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    Spencer State Beach Park

    4.0 (44 reviews)

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    Barbecues and picnic tables near water at Spencer State Beach Park
    Michael S.

    Sand and shade! A visit to the Spencer State Beach is a fun outing for families and tourists alike thanks to a large flat beach (with calm waves) surrounded by large trees protecting guests from the sun. It's not the softest sand or biggest beach, but it's free and in Hawaii, so, yeah, it's cool. Ohai'ula Beach is the main lure to the park. It is a large flat stretch of white somewhat-rough sand with a very gentle underwater slope shielded by the long shallow reef directly offshore and extensive harbor landfill to the north. The protection from offshore winds and waves makes this a fantastic Big Island option for young children or cautious adults. My in-laws were more in love with the shaded areas (some with picnic tables) that gave all of a chance to relax enjoying the breeze in the most calming way possible. Life may not get much better than that. The free parking and location next to the Puukoholā Heiau (famous temple built by Kamehameha I) mean Spencer State Beach Park is easy to find and visit. A lifeguard tower onsite also provides a sense of safety while facilities include restrooms, beach showers, and a pavilion, There are also grassy lawns, a camping area, and tennis courts. Spencer State Beach Park is a good park with safer swimming than many other parks on Hawaii. I'm also a fan of the sand and shade.

    Shade trees
    Ken T.

    Spencer Beach is a great place for a picnic on the beach. There are beautiful shade trees and plenty of picnic benches. There are spots to camp as well. If you're hoping to splash around in the ocean it is not the beach to choose. There is a few feet of sand, a 45 degree drop in the sand and then rocks. You can only go about 6 ft into the water before you get to rocks. Few waves make it nice in general for small children but you can't go far into the water. Nice trees though.

    Beach
    Gabriela S.

    Park is very nice, it has parking, showers and bathrooms. Good for kids. Turtle sightings!!! Be careful not to step on the reef you could damage it.

    Rocky Beach Area
    Kristian D.

    I was surprised about Spencer State Beach Park. This was not a planned trip, but I got some take out plate lunch and headed for the closest beach in the area. This park is located north of the Kona airport near the seaport. Access and parking are free, although you may have to walk a little to reach the facilities. The beach is rather large for the island. The big island of Hawaii lacks a lot of large beaches, so it was surprising to see such a large beach. It must be fairly unknown since it was rather sparce - although there was a woman being buried by her family. The sand was nice with a decent ocean shore nice for young kids and wading. The park also includes a great covered pavilion right on the rocky shore. It is made of rock and open to the waves with a great back staircase heading right to the water. The pavilion is also next to a large grove of tress for shaded picnic tables and the occasional young man getting a scandalous tan! There are several showers including the feet so you do not need to take home too much sand as a souvenir. Overall, I highly recommend visiting Spencer State Beach Park. It is a very nice beach on the Kona side of Hawaii still relatively unknown to the tourists. Grab some great plate lunch and relax among the trees and waves.

    Sea turtle
    Jen S.

    Beautiful white sand beach! Located on the Kona side off Hwy. 270 it is connected to the Kawaihae Harbor. If my mind serves me correctly, going north, you'll turn left into the harbor and then keep going all the way down until you can go no farther, reaching a parking lot. My family came here just before the sun was setting. The waves are very calm. It's a great place for just relaxing, having a picnic, or wading into the water. Here, you'll also find more sea turtles relaxing on the beach!

    David P.

    A quiet, relaxing beach, with great facilities and typically a moderately sized crowd. Lifeguard, restrooms, body wash stations, picnic tables in the shade, nice swimming beach, and no admission! Need I say more? (I'm getting phone signals here too!)

    Great place for camping BBQing swimming or just a rest stop
    Cyrus M.

