The Big Island has something no other Hawaiian island can match: beaches in three different colors. White sand from ancient coral, black sand from pulverized lava, and green sand from olivine crystals. A mineral that forms deep in the Earth's mantle and surfaces through volcanic eruptions. Beyond the color novelty, the beaches here range from championship-caliber white sand crescents to hidden coves accessible only by hike, with some of the best snorkeling in the Pacific tucked into protected bays along the way.
White Sand Beaches
1. Hapuna Beach
Hapuna Beach regularly tops "best beaches in the world" lists, and it deserves every ranking. Half a mile of wide, white sand with turquoise water and a gentle slope into the ocean. The sand is soft, the water is warm, and the bodyboarding is excellent. Lifeguards on duty.
Best for: Swimming, bodyboarding, sunbathing | Parking: Large lot, $5 fee | Snorkeling: Moderate (north end near rocks) | Crowds: Busy on weekends, manageable weekday mornings | Location: Kohala Coast
2. Mauna Kea Beach
Mauna Kea Beach is Hapuna's slightly more exclusive neighbor, a crescent of white sand fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The water is ridiculously clear, the sand is powder-fine, and the setting (palm trees, perfectly manicured grounds) feels like a postcard. Public access with limited parking (arrive before 9 AM on weekends).
Best for: Swimming, beauty, honeymooners | Parking: Limited public lot (30 spots) | Snorkeling: Good along the rocky points | Location: Kohala Coast
3. Kua Bay (Manini'owali)
Kua Bay is a tucked-away white sand crescent between lava flows that feels more remote than it actually is. Brilliant water clarity, protected bay, and spinner dolphins in the mornings. Zero shade, so bring an umbrella.
Best for: Swimming, bodyboarding, dolphins | Parking: Small lot, fills by 10 AM weekends | Snorkeling: Good along edges | Location: North Kona
4. Waialea Bay (Beach 69)
Beach 69 is the locals' beach. A calm, tree-shaded stretch of white sand with excellent snorkeling and fewer tourists than Hapuna. The trees provide natural shade, which is rare on Big Island beaches. The name comes from the old mile marker on the highway.
Best for: Snorkeling, shade, escaping crowds | Parking: Roadside, free | Location: Kohala Coast
5. Spencer Beach
Spencer Beach is the best family beach on the island. A small, fully protected cove with lifeguards, showers, picnic pavilions, and calm water that rarely has any wave action. Perfect for toddlers and nervous swimmers. Good snorkeling on the left side.
Best for: Families with young kids, beginners | Parking: Large free lot | Location: Near Kawaihae
6. Makalawena Beach
Makalawena is the hidden gem that earns its reputation. Pristine white sand, turquoise water, almost no people, because getting there requires a 20-30 minute hike over rough lava rock. No facilities, no shade, no easy access. That's the filter that keeps it uncrowded and perfect.
Best for: Adventure seekers, seclusion | Parking: Roadside at trailhead | How to get there: Hike 1.5 miles over lava from Kekaha Kai State Park | Location: North Kona
Black Sand Beaches
7. Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
Punalu'u is the most accessible and photographed black sand beach in Hawaii. The jet-black sand is made from lava that shattered when it entered the ocean. Hawaiian green sea turtles haul out on this beach daily. You'll almost certainly see several basking on the black sand. Do not touch or approach within 10 feet.
Best for: Photography, turtle viewing | Parking: Large free lot | Swimming: Rough currents, wading only | Location: Ka'u district, between Kona and Hilo on the southern route
8. Richardson Beach (Hilo)
Richardson Ocean Park is Hilo's gem. A small black sand beach with protected tide pools, abundant turtles, and the best snorkeling on the east side. Far fewer tourists than any Kona beach. Read more in our snorkeling guide.
Best for: Snorkeling, tide pools, turtles | Parking: Free lot | Location: Hilo
Green Sand Beach
9. Papakōlea (Green Sand Beach)
Green Sand Beach is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. The olivine crystals that give it its color come from a 49,000-year-old volcanic cinder cone that's slowly eroding into the ocean. The beach sits in a collapsed crater, surrounded by dramatic red-brown cliffs.
Getting there is the adventure: a 5-mile round-trip hike from South Point across open, windy terrain with no shade. Some locals offer rides in 4WD vehicles for a fee, and whether to accept is your call. The beach itself is small, and swimming is risky due to strong currents. Come for the spectacle, not the swim.
Best for: Bucket list, geology nerds, hikers | Parking: Free at South Point | Location: Ka'u district (southernmost point of the US)
Snorkeling Beaches
10. Kahalu'u Beach Park
Kahalu'u is the best easy-access snorkeling on the island. Walk in, look down, see turtles and reef fish immediately. Protected by a natural breakwater, shallow (3-8 feet), and consistently good. Detailed in our snorkeling spots guide.
Best for: Snorkeling, families, beginners | Parking: Small lot, arrive early | Location: Kailua-Kona
11. Two Step (Honaunau Bay)
Two Step is the intermediate-to-advanced snorkeler's paradise with crystal water, dramatic reef, eagle rays, and the natural lava "steps" that give it its name. Place of Refuge is right next door for cultural context after your swim.
Best for: Experienced snorkelers, reef diversity | Parking: Limited roadside | Location: Near Captain Cook
Hidden/Remote Beaches
12. Kiholo Bay
Kiholo Bay is a mix of black lava shoreline, tide pools, anchialine ponds (brackish pools with tiny red shrimp), and a sea turtle cleaning station where turtles come to have fish eat parasites off their shells. Access is via a short hike from the highway or a longer coastal trail. The bay is large and quiet, so bring a kayak for the full experience.
Best for: Turtles, solitude, kayaking | Parking: Roadside pulloff on Highway 19 | Location: Between Kona and Kohala
Beach Activities and Rentals
Most Kohala coast beaches have nearby beach equipment rental shops where you can grab chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and snorkel gear. Kona-side beaches like Kahalu'u and Magic Sands have rental vendors nearby.
For surfing, Magic Sands and Hapuna are the go-to spots for bodyboarding. Stand-up surfing is best at Banyans (just south of downtown Kona) and Pine Trees (north of the airport).
Beach Safety
- Check conditions: Hawaii's surf can be deceptive. If locals aren't in the water, you shouldn't be either.
- Rip currents: Common at Hapuna and Magic Sands. Swim parallel to shore if caught in one.
- Reef shoes: Lava rock entries (common on Kona coast) require water shoes. Don't enter barefoot.
- Sunscreen: The tropical sun burns fast. Use reef-safe sunscreen. It's Hawaiian law.
- Respect turtles: Federal law requires 10 feet of distance. Don't touch, chase, or block their path.
- No lifeguards at most beaches. Kahalu'u, Hapuna, and Spencer are the notable exceptions.
For ocean activities beyond the beach, browse our guides on snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba diving.