5 BEST SNORKELING SPOTS ALONG THE KONA COAST IN HAWAII

The best snorkeling spots on the Big Island are found off the west coast beaches of the Big Island. Here, the water is clearest, and the waves are smaller compared to the other side of the island.

Below I summarize the 5 most popular spots that are closest to Kona.

🤿TWO STEP AT HONAUNAU – Honaunau Bay is often referred to as the “City of Refuge”, after the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park (also know as – you guessed it – the City of Refuge). The Travel Channel named Honaunau Bay one of “America’s Best Beaches 2004”. A big reason for this is that due to a very advantageous layout of the bay, the water is almost always calm and the waters have exceptional visibility most of the year.

This spot is often rated the second best place on the Big Island for snorkeling after Captain Cook. The waters are usually clear and the average depth is about 20ft. Often you can see pods of dolphins swimming close to shore. There is a very easy place to enter the water called Paeʻa or “Two Step”. It is at the end of a finger of lava and easy to find because you will see lots of people getting in and out of the water.

DIRECTIONS

To get to the city of refuge, drive 23 miles south of Kona over highway 11. There is no dedicated parking lot so you have to leave your car along the road. Because of this, and because the sky will often become cloudy later in the day, mornings are the best time to snorkel here. If you can make it early, we recommend that you get in the water no later than 10 A.M. There are no concession stands or showers.  Remember to bring your own food and water.  There are port-a-potty restrooms available.

Distance from Kona: 23 miles (40 minutes by car).

🤿KAHALUʻU BEACH PARK – Welcome to a real life aquarium! Kahaluʻu is a wide protected bay on the Kona coast just a few miles south of Kailua-Kona town center and offers some of the island’s best and most easily accessible snorkeling. Beneath the surface of Kahaluʻu Bay’s crystal clear, brilliant blue waters, you will come face to face with sea turtles, coral heads, and a variety of brightly colored tropical fish.

Kahaluʻu bay is a great snorkeling beach.

DIRECTIONS

Kahaluʻu Bay is about 5 miles south of Kailua-Kona town center. Most people access it by car, but it can also be reached by the Kona Trolley, by bike, or simply by walking along scenic Aliʻi Drive, depending on how far away you are staying.

Distance from Kona: 4.9 miles (14 minutes by car).

🤿KING KAM (KAMAKAHONU) BEACH – Kamakahonu is also know as King Kam Beach or Kids’ Beach. It is a small beach most suited for snorkeling and sunbathing in the heart of Kailua Kona. You can find this beach between the Kailua pier and the King Kamehameha hotel right on Alii Drive.

The name Kamakahonu comes from “Ka Maka Honu” which means “the turtle eye” in the Hawaiian Language. Unfortunately, the rock that gave the beach its name has now been covered by the Kailua pier.

DIRECTIONS

Kamakahonu Beach is on the north of Kailua Bay. Follow the in front of Ali’i drive to the north (keep the ocean on your left hand) and walk to the pier. The beach is directly behind the pier in front of the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

Distance from Kona: 0 miles (downtown Kona).

🤿ANAEHOʻOMALU (“A”) BAY – A crescent shaped salt and pepper sand beach fringed with swaying palm trees, Anaeho’omalu Bay (pronounced as “ā’-nāe-ho’o-mā’lu”, and often simply referred to as A Bay) is one of the most scenic and relaxing spots on the Kohala Coast to spend a beach day.

This is a family friendly beach that is ideal for a range of ocean activities and serves up a stunning photo-worthy sunset at the end of the day.

DIRECTIONS

A Bay is about 40 minutes drive north from downtown Kailua-Kona. To reach A-Bay, turn off Highway 19 toward the ocean at Waikoloa Beach Drive. Pass Queen’s Marketplace on your left. Before reaching the Marriott Hotel, turn left at the intersection opposite the Kings Shops, onto Ku’ualil Place. Continue straight until you see the gravel public parking lot. Walk about 2 minutes to the beach.

Distance from Kona: 25.6 miles (37 minutes by car).

🤿WAIALEA BEACH (BEACH 69) – The best reefs at this beach are on the southern side of the bay, but there is also plenty of coral around the rocky prominence inside the bay and close to the rocky point on the right (north) side of the beach. The weak point for snorkeling here is the possible murky water. Snorkeling here is best with calm ocean conditions.

DIRECTIONS

The easiest way to reach Waialea beach from Kona is to take highway 19 north about 23 miles past the Waikoloa resorts. Turn to the left on the exit after you pass the resorts, onto Puako Beach Drive. You have gone too far and need to turn around if you see the exit to Hapuna Beach.

Once you are on the Puako beach drive, take the first right onto the Old puako road. Read the numbers on the telephone pole and turn left between poles 69 and 70 (about half a mile).

Distance from Kona: 31.3 miles (44 minutes by car).

Good to know: Please remember to use reef-safe sun screen to prevent sunburn while snorkeling and to help protect our reefs!

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