Have you landed on the Big Island of Hawaii and looking for places to go? Perhaps you’re dreaming of all the beautiful beaches you can hit up while you’re here. The Big Island has some of the most varied beaches you’ll find. From soft sand to rugged beaches to green sand to black sand — you can find them all here. While we can’t cover ALL of the island’s lovely beaches here, I want to give you the top 5 you should plan for on your first, second, third or tenth visit here 🙂
Hapuna Beach State Park
Did you know that Hapuna Beach has been ranked the #1 beach in the USA by Dr. Beach? All you need is a single visit to this amazing family friendly white sand beach with crystal clear water to see why. While on the beach, you can go for a swim, snorkel, try body surfing or bring a book and sunbathe. It’s a lively beach with lots of folks enjoying the waters and the weather. We’ve been lucky enough to experience a few sunsets here and those are breathtaking. Just bring a good camera with you.
Kua Bay
If perfect turquoise water is what you’re after — all you need is to spend an afternoon at Kua Bay. This beach is close by the airport and is easy to get to. We didn’t discover this beauty until our third trip to the Island when we asked our Uber driver which beaches he’d recommend.
Kekaha Kai State Park
This one’s for the adventurous folks who want a secluded place to enjoy the day with their loved ones. You’ll need a 4WD to get there. The road is rocky to say the least but you’ll experience one of Big Island’s best kept secrets.
Anaeho’omalu Bay
If you’re staying by Waikoloa resort areas, this is the closest and easiest beach to get to. The water is calm and you’ll often find other beachgoers enjoying the water either snorkelling, swimming or paddleboarding. There’s a beach hut right on the beach so you can rent snorkelling gear. Of course, we recommend getting your own gear but if you’re out at the beach without gear renting from the Beach Hut is a great idea.
Papakolea Green Sand Beach
We put this last on the list only due to the access. It is an amazing beach you should visit while on the island, however it does require some planning. The beach requires a small hike and the path can be slippery. Be prepared with walking shoes. This is a once in a lifetime beach because there are only two green sand beaches in the United States and just 4 in the whole world. The water can be rough here and there are no lifeguards or services on this beach. The beach is made of crystal green sand mixed with the typical black and white sand you find in the Big Island.
Wondering how the beach got it’s green sand? The green crystals come from olivine contained in the enclosing cinder cove. The olivine is eroded gradually with the ocean waves.