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Magic Sands Beach

4.0 (67 reviews)

Magic Sands Beach Photos

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Right side of beach
Stacy F.

Beautiful white sand and pretty blue water! Great for boogie boarding and relaxing on the beach. Downside is all the people, it's super crowded.

Our girls enjoyed frolicking and playing in the waves.
Navin K.

Small beach about ten minutes south of downtown Kona. We stopped by for some sand and water play on our last evening in Hawai'i. Parking was easy to find on Ali'i drive around 5:30 pm, and we threw our towels on the sand and settled in to watch the sun set. It wasn't too crowded given it's the day before thanksgiving. The girls ran into the water and enjoyed frolicking on the crashing waves, dodging amateur body boarders and excited kids who were being tossed around by the powerful ocean. There were a couple of scary moments but they kept each other accountable and safe, and I was just a few yards away FWIW. Around 6:30, it got too dark to play safely anymore, and we headed back to our hotel. Thank you Magic Sands Beach, Kona, and Hawai'i - for a memorable trip!

Magic Sands before sunset
Mario J.

Wonderful beach. Great waves. Low waves. Sand out. Rocks in. Showers. Restrooms. Sand volleyball court. Lifeguards on duty. Sometimes sparse. Other times dense. Nice water. Smells like sea. Sand in feet. Sand everywhere you couldn't believe. Sunny. Hot. Sometimes cloudy. Overcast. Sunrise early behind the mountain.

Ada Z.

Beautiful beach with white sand. The waters looked pretty calm, but the waves were wild! It was very hard to snorkel here because of the waves, but my toddlers enjoyed making sand castles. I saw a lot of people bring boogie boards here too. We actually passed by this beach several times, and it was always very crowded. We found free parking pretty quickly though!

Magic Sands Beach Kailua-Kona Hi
Bonnie G.

Very small beach with lots of sea turtles to swim with . Be careful at one end there are many rocks and when waves break hard you can be tossed into those very sharp lava rocks. Out of all the beaches we went to , this was probably one of the most hazardous beaches as you definitely need reef shoes, there are giant sea turtles that frequent this tiny beach and the surf can wash them right into you . That's how I met mine, fortunately he was as shocked and kept swimming but it was a super cool experience . last year we never got to go to this because it was closed almost every day due to shark activity . Just be aware.

Rose H.

My favorite part of my entire Hawai'i trip was this beach. So much so that I came back the next day for another full beach day. The water is very clear and warm and there are a lot of areas with shade because of the trees near by. It's so clean and ample parking across the street. Also a cute little cafe next to it if you're craving a drink.

Beach
Andrew H.

This is a great place to observe INSANE, BIG waves in the winter. I'm not sure it's a destination in and of itself, but if you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out. As a beach to hang out on, it's not that great. Reminds me of a small Waikiki "landing strip of sand"-style beach. It's the perfect place to enjoy world-class poke you can buy just down the road.

Feb W.

Had fun in here as the waves are pretty monstrous. That means great for body boarding. My friends and I had a great time on its clear wavy ocean. This is the only beach I swam on big island coz at that time the water ain't warm anywhere coz winter is real In the island. Magic Sands Beach has all the benefits of a picturesque Hawaiian beach experience. The conveniency of a neighborhood park makes every kids happy as well while adults are enjoying surfing. There are food trucks across the street and free parking as well. This beach is famous that on prime times and weekends it gets crowded. Public restroom and outdoor shower is available. There's not much shade in here though so if your worried about the scorching heat of the sand, bring beach umbrellas and make sure you pat sunscreen from time to time. Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps.

Sandy M.

Stopped by the beach after lunch and wow this is such a small beach. There were a lot of people here. The sand is a mix of white and black sand. Waves are pretty big here and there are tons of body surfers. Be careful as there are giant rocks and some are hidden under the sand on the beach. Parking is along the side of the beach and wasn't too hard to find a parking spot on a Monday afternoon.

Sign
Jill M.

No much parking and high volume of visitors each day. Other than these two items, the beach is beautiful when there is sand. Early January there was sand along with waves crashing in. You can certainly get in the water and lifeguards are on duty. Showers and bathrooms are fine, nothing fancy but available and work. Don't expect soap or paper towels, but they flushed and there was TP. No water fountain, but water from the spigot by outdoor showers did me no harm. If you are at the snorkeling beach, Magic Sands is an easy .5 mile walk past some beautiful real estate.

