Coconut palms line Mauna Kea Beach.
If you're searching that picture-perfect postcard beach for your visit to Hawaii's Big Island, Mauna Kea Beach on the Kohala Coast will not disappoint. Also known as Kauna'oa Beach, this crescent-shaped beach lined with coconut palms is located in front of the luxurious Mauna Kea Resort. But you don't have to be a guest of the hotel to sunbath, swim or snorkel at what is on The Travel Channel's "World's All Time Best Beaches" list.
Instructions
1. Plan to arrive early. Public access to the beach is limited to 40 cars at a time and is on a first-come basis. It fills up fast. Arrive by 9 a.m. or plan on waiting to enter until someone leaves. Drive north on Highway 19, if heading out from Kailua-Kona. Turn left at the Mauna Kea Resort entrance, or Mauna Kea Beach Drive, about a 30-minute drive north of Kailua-Kona. The road is not clearly marked, so look for the resort sign or mile marker 68. Follow the signs to beach access until the road dead-ends at the small parking lot. Walk down the golf cart path to the public beach access. It's about a five-minute walk.
2. Drive to nearby Hapuna Beach State Park, about a mile south just off Hwy. 19, if parking is full at Mauna Kea. Park here and hike the 1-mile trail that follows the shoreline to Mauna Kea Beach.
3. Bring your snorkeling gear. This beach is a snorkeler's paradise thanks to its calm water and abundant coral. Follow the rocky edges of this secluded bay to see turtles and a variety of tropical fish, including tang, jacks and butterfly fish.
4. Pack sand toys and rafts. Your kids will find the thick, sugary sand on Mauna Kea Beach supports large-scale sand castles. Or, if you just feel like relaxing, float on the calm, clear blue water.
Tags: Mauna Beach, beach access, Mauna Resort