Best Big Island Beaches (2026)

Kohala Region

#1 Rated Beach on the Big Island

This is a top-rated beach for both locals and visitors. Conde Nast Traveler magazine has often ranked it as one of the top beaches in the US. It is hard to argue with this half-mile stretch of pristine golden sand and crystal blue water.

Several covered pavilions to enjoy an afternoon picnic and restrooms, albeit rather pitiful ones, are available. Occasionally, there is a lifeguard on duty despite the "no lifeguard on duty" sign.

Don't expect a lot of shade on this beach. Consequently, the golden sand heats to an unbearable temperature on a sunny day. The sand reaches 200 feet wide during the summer months, so unless you want steaming toes, wear sandals or water shoes. In the summer, the water remains generally calm, but the surf rises to dangerous levels in the winter. Make sure to monitor conditions carefully before entering. For snorkelers, the south end of the beach provides a variety of fish and coral.

Hapuna Beach State Park

Kailua-Kona Region

#3 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Kua Bay, also called Manini'owali Beach, sprawls across a lovely little pocket of sand. Once difficult to access, the government recently spent a million-dollar to pave a good road through the lava- it's a snap to enjoy this Big Island gem.

Kua Bay beach has full facilities, including restrooms and showers, water, barbecues, and picnic tables. It is trendy on the weekends, not to mention parking can be a nightmare, so you might want to aim for the weekdays.

When the water is calm, swimming is great here - some of the best in Kona. However, if the waves are going, stay out because it can be perilous.

Manini'owali Beach in Kua Bay

South Kona Region

#5 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Two-Step isn't a sand beach at all — it's a flat lava ledge beside the boat ramp at Hōnaunau, named for the two natural rock steps that drop you straight into deep, gin-clear water. As a snorkel and dive site it's arguably the best on the island: a coral wall, reef fish in every direction, and resident green sea turtles, all a few fin-kicks from shore.

It sits right next to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the dramatic place-of-refuge park, so the two pair into one of the Big Island's great half-days. Entry is over sharp lava (reef shoes help) and it only works on calm days — and please respect the adjacent Keoneʻele Cove, a turtle-rest sanctuary where swimming is prohibited.

Two-Step (Hōnaunau)

South Kau Region

#7 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Punaluu- the most easily accessible black sand beach on the island- is a little gem just off Highway 11 near mile marker 55. The thick, coarse grains of black volcanic sand, created by the crashing of waves against lava, encrust the waters of this bay.

Graceful coconut palms enclose the beach, creating a rich strip of beach irresistible to sunbathers of the human and turtle variety.

You are likely to see green sea turtles (honu) lounging on the warm sands or floating in the tiny crevices near the shore during your visit.

Punaluu Black Sand Beach

Kohala Region

#9 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park's reef-protected waters offer child-friendly swimming and a relaxing atmosphere. There are plenty of amenities at this beach, including a lifeguard, picnic tables, and barbecue. Camping is allowed with a permit.

From the south end of the beach, you could follow a coastline trail, Ala Kahakai, to Hapuna Beach. An ambitious project currently under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Service, Ala Kahakai, theoretically will be a coastal trail running 175 miles from Upolu Point in North Kohala to the eastern boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Spencer Beach Park

Kohala Region

#11 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Everyone calls it A-Bay — a long crescent of white sand on the Kohala Coast fronting the Waikoloa resorts, backed by ancient Hawaiian fishponds and palms. An offshore reef breaks most of the swell, giving A-Bay the most reliably calm, swimmable water of any beach on the island.

The gradual sandy bottom is easy for kids, turtles haul out on the sand, and the west-facing arc serves up some of the best sunsets on the coast. Beach-gear and water-sport rentals operate here, with full parking and facilities at the south end.

Anaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay)

Kohala Region

#13 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Pololu Valley Beach will take a short hike to access the beach, so prepare for a bit of adventure. This black sand beach separates the beautiful Pololu Valley from the ocean, is a lovely stretch of fine black sand rimmed with black lava rock and shockingly emerald green beach ground cover. 

Awini Trail leads down to the black sand beach takes approximately half an hour to hike. The dirt and root trail can be steep in places, but the various views of the valley along the way make even part of the walk worth it. You will find the trailhead near the parking lot.

Pololu Valley Beach

Puna Region

#15 Rated Beach on the Big Island

Just about a mile down the road from Ahalanui at the junction of Highway 137 and Pohoiki Road in Puna is one of the most popular beaches in the area. 

Due to the most recent lava flow of Kilauea in 2018, a volcano eruption formed the *new* Pohoiki Black Sand Beach (the area in front of the Pohoiki boat launch, to be exact). This beach park was highly fortunate to have survived the lava flow activity.

Eruption almost filled Pohoiki Bay with lava, but the flow stopped just 230 ft. from the harbor.

Isaac Hale 'Pohoiki' Beach Park