Waimanu Bay Beach

Located in the town of Waimea, Waimanu Bay Beach is a long, wide, remote, and black sand beach situated in front of the incredible Waipio Valley also named the Valley of the Gods. Waipio Valley is one of the most popular locations in Hawaii and features ancient temples, tropical rainforests, 2,000-feet-tall sea cliffs, and the Waipio Valley Lookout – a well-known photography spot.  Waimanu Bay Beach is one of 10 black sand beaches in Hawaii - and is situated on the northside of two beautiful waterfalls, Kaluahine Falls and Waiulili Falls. 

Waimanu Bay Beach does not have lifeguards.

Although Waimanu Bay Beach does not have lifeguards, there are many fun activities here including all-terrain vehicles, hiking, horseback riding, and photography. Swimming here can be very dangerous because of strong rip currents and high surf. 

Getting to Waimanu Bay Beach requires a little bit of work – there is a one-mile-long trail descending 1,000-feet that starts at the Waipio Valley Lookout at 48-5540 Waipio Road and leads to the beach. Please note that this trail is one-way and it is recommended to walk it instead of driving. Visitors can use the free parking lot on the east side of the Waipio Valley Lookout before starting the hike.

If you are looking for attractions near Waimanu Bay Beach, you can drive 25 minutes to many nearby options. Kalahuipua'a Historic Park is an awesome fishing spot with petroglyphs, lava tube dwellings, trails, and fishponds from ancient times. If you like hiking, Holoholokai Beach Park has a long shoreline hiking trail that overlooks the ocean and is home to an excellent beach featuring black lava rocks mixed with white coral. The Village Course at Waikoloa is the second oldest golf course in Hawaii and was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. – it has a clubhouse restaurant and practice range. Another great golf course near Waimanu Bay Beach is Hapuna Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course with beautiful Instagram-worthy views of Kohala Coast and Pacific Ocean on the front and Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kohala Mountains in the back.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 10-minute drive of Waimanu Bay Beach. The American restaurant Honoka’a Public House offers burgers, sandwiches, steak, salmon, soups, cocktails, desserts, and has a long martini list. If you like Italian food, Café il Mondo serves classic Italian dishes like Chicken Parmigiana and Fettuccine Alfredo, pasta, chicken, and beef dishes. Another good restaurant near Waimanu Bay Beach is the Korean restaurant Harmoni Foods that has a nice menu including bulgogi, japchae, bibimbap, hoeddeok, and kimchi.

If you are looking for a hotel near Waimanu Bay Beach, you can drive 30 minutes to nearby options. Fairmont Orchid - Hawaii is a 5-Star oceanfront hotel that offers a pool, spa, fitness center, six restaurants, 10 tennis courts, and two 18-hole golf courses. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection is a luxurious 4-Star hotel that is situated in front of Mauna Kea Beach and has a pool, wine bar, grill, spa, fitness center, an 18-hole golf course, two airy restaurants, and 11 tennis courts. The Islands at Mauna Lani, a Destination by Hyatt Residence is a nice 3-Star hotel with a private beach, pool, bar, spa, gym, an oceanfront restaurant, and two championship golf courses. If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Waimanu Bay Beach, the 2-Star Kamuela Inn is situated in the heart of Parker Ranch, one of America’s largest cattle ranches.