Things to do in Waikoloa on the Big Island
Prices and details checked on October 20, 2026How we compare tours
A-Bay is in Waikoloa. Hapuna Beach and the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve are on the South Kohala coast. Pick the spot by the activity you want.
What can you do in Waikoloa?
A-Bay is in Waikoloa. Hapuna Beach and the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve are on the South Kohala coast. Pick the spot by the activity you want. Hapuna Beach allows swimming during calm seas and bodysurfing during periods of shore break. Waialea Bay and Spencer Beach Park are both listed for snorkeling and scuba. Mauna Lani Beach is listed for diving, swimming, fishing and hiking.
| Place | What you can do | Good to know | Getting there | Hours or entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-Bay (Anaehoomalu Bay) | The beach park has showers, restrooms and picnic areas. | - | The beach park has free parking. | - |
| Hapuna Beach | State Parks describes swimming during calm seas, bodysurfing during periods of shore breaks, sunbathing and picnicking. | - | State Parks lists the park in the Kohala area of Hawaii Island. | Daily hours are 7:00am to 7:30pm; gates close at 8:00pm. |
| Mauna Kea Beach | Kauna'oa Beach, at Mauna Kea Beach Resort, is a white sand beach. | The County warns of hazardous footing, currents and waves. | A paved section of the Ala Kahakai trail runs through the grounds of the Mauna Kea Hotel at Kaunaʻoa Beach. | The County guide gives the hours as sunrise to sunset. |
| Spencer Beach Park | The park has paved, wheelchair-friendly trail segments, ADA-compliant restrooms, picnic areas and parking. | The County lists parking, picnic areas, restrooms, showers, fire pits, lifeguards and security. | The park is at ʻOhaiʻula in Kawaihae. | The County guide gives the hours as 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Waialea Bay (Beach 69) | Its marine life diversity makes it a popular site for snorkeling and scuba. | - | Waialea Bay is in the southern part of Kawaihae Bay, on the west coast of Hawaii Island. | The Waialea Section is closed due to fallen trees (State Parks notice, checked 2026-10-14). |
| Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve | Activities include a hike to the petroglyph field; parking, ADA accessible restrooms, showers and trash cans. | - | The County lists the parks in its South Kohala shoreline access guide. | Hazardous footing, currents and waves; open 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
For hiking and history, the Puako petroglyph field is reached by a hike. The Malama Trail leads to it near Holoholokai. Start there if history is the goal. The Waikoloa Petroglyph Field is also in Waikoloa.
How do you get to each place, and where do you park?
Spencer Beach Park is at ʻOhaiʻula in Kawaihae and has its own parking. Waialea Bay sits in the southern part of Kawaihae Bay, on the west coast of Hawaii Island.
Plan your parking at Mauna Lani Beach before you go. Limited parking passes are available at the resort entry gate. Public beach access at Kaunaʻoa Bay has been temporarily moved to an area next to the tennis courts.
Hapuna Beach is listed in the Kohala area. Plan the drive from your base with a map app before you set out.
When are these places open, and what does it cost to go?
Hapuna Beach is open 7:00am to 7:30pm, and its gates close at 8:00pm. Mauna Lani Beach follows dawn to dusk. Spencer Beach Park is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.. The Puako petroglyph site is open 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. Build your beach day around those hours, not the other way around.
Waialea Bay is closed due to fallen trees, according to a State Parks notice. Leave it off your plan for this trip and use one of the other beaches above.
A-Bay parking costs nothing.
What rules and hazards should you know about?
Hapuna Beach prohibits motorized vehicles and ATVs, animals and pets, alcoholic beverages, smoking and driving on the beach. Leave pets and alcohol at your room, since the beach bans both. At the resort's anchialine pond preserve, throwing rubbish, food or animals into the ponds and fishing are not allowed. Waialea Bay is a Marine Life Conservation District under rule HAR 13-35.
The County warns of hazardous footing, currents and waves at Mauna Kea Beach, the Mauna Kea snorkel beach and Mauna Lani Beach. Check current County warnings and the marine forecast before you swim or snorkel. Spencer Beach Park has lifeguards.
Which tours go to these places?
For a short boat ride, the sunset sails and whale watch below are the ones to compare first.
- Kona Signature Sunset Sail runs 1.5 hours and starts from $99.95 per person.
- Mauna Kea Sunset Coastline Cruise runs 1.5 hours and starts from $99.95 per person.
- Mauna Kea Deluxe Whale Watch Cruise runs 2 hours and starts from $99.95 per person. Guests canceling 48 hours or more before departure get a full refund or can rebook.
- Mauna Kea One-Stop Sealife Snorkel runs 2 hours and starts from $99.95 per person.
- Waikoloa Deluxe Whale Watch runs 1.5 hours and starts from $109.05 per person. Waikoloa Deluxe Whale Watch from Hawaii Nautical Big Island meets at Anaeho'omalu Bay, Waikoloa. Hawaii Nautical Big Island lists guaranteed humpback whale sightings and a complimentary shuttle from Hilton Waikoloa as inclusions.
- Waikoloa Signature Sunset Sail runs 1.5 hours and starts from $139.95 per person.
- Kona Turtle Snorkel Sail with Lunch runs 3 hours and starts from $149.95 per person.
- Waikoloa Snorkel Sail with Lunch runs 3 hours and starts from $159.95 per person.
- Kona Luxury Private Yacht Charter runs 5 hours and starts from $1,495 for the group.
- SHARED Big Island Big Volcano Adventure, run by The Volcano Van, starts from $247 per person. SHARED Big Island Big Volcano Adventure from The Volcano Van meets in Kona, Kohala and Waikoloa, and cancellations 48 hours before the start get a full refund.
Choose the snorkel sails with lunch if you want a longer day on the water. Plan a backup day.
Is parking free at A-Bay?
Yes.
Can you visit Mauna Kea Beach after dark?
No. The County guide gives the hours as sunrise to sunset.