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

Great beach, but certainly gets crowded. One of the few in the area with sand, so worth the crowd.

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

Would not recommend if looking for a nice beach day with family. Limited space, crowded, and a bit of a rough crowd.

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11 months ago

such beautiful silky sand. however very very crowded with little room to boogie board

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4 years ago

Parked across the street. Strong waves when we went and no one really in the water. Limited shade.

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Definitely not a good beach for tourists. It's a locals surf spot. No parking, not much beach space

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

Small, family friendly and right next to condos. Street parking is right across from the beach.

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Ask the Community - Magic Sands Beach

I'm going to Kona at the end of this month, is the sand back or is it still all rocks and high tide?

As of last week its all rocks. Our good friends were there last week

Thinking of a trip to the Kona area in Spring 2020. Can anyone tell me if the sand has come back?

Was there in December and all the beaches we went to including Magic Sands had a full amount of sand.

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Review Highlights - Magic Sands Beach

“Partly cloudy skies kept us cool.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Laaloa Beach - So pretty

Laaloa Beach

4.2(63 reviews)
0.1 mi

Laaloa Bay is a popular recreation area in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Locals call…read morethis beautiful beach Magic Sands (also known as "Disappearing Sands, White Sands and Magic Sands Beach Park").   A Beach For Tourists, A Beach For Locals: Magic Sands is a compact beach, but it is a bit like a Swiss Army knife offers: Bathrooms, lifeguards, tight, but adequate if you get there early, parking, classic white sand, iconic palm trees providing both great ambiance and shade, generally gentle waves, laid back, friendly locals. This is an awesome 'local' beach that is a rare find near Kona because there is actually white sand covering the lava rock. If you know San Diego County, this beach is a cross between Moonlight Beach and Beacons Beach. https://www.yelp.com/biz/moonlight-state-beach-encinitas and Beacons Beach https://www.yelp.com/biz/beacons-beach-leucadia Magic Sands Beach Overview: White sand beach and rocky shoreline. Swimming, surfing. Parking, restrooms, showers, drinking water, lifeguards. Hazardous footing due to lava just barely under the sand. Also, there can be strong currents and waves. Gates open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Just so you know, it isn't the best beach on the Big Island but is the best beach with nearby access to Kailua-Kona. It is one of my favorite beaches. Locals Tip: The sand is just a layer on top of lava rock. The best, safest place to enter the water is in the middle, right in front of the lifeguard tower. Just Why Is It Called 'Magic Sands?'  It is called 'Magic Sands' since the sand, poof, like magic, can immediately disappear when there is a large storm (several times a year), and all the sand is swept off the beach. Later the sand returns, via wave action, after the storm.  Also known as "Magic Sands" or "White Sands Beach", the official name is "Laaloa Beach County Park". During calm weather, it is one of the only fine white sandy beaches in the Kailua-Kona area.  A strong surf break on the shore can be dangerous, but makes it a favorite for bodyboarding by experienced locals, even under moderate surf conditions.   In the Hawaiian language, la'a loa means "very sacred" because there are several Archaeological sites are in the area.  Surf vs. Boogie Boarding: While this beach can rarely offer a surf break, most often the break is hard and fast, and better for boogie boarding. Snorkeling: If there are any waves at all, skip snorkeling, it is just too rough. If the waters are calm, and at higher tides, there is a reef to just north of the beach. Turtles: Because there is sand on the beach, this can be a popular beach to see turtles when the beach isn't crowded. Directions To Magic Sands: 77-650077 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 - Essentially, go south from downtown Konan, along Ali'i Drive for about four miles - along the waterfront. Locals Tip: Just before you arrive at Magic Sands Beach, there is a parking lot on the east side of Ali'i Drive. For more information call the County of Hawai`i Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 961-8311. Magic Sands can sometimes have a major swell. See more pictures at https://movingtokona.com/magic-sands-beach-park/ I would be very appreciative if you could respond below: Was this review Useful / Funny / Cool Read all my reviews here bit.ly/RodsYelpReviews

What a beautiful sandy beach also known as Magic Sands/Disappearing Sands due to the strong surf…read more It was packed here & we ate at the adjoining restaurant which was beautiful with a phenomenal view. (Magic Sands Restaurant). We were able to park for free just across the street. This beach is super small and busy. Note, it is thee only sandy beach near Kona. All the rest are super rocky & dangerous. It has shade, lifeguards, toilet facilities and a little shallow water. Be very careful of that surf & the lava rocks underneath. But the water is so beautiful and clear with a gorgeous turquoise hue. We were told we may see turtles but we didn't today. I'm assuming it was just too busy. I'm sure if we were there super early we may have a better shot at it. Do not miss.

