Amazing snorkeling! Free parking within walking distance…read more Our son loved the tide pools. You'll see so much ocean life here. Not too busy either when we went, this was a very family friendly spot!

Snorkel spot. Get it done. No sand, no beach just lava rock and reefs with lots of fish and sea…read moreurchins. Proceed with caution but once in the water it's pretty amazing down there. Watch for the signs that tell you where to get in and out of. There is actually a slimy step to use. Coming out I accidentally slipped and cut my finger on the slimy rock. Scared me as I thought I might have touched a sea urchin. Parking is interesting but we were lucky and found a spot on the street. You are greeted with signs that say Pharmaceuticals detected in the water please use restroom before entering water. Ewww yuck! That kind of freaked me out.

We are sitting and watching the surf and the bay. Very…read morepeaceful. No rain, Grey skies An hour so far, doing nothing is doing something.

I passed by the Bay on my way back to Hilo from Kona. It has a beautiful view. There is free…read moreparking but the lot is a bit small so depending when you go it could be full. I didn't snorkel but lots of people were. I was on a time restraint so I didn't stay too long. I just checked out the views and left. Can't wait to come back and see more of this amazing Bay.........

Manini Beach was a fun short beach trip when we were in the Captain Cook area. Note that this beach…read moreis located in a neighborhood so you have to do a bit of walking from where you park. It's small but clean and they have good snorkeling. It is located next to homes so be respectful, don't litter and don't overstay. On our trip, we even saw a sea turtle for a while and did not get in the water to give it plenty of space since it was near the shore. Don't harass locals and respect their space. There's a ton of lei flowers on the trees for great pictures, but do not pick flowers, they do not belong to you. It's a beautiful spot for a quick stop or dip in the water. It has. Grass and rocky areas and a few picnic tables for guests. There was a lady at the entrance, I believe a resident welcoming people and telling us the rules. She was super nice and gave us oranges! We stayed for maybe an hour or two to ensure we left room for other visitors. We did not bring many items except towels, snorkeling gear and our towels so we had no trash to throw away. It was incredible to see this hidden gem but it's definitely not a beach where you can linger or spend all day. There are no bathrooms or places to get water or eat so make this just a pit stop and be sure to respect the space of locals. DO NOT block their driveways or homes. This beach is also more suitable for adults than kids since it can be wavy and is very rocky.

In driving around Captain Cook area, we found Manini beach. This is a true find and the park only…read moreallows 50 people in at a time. There is area to eat at picnic tables and grass area to sit and enjoy the beach along with one entry point to go in the water. Snorkeling is said to be good, although we did not get in the water with our visit this time, but will definitely next time we are here. the tide pools are also super cool to look at. There is a short path that takes you another end of the beach, where you can sit and watch whales if it is the right time of the year or just enjoy a good book in the sun. There is a small parking lot that you can park in for free, with maybe 10 spots. I also so loved the small stand that you could buy cold water, fruit and snacks. They have one port-a-potty located at the park. There was a person that greets people and tells you the rules of the park as you come in and gives you lots of information.

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.

Great beach! It has shade and some good views. Definitely a good place to bring the family as it is…read moresomewhat protected. Parking is expensive kind of a bummer. The area itself didn't have much amenities, but definitely have palm trees and shade, which was nice in the afternoon. Happy to make it on our first day

This beautiful beach is well hidden and parking is very limited. We arrived about 10:00 and that…read moreseems to be a good time if you are not one of the first to arrive earlier in the day. Cars who have been here for a few hours will start to leave and spots open up. There is no fee to enter and the showers are nicely sun warmed. But do note that these black sands are HOT and either wear sandals or remain in the shade of the trees. Your feet can burn quickly. There are random picnic tables in the shade for anyone to use but bring a sun umbrella and sand chairs if you have them for sitting on the beach. Bring snorkel gear and watch for the turtles and fish who enjoy the shoreline reef. But also be aware that the tide is strong and you can be swept along and scraped by the reef and rocks by surprise. The underwater view is lively and fish abundant so take your time and float with open eyes. There are camp sites for those who wish to do so. And watch for dolphins who rest near shore during the day. It is a lovely beach that is worth visiting.

My husband and I were married in Hawaii, and we've been back three times since. This has always…read morebeen our fav beach. My husband snorkeled with dolphins there. It's just a magical little place! Make sure you arrive early to secure a parking spot and a great spot on the beach.

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.

