Kahalu'u Beach Park is
our favorite snorkeling spot on the Big Island. The park is located 5½ miles south of
Kailua-Kona on Ali' i Drive.
The water is almost always
clear, with colorful corals, rock formations, and hundreds of species of fish.
Green sea turtles live there and you can see them feeding on algea in the morning.
The park has great facilities with a shower and covered picnic tables.
Rumor has it that King Kamehameha
had his workers construct the seawall to create this cove so his family had
a safe place to enjoy the ocean. The bay is completely surrounded except on the north side where surfers like to congregate to catch the waves. Kahalu'u is popular because of the calm, protected
waters - perfect for kids and adults nervous about being in the ocean. You can see the white waves where they hit the lava wall below.
The beach has easy access for snorkeling. Though there is lava everywhere, a sandy path allows you to walk into the water and put on snorkel gear in water that is waist level. Most of the enclosed area is shallow enough to stand up. There are places with white rocks that can be stood on - so you can safely adjust your gear without hurting the coral.
The surfers hang out where the wall ends on the north side of the beach.
There is a life guard station for additional swimming and surfing protection.
The park also has a place to rent or buy snorkel gear, store your valuables, and buy a snack.
We prefer
early morning snorkeling before the crowds show up. The turtles are looking
for food on the reef and the fish are lining up for their morning cleaning.
In the afternoon the crowds start showing up.
The Outrigger Keauhou hotel is next to the park and has a Beach Bar & Grill next to the park that serves sandwiches and plate lunches.
The fish are plentiful and colorful. Below are some pictures and videos of our many snorkeling adventures at the park.
Below are videos of our snorkeling in the Kahalu'u. The array of fish are colorful and plentiful and the turtles are amazing.
Colorful fish
Swimming with a Turtle
A Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a (Lagoon triggerfish) - Hawaii's State fish
