Manini'Owali Beach(Maniniowali Beach, Kua Beach)

Located in the town of Kailua Kona, Manini’owali Beach is a small, narrow, and secluded beach that is surrounded by palm trees and rugged greenery on large rocks. Manini’owali Beach is considered among the best white sand beaches in Hawaii making it an awesome destination for photography. During winters, Manini’owali Beach is filled with surfers and bodyboarders because of high surf and strong rip currents. 

Although Manini’owali Beach does not have lifeguards, the beach offers many amenities including restrooms, showers, picnic tables, paved walkaways, and handicap-accessible features. 

There are many fun activities at Manini’owali Beach including swimming, surfing, snorkeling, bodyboarding, photography, sunbathing, and beach walking. 

Getting to Manini’owali Beach is very easy – after you get off of Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, drive north to the end of Kua Bay Access Road to reach the beach’s free parking lot that is within walking distance to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Manini’owali 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. Spread across 62 acres, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area features many beautiful white sand beaches and is a great for many water sport activities including swimming, snorkeling, bodyboarding, and whale watching.  Dolphin Quest Hawai’i - Swim with Dolphins is located inside Hilton Waikoloa Village – it features dolphin shows, swimming with dolphins, and touch tanks. Another great attraction near Manini’owali 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 seven-minute drive of Manini’owali Beach. The upscale waterfront restaurant Foster’s Kitchen Waikoloa features traditional American food and comfort food dishes including fish tacos, fried pork chops, cajun shrimp pasta, flatbread pizza, Irish cheddar burger, and lava cake.  Binchotan Bar & Grill is a barbecue restaurant with a nice menu that includes beef brisket, chicken quarters, kielbasa sausage, beef ribs, and pork ribs. If you like Asian food, Pele’s Wok offers sushi, noodles, unagi, soba, udon, and onigiri. Another good restaurant near Manini’owali Beach is the vegetarian-friendly restaurant CanoeHouse that serves seafood, drinks, desserts, and vegan dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Manini’owali Beach, you can drive 20 minutes to many nearby options. The 5-Star Lai Nani Oceanfront Estate offers a pool and three oceanfront villas.  The Westin Hapuna Beach Hotel is an upscale 4-Star hotel with many amenities including a beachfront spa, gym, an infinity pool, an 18-hole golf course, and three restaurants. The 3-Star Hale Kukui Orchard and Resort features three cottages, a pool, and a 650-feet-tall waterfall. If you are looking for budget-friendly hotels near Manini’owali Beach, the 3-Star Waipiʻo Lodge provides oceanfront rooms and the 2-Star Hotel Honoka’a Club has a nice restaurant.