This beach can get quite crowded, but it boasts an excellent restaurant right next to it. It…read morefeatures a volleyball area for family fun, pristine white sand, and minimal rocks.

This spot is off the beaten path, with no real signs leading to the sight. Although I had…read moreresearched it, we really arrived by accident and were just exploring. Goats wandering around, beautiful views and a little hike to get to the water across burial grounds. The views were really amazing. We came here twice, once during a rain storm and the other on a beautiful sunny morning. This is a special spot that you should not miss. B

Fantastic. Can't say enough. Quiet amazing place to eat a dinner and watch the sunset. Ocean…read morecrashing into lava rock all around you. The view is outrageous.

This park is beautiful and sacred. You can learn indigenous Hawaiian history & culture here and…read moreexperience serenity in this very special place. I especially enjoyed walking on the lava rocks to the protected areas where I saw fish everywhere! The water is clear and perfect. This park is large and I recommend that you have at least two hours here to soak it all in. There are hiking trails and picnic areas too. There are clean bathrooms, water fountain & a small gift shop as well. Note: For visitors concerned with accessibility, it may be a little tough to access the beach areas as the terrain is sandy, rocky & uneven. I did read that beach wheelchairs are available at the visitor center though. Mahalo.

This is the most sacred of the Hawaiian Parks, which was used as safe harbor during wars between…read moreislands. Many of the historical warrior chiefs were buried here and represented the proud heritage of healing those seeking refuge from the fighting. The rehabilitation first included healing wounds and feeding the starving warrior back to health. Next, the mental spirit was revived and trained how to live in peace.

The park is small, but the waves are amazing! It's so strong, when we arrive, husband is so excited…read moreto walk to the ocean side, and a huge wave come, hit him, he got all wet from to to toe. Hahaha.

Lots of historical significance and locals fishing ... plus one stunning sunset ... were the…read morehighlights of our visit to this free state park. Kealakekua Bay was home to thousands on January 17, 1779 when Captain James Cook "discovered" people living on the Big Island of Hawaii and made contact here. This was one year after a brief Jan. 1778 visit to Waimea on Kauai. At Kealakekua, Cook and his crew were initially welcomed with gifts and special treatment; however, on February 14, 1779, the captain was killed at this site while attempting to kidnap Hawaiian King Kalaniōpuu-a-Kaiamamao. A 27-foot white obelisk was placed in 1874 on the shore in memory of the British explorer. Today, the Captain Cook Monument can be accessed via a 1.9-mile (one-way) hike from the uplands via the historic Ka'awaloa Trail. Otherwise, joining a kayaking tour is the only other option to see the memorial. Don't emphasize seeing it up close too much because there are plenty of other areas of significance and beauty in the park. Near the small parking lot at Napo'opo'o Beach is Hikiau Heiau. This sacred luakini (human sacrifice) temple is dedicated to the Hawaiian god, Lono and associated with funeral rites. Originally, the black volcanic rock structure built by King Kalani'opu'u was over 250-feet long, 100-feet wide, and 16-feet tall. A small stone platform on top is believed to have been the location of the lele (altar). It is now a protected religious site and visitors are expected to treat it as such. The park is relatively compact ... and so were parts of the road taken to get there. We followed Google maps which led us on an "off-road trail" for a few miles on the way there and then a paved road on the way out. The driving experience kind of added some excitement to the adventure. On-site is a picnic pavilion, restrooms, water fountains, trash cans, and one scenic viewpoint of waves crashing into the rocky shore (very little sand) ... and the stunning Hawaiian sunset. Since the bay is a Marine Life Conservation District many people enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking here to see the coral, tropical fish, and spinner dolphins (Nai'a) in the sheltered wonderful waters. The small parking lot of Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park was full when we arrived as many locals were fishing along the shore as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. The people were also VERY friendly and helped us get a spot for the vehicle ... and place in our hearts to take in the beauty of this famous historical site on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Right off Ali HWy with marking along the street. There are waves which makes this beach perfect for…read moreboogie boards or just riding the waves. There's a lifeguard that goes on the megaphone to warn people to stay away from the rocks, watch your kids, and go under the bigger waves because those waves hit! It was so fun. It's fun watching people ride the waves too. It's not the biggest area but so beautiful. There are a lot of people so it can get crowded. I had so much fun!

The view was epic, the rocks not so conducive to snorkeling or swimming. Lots of visitors, not the…read moresolitude I need when visiting such a stunning place. Historical area, lots to learn about the fishing folks and how they treating their fishing grounds with such respect, much for us to learn from.