Hawaii Kahalu'u Beach Park Beach Guide

Kahaluu is well visited because of the calm, protected waters - perfect for families and kids. Because of its popularity, parking can be hard to find, so come early! The shallow, clear waters are abundant with sea life. Shady trees surround this beautiful sandy beach. Facilities include a pavilion, rest rooms, showers, a lifeguard tower, and limited parking. This beach is baby stroller accessible. Concession stands and beach rental gear stores are located nearby. A narrow path takes you directly to the Resort's Beach Bar & Grill, which serves sandwiches and plate lunches. Young kids will love to play in the sand and the shallow water as turtles crawl up on the beach next to them. Older kids and teenagers will enjoy the wonderful snorkeling.

Kahaluu Beach Park is a tiny sheltered cove on the west side of the Big Island right in the town of Kailua Kona.  It’s one of only a handful of beaches in Hawaii with such a large tame fish population.  Kahaluu Beach is not a marine preserve, yet for having no fishing limitations, it rivals and sometimes surpasses the quantity of fish you’ll see at a dedicated marine sanctuary.  The fish here are unusually comfortable around snorkelers.  Typically, schools of large surgeon fish will swim up and greet you as you wade in.  I've even had them nibble on my fins while swimming.  The water at Kahaluu Beach is so shallow and calm, it’s perfect for the first time snorkeler.

The cove is almost completely surrounded by a partially submerged rock wall that keeps the larger waves out while still allowing the gentler ocean currents to flow in freely.  These fresh currents carry life bringing nutrients, feeding and multiplying the marine life.  I really get a sense of joy hearing the excitement of other snorkelers as they interact with Kahaluu's fish and sea life.

One of the reasons for Kahaluu's abundant fish population is most of cove is less than neck deep.  The deepest spot barely exceeds 10 feet even at high tide.  The shallow water allows sunlight to penetrate all the way to the bottom growing lots of healthy coral.  The coral, in turn, houses and feeds all the cove’s marine life.  The bottom of the cove is made up of a base layer of lava rock and coral with scattered patches of sand.

Most of the shoreline at Kahaluu is lava rock flats with a couple of small sand 'entries'.  Enter the water via these small sand patches.  You’ll have an easier time putting on your fins while sitting in the sand than trying to balance on the surrounding lava rocks.  When the tide goes out, the rock flats form shallow tide pools that are fun to explore.  Please watch your step as you walk on the wet lava rock, the seaweed makes it very slippery.

Kahaluu Beach Park is by far the easiest and safest place to snorkel on the Big Island. Children can practice their snorkeling here because it is very shallow, 2 to 10 feet. The water is crowded with people, surprisingly the fish hang out here in droves. There are a good variety of fish which seem to be nearly tame. Even turtles cruise in to graze.

Driving directions:
Drive south from Kailu-Kona on Alii Drive for about 4 miles. Watch for signs on the beach and the parking lot on the right.

Kahalu'u Beach Park is a good place to spend some time with Hawaii's fascinating sealife. Here you can swim with turtles, trumpet fish, uhu (parrotfish), moorish idols, several types of tang, moray eels, and many more. The waters teem with marine life, and a mask and snorkel opens up this underwater world to even the most inexperienced swimmer. The waters are very gentle, protected by what remains of a breakwater built by early Hawaiians to aid in fish farming.

Green Sea Turtles have been seen in the lava wading pool area. If one comes your way, please don't touch. They're an endangered specie protected by law.

Kahalu'u Beach Park is a white-sand beach with lifeguards, showers, restrooms, three pavilions, a lunch wagon and snorkel rentals. Normally, it's a safe haven, but high surf conditions can create a devastating rip current. When in doubt, ask a lifeguard for assistance. The beach is about six miles south of Kailua on Ali'i Drive.

Snorkel Kahalu'u
Kahaluu is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island. Fed by a fresh water spring, up to 10 million gallons per day. These waters are almost always calm, with colorful corals, rock formations, and 100+ species of fish. Swim with huge schools of colorful fish and green sea turtles in these protected waters; don't forget your underwater camera! The north end of the beach is where the waves break and is best for body boarding and surfing. Check the water conditions; when ocean swells are present, the water can be murky.

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. The beach is salt-and-pepper colored sand with lots of shady trees surrounding it. There is a sandy entrance to the water for snorkelers on the north side of the beach. Often, you can see turtles swimming the shallow waters right from the beach or while you walk on the sea wall!