Jennies FAVORITE beach!

Directions and Access to Mahaiula Bay

Plan on arriving early as parking fills up pretty quickly, especially on the weekend. Kekaha Kai State Park is just a couple of miles north of the Kona airport. Access to Mahaiula Bay is between mile markers 90 and 91 on Highway 19. The lava road to the shoreline is rough so take it slow, especially if you are driving a car and not a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. The end of the road is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the highway. Continue on foot to your right (north) for 5 minutes to the beach.

Makalawena might be the best beach on the Big Island that can't be reached by road unless you have a lifted 4-wheel drive car. You can walk into it from the Mahiulas beach I listed. Here are the directions:

Trailheads: It's possible to hike to Makalawena beach from either the north or the south:

Trailhead #1: Take Hwy. 19 north of Kailua-Kona and Kona International Airport. The dirt road to Makalawena Beach is located just south of the paved road to Kua Bay, between mile markers 88 and 89. 2-wheel drive vehicles can park just off of the highway before the road begins to get rough. 4-wheel drive vehicles can continue for 1.6 miles of very rough road to a gate and small parking area just north of Makalawena Beach. There are no services of any kind at either parking area.

Trailhead #2: Take Hwy. 19 north of Kailua-Kona and Kona International Airport. Find the road to Mahai'ula Bay between the 90 and 91 mile markers. There are restrooms and picnic tables at this trailhead. There is no water.

Kua Bay, officially Maniniʻōwali in the Kekaha Kai State Park, is a stunning white‑sand beach with crystal clear turquoise water and dramatic lava‑rock outcroppings. It’s perfect for sunning, boogie‑boarding (especially in winter), snorkeling when the ocean is calm, and watching sunsets.

Directions: From Kona, head north on Highway 19. Between mile markers 88 & 89, turn off across from the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery onto Kua Bay Access Road. Follow the paved road about 1.4‑1.5 miles down to the parking lot, then walk a short distance to the beach. The park is open roughly 8 AM to 7 PM.

For ocean fun right in the heart of Kailua-Kona, Kona Boys offers kayak, paddle board, and snorkel rentals at beautiful Kamakahonu Bay. Whether you're looking to paddle with dolphins, snorkel, or just relax with beach gear, they’ve got everything you need! Perfect for an easy, breezy adventure just steps from town!

One of our favorite spots on the island is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park—it's such a wild, otherworldly place. You can walk through lava tubes, see massive craters, and if the volcano is active, maybe even catch a glimpse of lava! It's definitely worth the trip if you’ve never been.

Kahalu‘u Bay, just south of Kailua‑Kona off Ali‘i Drive (near mile marker 5, look for small blue & white St. Peter’s Church), is one of the best places on the Big Island to try surfing if you’ve never done it before. The bay has a protective reef wall and gentle inside breaks, which soften the waves and make them friendlier for beginners. There are several surf schools right across the street (like Kahalu‘u Surf & Sea) offering lessons and board rentals. The beach also has restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and lifeguards—just get there early, because parking fills up fast.