    Spencers as it's fondly called by locals, is a great family beach with swimming that's protected from the waves by a break wall, there are big pavilions for large groups, picnic tables, basketball courts, barbecue pits, outdoor showers and indoor showers. Permit's are required for over night camping and can be obtained by going in person the the Waimea Parks and Recreation office or calling (808)961-8311. The views are spectacular and an added bonus is that Hawaii County lifeguard are on duty during daylight hours. I really like this beach not only because it's family friendly but it's a nice place for couples or singles to lay out, also a very short walk to MauMae another Beautiful white sand beach that is less populated all day.

    waves
    Vivian N.

    The beach I want to review is not actually Spencer Beach but one that is nearby. I suppose it's somewhat interchangeable with Spencer Beach, but I've also heard it referred to as "69" beach as it's right off of mile 69 (where Spencer Beach is located). In order to get here, you need to go to Spencer Beach first. Once parked, you'll notice a gate that leads off to a dusty, desert trail near the port-o-potties. Walk this trail for ten minutes until you see a small beach clearing. This hidden area looks just like Spencer Beach, but it's much quieter and more secluded. It almost feels like your own private beach! Soft, white sand. Calm waters. And very quiet. If you want to upgrade your Spencer Beach experience, take the few minutes to walk over here. Easily one of my favorite beaches on the Big Island.

    Jennifer M.

    Nice little beach. Local families in tents barbecuing and enjoying Hawaii. Awesome covered patio area with clean bathrooms. Way less crowded than Hapuna beach. Just a few miles up the road.

    Theresa C.

    Gorgeous beach!! I was on my way to a skydive appointment for 6am when I got a text cancelling the appointment due to bad weather. It was 5:30 in the morning and nothing else was open so I yelped beaches in the area so I can watch the sunrise. Omg I am so happy to have found this beach. It was such a peaceful place and the water was so calm! It's a good place for camping and seems very family friendly.

    View of beach

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Be careful this beach has sea urchins. Not the safest of beaches to swim in. Bathrooms were locked up.

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    11 months ago

    Nice quiet beach with calm and shallow water. Free parking. I'm docking a star because all of the restrooms were closed.

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    2 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Beautiful beach! The water is calm. This park is pleasant and peaceful. I will definitely visit again.

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    13 years ago

    white sandy beach. kid friendly. gorgeous sunset spot.

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    7 years ago

    Great beach. It had nice sand and not very crowded, clean and quiet. The water was much calmer than other nearby beaches.

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    Review Highlights - Spencer State Beach Park

    If you want to upgrade your Spencer Beach experience, take the few minutes to walk over here.

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    Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach - Magic moment

    Kauna'oa Beach - Mauna Kea Beach

    4.7(88 reviews)
    2.1 km

    Wow, how lucky we are! We got a spot! Usually, they only allow 10 parking spots open but in the…read moretemporary lot, there's many more guest beach parking The security guard at the entrance will let you know if you are able to come through and he will give you a parking pass here. They will give you a parking pass if there are spots open. Currently there is construction to build a larger parking lot to allow more than 10 parking spots so you will be sent to another parking area that allows a lot more spots. Everyone is excited for the new parking lot. This beach is really fun for boogie boarding, building sand castles, and (if you like small waves )surfing . The walk from the temporary parking lot to the beach was really nice included a lot of trees, flowers, and a garden. Tucked away behind the garden a gift shop. The gift shop also sells boogie boards, but you can bring your own

    In my humble opinion, this is the most lively beach on The Big Island. It's not black sand, it's…read morenot great for boogie boarding, it's also not packed with tourists. It's a gorgeous beach adjacent to Mauna Kea Resort, a pretty exclusive hotel and part of the autograph collection of Marriott. This is a great beach to walk end to end, in the water or on the beach. You can snorkel or swim out your one of the platforms or just lay and work on your tan. It's my solo go to beach while on the island. Afterwards there is a great beach restaurant to meander over to and imbibe and nibble. Not always an easy beach to gain access to but well worth the effort.

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    Spencer State Beach Park - beaches - Updated May 2026

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