Kekaha Kai State Park

Address: HI-19, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Hours: Monday - Sunday 7:00am to 7pm

Parking: Free

Directions: Located on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway look for signs for park entrance.

4 wheel drive highly recommend.

Additional resources for Kekaha Kai State Park Information:

Kekaka Kai State Park - Hawaii State Parks Official Website

Kekaha Kai State Park - Tripadvisor Official Website

Kekaha Kai State Park - Yelp Website

Interestingly enough you can go for 20 years like some have without even knowing this place exists. Most visitors and residents of the Big Island won't even take the time to go down the dirt road less travelled. Please do not make that mistake. This beach and park are worth every single moment once you are there. Yes the bumpy non paved big holed turns are tough to maneuver but again once you make it you will realize why so many have come to call this park one of the best in all of Hawaii and beyond. Often also referred to as Kona State Park, the beaches and colorful waters are top notch. The section of Mahai'ula has swimmable areas for everyone alike and even great for bodyboarding. There is a picnic area too for a great lunch or early dinner.

In the winter months waves can easily grow over 3 feet and this place should be experienced with high caution when entering the waters. Otherwise, a super enjoyable location and one of the Big Island's best kept secrets to explore and get away from it all. Not many locations like this can be enjoyed privately where it feels like the beach is all to yourself. The drive down to the parking area is tough and rugged, not for everyone and rental vehicles should not be used. 4 wheel drive suv and trucks are more then just recommended. They are a must.Sea turtles are bountiful and please respect them as they are protected. They are not to be touched or bothered. This beach and park is one of the main hidden attractions on the Big Island. Not many people know about it and it remains to be so for all these years.

The actual drive down the mostly unpaved roads is somewhere around 1.8 miles give or take a bit. Composed of 1,600 acres of beautiful black lava, and pristine pacific ocean, Kekaha Kai State Park lives up to it's exotic Hawaiian location. Headed down highway 19 north of Kona the exit into this park is in between mile marker number 90 and 91. Please be super careful and drive slowly all the way down. The holes in the dirt road going down are large and jagged. There is a third hidden beach with more work required to access it called Makalawena. Super popular with those who really know the Big Island and love to explore it's low density areas. Small pools of water are sometimes formed with the springs bubbling up. A place to be enjoyed for many years. These special parks we hope will remain untouched and unspoiled so that the best of the best in exotic top beaches, continue to be what they are. Priceless.

Photos of Kekaha Kai State Park: