7 Best White Sand Beaches in the Big Island of Hawaii
Are you heading to the Big Island and looking for the best beaches in Hawaii?
Well, there are many to be explored!
The Big Island is the largest in Hawaii, known for its colorful and picturesque beaches surrounded by incredible nature.
The diversity of the island’s coastline is mind-blowing: you get to relax on beautiful white sand and golden beaches, visit unique and charming black sand shores and even swim in a one of a kind green sand beach!
Unlike the other islands in Hawaii, the Big Island is far less crowded and packed with amazing outdoor activities. You can visit secluded lava coves, and explore areas with abundant marine life and thriving coral reefs.
In this article we listed for you the 7 best golden sand and white sand beaches that you can find throughout the Big Island of Hawaii, with an interactive map at the end so you can pin-point all of the locations.
So, let’s go and explore!
A-Bay (Anaeho’omalu Bay Beach)
A-Bay, also known as Anaeho’omalu beach, is a beautiful sandy bay with calm and clear waters that are perfect for families with small children.
There is plenty of free parking nearby, as well as really useful facilities such as bathrooms and showers. For delicious food and drinks we recommend heading to the Lava Lava Beach Club, a popular venue located right on the beach that provides live music and entertainment!
Something that makes this beach very special is that you can easily spot turtles there, both laying on the sandy shores or next to the lava-rock coves that are located south of the beach, a more secluded area away from the crowds.
From this beach you can walk to the adjacent Waikoloa beach up north. There you will find a hut that sells and rents out beach gear, and where you can also purchase tickets for fun tours and activities.
If you are looking for the perfect sunset spot in the Big Island of Hawaii, this might be the beach for you! The stunning backdrop of the coconut trees, combined with the warm and intense sunset colours, make for some wonderful photographs!
Waialea Beach
Located south of Hapuna, on the northwest side of the island, Waialea is a beautiful secluded beach and one of our favourites in the Big Island. It consists of a series of pocket beaches separated by trees that hang over the water, and on clear days you can even get some incredible views of Maui from its shore!
Because there are a lot of trees adjacent to the beach, this is the perfect place to go if you are looking for a shelter from the sun, especially if perhaps you’ve gotten a little sunburnt but still want to enjoy the beach.
We recommend that you come here in the morning, as the water currents can get a lot stronger as the day goes on. This is also the perfect time of day to enjoy snorkeling and swimming, as the beach isn’t yet too crowded and you can easily find yourself a spot on the sand.
There are plenty of facilities nearby, including public bathrooms and showers, with the only drawback to this beach being its really expensive parking. The fee is of $10 per vehicle and $5 per person, and you’ll need a credit card to be able to pay the meter.
Hapuna Beach
Arguably the most famous white sand beach on our list, Hapuna has been rated the number one beach that people like to go to on the Big Island of Hawaii. And we can see why that is the case!
This piece of paradise is over half a mile long (just under 1km) and has one of the clearest waters that you can find across the whole island. Swimming here is amazing and snorkelling is a dream, especially on either ends of the beach.
The currents and waves also never get too strong, making Hapuna a kid friendly beach, perfect for the whole family to enjoy. There are also two lifeguard posts, as well as a lifeguard in an ATV that patrols up and down the length of the length of the beach.
Here you’ll get all of the facilities that you would expect from such a well-known beach: picnic tables with plenty of shaded areas and bathroom facilities, as well as delicious food venues and nearby resorts. Unfortunately parking by this incredible beach is not free and costs $10, with an entrance fee of $5 per person.
Try to get here on time for sunset, as they are absolutely to die for. And if you’re lucky you may even spot a sea turtle or two!
Magic Sands Beach
Magic Sands, also named Disappearing Sands, is a beautiful and picturesque beach located in Kailua-Kona, known for its body surfing scene and absolutely stunning sunsets!
During the winter months its sand washes away and “disappears”, and that is why this popular beach has since been called Magic Sands.
