Kaelehuluhulu, 2nd Beach

Located in the town of Kailua Kona, Kaelehuluhulu Beach is a long, narrow, and rocky beach that is a part of the Kekaha Kai State Park. Kekaha Kai State Park consists of three beaches that are Kaelehuluhulu Beach, Mahaiula Beach, and Makalawena Beach. Also known as 2nd Beach, Kaelehuluhulu Beach is surrounded by palm trees and rugged greenery on large rocks. Kaelehuluhulu Beach is considered among the best beaches in Hawaii making it an awesome destination for Instagram-worthy photography – it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. 

Although Kaelehuluhulu Beach does not have lifeguards, the beach offers many amenities including restrooms, barbecues, picnic tables, and tide pools. 

There are many fun activities at Kaelehuluhulu Beach including photography, tide pooling, picnicking, and beach walking. Please note that the beach is not ideal for swimming as it has a reefy bottom. It is advised to wear regular attire and shoes at Kaelehuluhulu Beach because the shoreline here is made up of hardened lava flow.

Getting to Kaelehuluhulu Beach is very easy – after you get off of Queen Ka’ahumanuu Highway, turn west on the road that leads to Mahai’ula Trailhead and drive to its end where you will find a free parking lot within walking distance to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Kaelehuluhulu 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 a beautiful white sand beach that is 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 Kaelehuluhulu Beach is Hapuna Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course with beautiful Instagram-worthy views of the Kohala Coast and the 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 Kaelehuluhulu 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. Another good restaurant near Kaelehuluhulu Beach is the vegetarian-friendly restaurant CanoeHouse which serves seafood, drinks, desserts, and vegan dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kaelehuluhulu 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 feature three cottages, a pool, and a 650-feet-tall waterfall. If you are looking for budget-friendly hotels near Kaelehuluhulu Beach, the 3-Star Waipiʻo Lodge provides oceanfront rooms and the 2-Star Hotel Honoka’a Club has a nice restaurant.