Kayak to Makalawena Beach

This morning we put in our Kayaks at Kua Bay (Maniniowali Beach) right as the park opened up at 9:00 AM. On board we had our snorkeling gear, our waterproof cameras and a cooler with kalua pig sandwiches inside. Our goal was to kayak to Makalawena Beach - a secluded and austere beach that is difficult to access. We talked about attempting this a while ago in a previous blog post but were unsuccessful - today we were determined to do it! Luckily, the weather smiled upon us with calm seas and sunshine. So, we loaded our kayak and carried it down over the rocks from the pavement to the bleached-white sandy beach below and started paddling.

Ahead and to the north there was already a dive boat anchored atop the reef nearby and our curiosity almost pulled us in that direction to investigate the diving conditions there - but we were focused on our goal of reaching Makalawena (many say this is the prettiest beach on the island...) We started paddling to the south and the scenery was spectacular. The waters of Kua Bay are many different shades of blue - from emerald to a light and bright blue, to a darker navy blue where the reef is below. We continued and passed the large mound of a hill to our left and noticed for the first time a row of houses near its base - I wonder, more vacation rentals - or perhaps exclusive beach bungalows for the rich and famous?

As we kept paddling beyond this cove, we began to see the strand of trees that borders the northern end of Makalawena and we knew we were not far. As we paddled, the waters were so clear that we could make out glimpses of the vast reef below us. On several occassions, I lowered myself into the water with a mask and snorkel to marvel at the underwater topography and corals - the reef was beautiful. By now, we could make out a glimpse of thegently sloping dunes at Makalawena. The sand there is a special shade of white and could be seen shining in the distance, surrounded by lava rocks and underbriush. As we stared at the beach we were dissappointed by seeing a few people already on the beach - we were hoping to be the only ones there...

As we approached the northen edge of the beach, we notice a very shallow reef shelf below us with vibrant yellow and blue hued colors. We decided to anchor the kayak and snorkel the reef below us. We dropped our anchor on a patch of sand at the bottom and saw a thriving reef below us in about 20 feet of water. We spent a short while snorkeling and free diving above the reef. Then we finally decided it was time to paddle in to shore - at Makalawena!

We navigated the approach avoiding lava rocks and a shallow reef and were pushed by surging waves the final distance onto the immacculate beach - we were finally there! The beach was better than I imagined and better than any piuctures could capture. The sand was perfect - soft, fine, and firm under our bare feet. The azure waters shined and the white sand contrasted starkly next to the dried lava rocks and surrounding green shrubbery. The waves lapped on shore on the beach and pounded the lava rocks sending sea spray into the air. Makalawena is actually three beach crescents located side by side to each other - we had landed on the center crescent. We spent some time exploring and photographing the beach and eventually sat on the lava rocks to enjoy our sandwiches before paddling back to Kua Bay. It was a wonderful day! Right now, my legs ache a bit because I forgot to add sunblock to them and they are a bit sun burnt...

Big Island Has No Beaches?

I recently spoke with friends of mine that took a trip to Hawaii a few years ago. I asked them what island they went to and they responded "the Big Island - you know, the island with no beaches!" Needless to say, I was shocked that they thought of the Big Island as a place with no beaches!

Certainly, there is no Waikiki equivalent on the Big Island, but any visitor or resident will let you know there are plenty of beaches on the Big Island to satisfy anyones beach-going taste. I immediately guessed that my friends probably stayed in a hotel that did not have an adjacent beach. I was right, they stayed at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay - which is perched on lava sea cliffs overlooking the ocean, but with no beach in the vicinity. It is too bad that my friends did not inquire with the hotel staff or any of the slew of tourist guides to find out that there are many great beaches on the island and some very close by.


If you are not staying in a hotel in the resort-laden sunny Kohala Coast, you will have to drive to the beach. But once you get there, your trip would be well-worth it. Instead of long, established beaches such as Waikiki, the Big Island boasts dozens of smaller beaches surrounded by natural beauty (instead of the towering skyline of hotels and condos). You will find every variety of beach - white sand, black sand, grey sand, and even a green sand beach. Some are located just off the main roads with paved parking lots, showers, and bathrooms - such as Kahaluu Beach (Kona) and Hapuna Beach State Park (Kohala). Others, like Makalawena Beach (Kohala) are more austere and require you to hike to reach them. There many secluded beaches that you may be the only one there or just one of a small handful of people - such as Kekaha Kai State Park (Kohala).

If you like undisturbed natural beauty, you will love the beaches of the Big Island. Even popular beaches like Kua Bay (Kohala) and Punaluu Black Sand Beach (Ka'u) are set against their natural surroundings - be it dried lava beds or clusters of shady palm trees. This is the Hawaii we day-dream about. The fact is you could visit a different beach each day of your vacation on the Big Island.

Check out our Big Island Beach Guide for reviews, photos, and maps of all the beaches on the Big Island. We detail how to get to the beaches and which ones are best for sun-bathing, swimming, and snorkeling.

Nice Beaches Near Kailua-Kona

The many tourists that stay in the glitzy Kohala Resorts (such as the Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Mauna Kea, etc.) will probably miss out on some really nice beaches right at the edge of the town of Kailua-Kona. Several of our favorite beaches are located right on Ali'i Drive, at the southern edge of Kailua-Kona. Magic Sands Beach (Laa Loa Beach) and Kahalu'u Beach Park are two must-visit beaches.

Magic Sands Beach Park is a small strip of white sand with sparkling waters. The main attraction here are the fantastic waves that make for some great body-boarding or body-surfing. The waves can be severe in the winter, so keep an eye out for the rogue wave that can wreck havoc! This beach is usually packed with beach goers and spectators watching the wave-riders.

Kahalu'u Beach Park is another great beach, located just south of Magic Sands. The main attraction here is not for what's on land, but for the wonderful under-sea life. You have the unique opportunity to see and swim with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle here at Kahaluu. Although an endangered species, you can see them basking in the sun on the beach and swimming in the shallow waters here. Make sure you bring your snorkel gear - you will enjoy the abundance of tropical fish swimming nearby as well as the vibrant coral reef. The waters are normally quite calm - this is a perfect beach for the whole family.