Because of its easy access and proximity to town, this small beach is usually very crowded. The crystal-clear waters and white sands make up for it, and attract visitors every year into its shore.
Despite the beach's compact size, it is packed with amenities. There are rinse-off stations and shaded areas, as well as free parking and some delicious snack stands nearby.
At sunset is when this beach truly shines, but it is also the most crowded time. The views from here make for an unforgettable experience! However, if you prefer to enjoy a quiet time away from crowds, you’ll be better off visiting a more secluded part of the island.
Makalawena Beach
If you are looking for a more “off-the-beaten path” beach, Makalawena is definitely for you! This hidden and remote beach is part of the Kekaha Kai State Park, and to reach its shore you’ll have go on a short hike that starts by the main parking lot.
The walk under the sun is absolutely worth it, but make sure that you bring really good walking shoes or sandals, since you will be walking on rocks for at least 20 minutes. A good hat and a broad spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF are a must, as there is little to no shade along the road.
Once there, you will be rewarded with the perfect beach and clearest water you will find on the island. That, for us, made every step of the way worthwhile!
We highly recommend that you reach this area with a good 4x4 vehicle, as the main road that leads to the parking lot can be quite challenging and is not completely paved.
For us Makalawena beach takes the top spot as Big Island's best beach, given its remote location and absolutely outstanding waters and swimming conditions. We can’t wait to go back!
Kua Bay (Manini’owali Beach)
Located just north of Kona airport, Kua Bay is a true paradise beach in Hawaii. With incredibly white sand, clear turquoise water and raw nature all around, there is not much more you could ask for.
Although there is a life-guard on site, keep an eye out for the waves if you are travelling with kids as the currents at Manini’owali Beach can be quite strong, especially during the winter months.
Nowadays Kua Bay is quite a popular spot, so it does get busy fast. Thankfully there is a parking lot available on site, although most people tend to park along the road that leads to the beach.
There are shower and bathroom facilities by the beach, as well as picnic tables along the coast that visitors can use while enjoying a meal with a view. Just keep in mind that unfortunately there is not a lot of shade, so having a good sunscreen is an absolute must!
While the lack of cafés and restaurants might be a downside for some, the natural and tropical beauty of Kua Bay more than make up for it. If you are looking for a slice of paradise in the Big Island, you should definitely add Manini’owali beach to your list!
Mauna Kea Beach
Mauna Kea, also known as Kaunaʻoa, is a stunning golden sand beach, and one of the most beautiful in the island! Because it is long and wide, you’ll get to enjoy some great walks along the coast, and there is plenty of space for everyone to lay comfortably in the sand.
The sand slopes slowly out into the water, so going in is easy even for children or new swimmers. Because of this, Mauna Kea is perfect for families travelling with small children, as they can easily play in the sand or enjoy some fun time by the shore.
This beach remains relatively calm, and the main reason for it is the limited free parking. With just 40 spaces available, we would recommend that you arrive early, as it gets harder to find a spot later on in the day.
If you are having a hard time finding a parking space, but are up for a gorgeous 0.9 miles hike (about 1 and a half kilometre), you can park next to Hapuna Beach and hike over the hill and reach Mauna Kea on foot. It’s a relatively easy hike, and the views you’ll get are absolutely fantastic! There is even a high chance you’ll get to spot some sea turtles on the way there.
These were just 7 of our favourite white and golden sand beaches that you can find throughout the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii.
Even though it isn’t explored nearly as much as the neighbouring islands, the Big Island of Hawaii is full of surprising gems and idyllic beaches along its coastline. We absolutely loved every minute of it!
So, where will you go for a swim first?
Did you enjoy this article?
Feel free to save or pin this image so that you can always look back on this blog post!
Other articles you will enjoy:
One of the first things you’ll probably notice once you step into the city is the humidity. This, mixed with high temperatures and tropical heat can be quite uncomfortable. And that’s when infinity pools come along as the ultimate solution..