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Laaloa Beach - Having fun

Having fun

Laaloa Beach - Don't be fooled, these beautiful waters can be dangerous. Listen to the life guard and read signs.

Don't be fooled, these beautiful waters can be dangerous. Listen to the life guard and read signs.

Laaloa Beach - Beautiful day

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Beautiful day

Kahalu'u Beach Park - The beach!

Kahalu'u Beach Park

4.4(397 reviews)
1.1 mi

We swim here regularly, year-round. IMHO this is the best all-around snorkeling beach on the…read moreisland, but as with any ocean activity the surf and tide will affect your experience, so ask the lifeguards or the volunteers for advice. This protected bay has over 120 species of resident fish, and usually has clear water. Other than urchins (7 species) there is no marine life to worry about. Turtle sitings are more likely at high tide when their salad bar (the algae on the rocks) is available. Typically from 9 to 3 daily the Reef Teach volunteers have photo guide books and other reference materials available, along with free advice, defog spray, and reef-safe sunscreen. Water access is the narrow and shallow rocky channel in front of the lifeguard station by the parking and pavilion. Swim fins or sand shoes are recommended. The locals value their feet and swim through it even at low tide when it is only a foot deep. Coming back in you can actually swim all the way back to the sandy channel. The water is usually noticeably warmer and clearer away from the entry. The bay is shallow with only a few places that are even 8' deep at high tide. Unless you really need to, don't stand on the bottom or coral - fins and feet damage it.

Snorkele experience was awesome, easy to park and get to the water, people were helpful on…read moreetiquette how to navigate the channel

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Kahalu'u Beach Park - | #intenselypassionatephotography

| #intenselypassionatephotography

Kahalu'u Beach Park - Locals

Locals

Kahalu'u Beach Park - Water is way more blue. Pic not doing justice.

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Water is way more blue. Pic not doing justice.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park - Great Morinda

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

4.6(95 reviews)
6.6 mi

A hidden gem rich in Hawaiian history, wildlife, and outstanding staff!…read more ​If you want to experience authentic Hawaiian history away from the crowded resort beaches, Kaloko-Honokōhau is a must-visit in Kona. ​Walking along the coastal trails gives you an incredible look at ancient Hawaiian engineering. The Kaloko Fishpond (loko iʻa) and massive stone seawalls built without mortar are mind-blowing to see up close. Along the paths, you can also spot ancient petroglyphs carved into the lava rock and historic heiau (temple) sites. ​Highlights of our visit: ​Honu (Green Sea Turtles): We saw multiple sea turtles resting on the shoreline at ʻAiʻōpio Beach near the harbor. Remember to give them plenty of space! (20ft to be exact) ​Cultural History: The park does a fantastic job preserving the spirit of how native Hawaiians lived and farmed aquaculture centuries ago. ​Exceptional Staff (Special shoutout to Ranger K. Cartee!) Park Ranger K. Cartee made our visit extra special. She was so polite, knowledgeable about the land and wildlife, and had absolute wonderful energy while answering all of our questions. When I asked about the walk to the beach, she explained it was about a mile each way from the main lot, but took the extra time to give us a game-changing tip: driving down to the boat yard road leads to a short, easy 10-minute walk instead. That suggestion was a lifesaver for my 70-year-old mother and allowed our whole family to enjoy the trip comfortably! Mahalo K. Cartee for truly carrying an awesome Aloha Spirit! :)

This is a NPS managed site that protects the ancient fish traps and fish catch ponds. centuries old…read more, all by hand to catch fish that come in on the tides to feed. One Way traps. A marvel to imagine

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Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park - Turtle at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Turtle at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

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Magic Sands Beach - beaches - Updated October 2026

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