Makalawena Beach - Kona Coast State Park, Hawaii Big Island

Address:Big Island, Hawaii

Heading north from Kona Airport the beaches of Kekaha Kai State Park are the first beaches you will find on the Kona Coast. Just to clear up the confusion, Kekaha Kai State Park was previously names "Kona Coast State Park" and there are two nice beaches in the park. The southernmost one, Mahai'ula Beach is a white sand beach on Mahai'ula Bay and reached by a dirt road off of Highway 19 just two miles north of the airport. Depending on the season, the beach is popular among surfers or for snorkeling.

Further north, via a 15 minute hike over lava rocks, Makalawena Beach is definitely the more secluded of the two in Kona Coast State Park. Makalawena camping is allowed. On the shores of Puu Alii Bay, the white sand crescent stands out on the Big Island, where ground up lava is the sand of choice. Others have described the sand as being of the "salt and pepper" variety. In any case, artistic travelers will find that they can build interesting structures in the sand by combining chunks of black lava and white coral. Just don't expect many people to see your masterpiece, as Makalawena Beach is well off the beaten path, and in fact is sometimes used by the clothing-optional crowd. Most tourists head further north or are put off by the coastal hike over lava rocks. We say that getting there is half the fun.

As far as facilities, don't expect much. Parking is available and there are portable toilets and picnic areas. Except during periods of high surf, swimming is popular and safe. At other times, surfing is very popular. Snorkeling is available as well, however there are better snorkeling spots along the Big Island's Leeward Coast. If you are looking for a secluded clothing optional beach on the Kona Coast, Makalawena is a good choice.