium price range. The budget traveler will not find private Kohala Coast vacation rentals in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area or other Kohala Coast resort areas like Mauna Lani Beach Resort or Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. This Kohala Coast map shows all Kohala Coast hotels, resorts and beaches, such as Spencer Beach, Mauna Kea Beach, Hapuna Beach, Beach 69 in Puako, A-Bay etc.

Mauna Lani Beach Resort Hotels & Vacation Condos

Just a short drive north, Kohala Coast visitors will find the entrance to Mauna Lani Beach Resort with 5-star ocean front 'Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows', 'Fairmont Orchid at Mauna Lani' plus luxurious ocean view condo complexes like 'The Terrace' and 'Mauna Lani Point' (Mauna Lani Classic Resorts) or peaceful fairway condos at 'The Islands'. Beach lovers will have to drive from the 'Islands' and the 'Mauna Lani Point' golfcourse condos to their favorite beaches. Again, these are luxury Kohala Coast vacation condos, whose rates are similar to the 5-star Mauna Lani hotel rates. Island visitors attending conferences or functions at Mauna Lani resort hotels or Mauna Kea & Hapuna Beach Hotel ask us again and again for places with affordable rates in or close to the resort areas. There are no low cost vacation rentals within the resort areas!

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel & Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Resort

Last but not least, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel and Mauna Kea Beach Hotel complete our list of well-known Kohala Coast resorts, hotels and beaches. Actually, this is where Big island visitors find the best white sand beaches...Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea Beach. Experience the Hawaii of your dreams ... white sand beaches, first class championship golf courses and fantastic Pacific ocean life on the sunny Kohala Coast.

Stay tuned till next time with more information on Kohala Coast vacation homes and activities. Aloha from Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

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Vacation in Hawaii on Big Island's Kohala Coast

It’s not the ‘Call of the Wild’ but it’s the ‘Call of Hawaii’, which has finally caught up with you. For one reason or another, you decided to spend your first Hawaii vacation on the Big Island. Maybe you heard that this is the only Hawaii Island where you can spend a day on sunny sandy white beaches and go skiing or sledding on top of snow-covered Mauna Kea later in the day or where one can experience the fireworks of a live volcano…I could name quite a number more but this is not the topic for this article.

Planning your Hawaii vacation

Well, here you are planning your first Hawaii vacation on the Big Island and you just don’t know where to stay on this literally ‘big’ island despite of all the Big Island guidebooks you read and the many Big Island websites you cruised. The purpose of this article is introduce you to the unique beauty of the Kohala Coast and make you fall in love with this beautiful coast and its wonderful people during your Hawaii vacation, just as many visitors did before. Some even became residents as we did. Many more will follow in the years to come.

Image of Hawaii

What are your associations with the word ‘Hawaii’? With me it was white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, beautiful weather all year round and the ‘obligatory’ hula dancer! The typical image or cliché of Hawaii! Believe it or not, the Kohala Coast on the Big Island has it all. Most first time visitors to the Hawaiian Islands are not aware that climate and weather can vary on each island tremendously depending on location (east or west) and elevation. Located on the dry west coast of the Big Island, north of the Kona Coast, the Kohala Coast provides the most stable weather throughout the year thus guarantying the first major component for your Hawaii vacation…sunshine! Well, now you could say why not stay in Kona, as you heard from friends whose cruise ship landed there that it’s beautiful and fun. Admittedly, it is but…it’s a tourist town, traffic in and out of town gets quite congested, beaches are smaller and more crowded and sometimes the ‘vog’ from the volcano can be bothersome, especially during hot summer months.

Where to stay on the Kohala Coast?

The price conscious vacationer can find affordable Kohala Coast Vacation Rentals, vacation condos and luxury Kohala Coast Vacation Homes at different Kohala Coast locations like Waikoloa Village, Kawaihae, Kohala Ranch, Kohala Estate or Waimea. The only non-resort but ocean front location is Puako with many different ocean access spots. Puako has recently become one of the most desired areas on the Kohala Coast. See our Kohala Coast map for Kohala Coast resorts and hotels. Kohala Coast vacation rentals combine many of the amenities of a Kohala Coast hotel with the comfort and character of a beautiful Kohala Coast home to make your Hawaii vacation experience memorable and affordable. Rates of Big Island accommodations vary depending on location and amenities.

What to do on the Kohala Coast?

There are no limits to your Kohala Coast activities Kohala Coast activities. Within short driving distances of your vacation home or hotel on the Kohala Coast, you can play golf at 9 championship courses, play tennis, go horseback riding, take a hike into spectacular valleys, explore the Pacific waters snorkeling & meeting tropical fish, rays, dolphins and turtles, go deep sea fishing or scuba diving or go boogie boarding…the Kohala Coast has something for everybody!

So, what do you think of the Kohala Coast? Please, come and see for yourself! Last but not least, don’t get taken by surprise when landing at Kona International Airport in the middle of barren moonscape lava fields. It does not seem to get any better when driving Highway 19 north to your Kohala Coast destination. We assure you palm trees, white sand beaches, blue green waves of the Pacific, hula dancers and Mai Tai are awaiting you. Welcome to the Kohala Coast of the Big Island! Feel free to send us an email with your questions or post a comment here. Written by Pua, one of Kohala Coast Vacation Guide editors

Tags: best hawaii vacation, hawaii attractions, kohala coast vacation homes, kohala coast resorts