The Best Beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii
Going to the beach is one of my favorite things to do in Hawaii. The sand is white, black, or green depending on the beach you go to, which is something you really cannot say about most places in the world. Every trip I try to have at least a few dedicated beach days and honestly if it were up to me that is how I would spend every single day.
I stay at Kona Landing on Alii Drive when I am on the island, and one of the things I love about it is that it comes fully stocked for beach days — chairs, coolers, beach blankets, beach toys, snorkeling gear. I do not have to think about anything except packing a cooler, grabbing a poke bowl from one of the spots downtown, throwing a magazine and a podcast in my bag, and getting in the water. Ryder fell in love with the beach the last time I brought him because the water is so warm and the whole experience is just so easy. That is the Big Island for you.
The beaches here are genuinely different from anywhere else. Here are my favorites.
Magic Sands Beach
This one is right in my backyard. Magic Sands, also called White Sands Beach Park, is a short walk or drive from Kona Landing and is one of my most visited beaches on the whole island. The sand here famously disappears and reappears depending on wave conditions and season, which is wild and also gives the beach its name.
It is great for body surfing, swimming, and watching sunsets. After an afternoon here I usually wander up to Magics Beach Grill for happy hour, which is about as perfect as an afternoon in Kona gets.
Kahaluu Beach Park
If you want to snorkel right from the shore without renting a boat or booking a tour, Kahaluu Beach Park is the move. It is about 10 minutes south of Kona Landing and you will see sea turtles, tropical fish, and coral almost immediately after you get in. The reef is right there.
It is a little rocky at the entry point so water shoes are helpful. Bring reef safe sunscreen because the reef here is protected and it matters. I talk more about this spot in the underwater adventures guide.
Kua Bay
Kua Bay is one of those beaches that makes you feel like you found something secret even though everyone knows about it. It is about 20 minutes north of Kona, tucked between lava flows in Kekaha Kai State Park, and the water clarity here is something else. Brilliant, clear, that perfect shade of blue that does not look real in photos.
It is a white sand crescent with zero shade so bring an umbrella and get there early because the small parking lot fills up fast on weekends. Spinner dolphins show up in the mornings. The snorkeling along the edges is good. This is my north shore go-to when I want to feel like I have the island to myself.
Hapuna Beach
Hapuna is the Big Island's most famous beach and it earns that reputation completely. It is a state recreation area about 30 minutes north of Kona and has been named one of the best beaches in America more than once. Half a mile of wide white sand, great swimming conditions, facilities on site, and enough space that it never feels impossibly crowded even when it is popular.
I come here when I want a proper beach day with everything — good waves for boogie boarding, clear water for swimming, and enough room to actually spread out. Ryder loves it here because the waves are fun but not scary. There is also a food concession on site which is convenient when you forget snacks.
Punaluu Black Sand Beach
If you are driving around the south side of the island, which I recommend doing at least once, Punaluu Black Sand Beach is a must stop. The sand is genuinely jet black, formed by lava meeting the ocean, and the contrast against the blue water and the palm trees is one of the most visually striking things on the island.
Green sea turtles rest on the beach here regularly and you can get surprisingly close. Do not touch them, but watching them is one of those moments that feels completely surreal. The beach is not great for swimming but it is an incredible stop.
Papakolea Green Sand Beach
The green sand beach is one of the most unusual things on the Big Island and getting there is part of the experience. Papakolea is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. The color comes from a mineral called olivine in the volcanic rock and it is genuinely green. Not greenish. Actually green.
It sits near South Point at the southern tip of the island and getting there requires either a 2.5 mile walk each way across open lava terrain or paying for a ride in a local's truck. It is worth it. Wear good shoes, bring water and sunscreen, and do not expect to swim — the waves and currents here are strong. But the view of a green sand beach against the Pacific Ocean is something you will not find anywhere else.
How to Have a Perfect Beach Day on the Big Island
Pack a cooler the night before. Grab a poke bowl from Da Poke Shack or Suisan Fish Market on your way and eat it at the beach. Bring a magazine or a podcast and actually get in the water because it is warm and there is no reason not to.
If you are staying at Kona Landing, all the gear you need is already there — chairs, coolers, blankets, toys, snorkel equipment. You just have to show up.
For what to wear and pack for a day out, the Hawaii packing list covers everything including reef safe sunscreen, waterproof bags, and beach coverups. And if you want to make a full day of it, the Kona happy hour guide has the best spots to wind down after a day in the sun.
