Honokohau Beach

Honokohau Beach is one of two beaches inside the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. This park sits just two miles north of Kona, and it makes for a wonderful half-day of adventure. 

The park is only 1.5 miles long, but it holds a myriad of treasures. You'll find ancient petroglyph rock carvings, a variety of walking trails, two beaches (including Honokohau Beach), three ancient fishponds and freshwater springs inside the park's 1,160 acres. The park and its infrastructure once served a large Hawaiian community.

You'll find Honokohau Beach at the north end of the park. The sand at this beach is rather beautiful. Scoop up a handful, and you'll see flecks of white, black and pink. The white and pink come from crushed up bits of coral, and the black is glassy volcanic rock. This chunky mix of sand makes the beach a bit gritty, but it won't hurt your feet and shouldn't deter you from the beach.

This beach is unique because a smooth shelf of lava rock leads you into the water. The shelf has been eroded down, so it shouldn't hurt your feet. And the water here is incredibly calm. The beach is protected by a fringing reef just a few yards out into the water.

This makes Honokohau Beach perfect for a safe snorkel. You can pop into the water and swim out to the reef to enjoy a rainbow of tropical fish. And, once your done snorkeling, you can wash off in a freshwater spring.

Find a path at the north end of the beach. Follow the path for a few minutes until you reach a rock wall. At the southern end of the wall, the trail splits. Follow the trail inland towards several large mounds of rock. Find your way around the rocks and you'll stumble upon Queen's Bath.

This freshwater pool is a sight for sore eyes. The water is hiding in a field of sharp volcanic rocks, but the rock in the pool has been smoothed down. This little oasis makes for a refreshing and cleansing dip after a day on the beach.