Mackenzie State Recreation Area

Located in the Puna district of the Big Island, Mackenzie State Recreation Area is a 13-acre oceanfront park that has a long rocky shoreline with low sea cliffs, sea caves, sea arches, and lava tube openings, most of them are a result of decades of volcanic activity.  The park is surrounded by many ironwood trees and is situated on the east rift zone of the Kilauea volcano offers incredible, Instagram-worthy views, especially during sunset.  Mackenzie State Recreation Area is part of the Malama Ki Forest Reserve.   In 1939, MacKenzie State Park was named after Albert J. W. MacKenzie, a dedicated forest ranger who replanted ironwood trees in many burned areas in the Puna and Ka'u districts.    

Mackenzie State Recreation Area does not have lifeguards but offers many other amenities including picnic areas, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, pavilions, camping sites, and trash cans. Dogs are not allowed here, and the Mackenzie State Recreation Area is open from 7 am until 7 pm.  

Mackenzie State Recreation Area many fun activities including sunbathing, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and camping.  The park has a large open grassy area where visitors can enjoy playing volleyball, setting hammocks, relaxing under a tree, or watching pounding waves crashing onto the jagged coastline below the cliff.  In addition, hikers can explore a nearby ancient King's Highway trail that offers amazing several lookout points including ruins of an ancient heiau, lava tubes, and sea cliffs where hikers can enjoy great views of the ocean and surrounding landscape.  It is important to note that entry into lava tubes or sea caves is dangerous and prohibited.  Also, those who venture out to the cliffs must exercise extreme caution while standing close to the narrow and uneven ledges.   Mackenzie State Recreation Area offers amazing fishing opportunities, but please make sure that you are in compliance with the local fishing regulations.  It is crucial to note that this is strictly not a swimming or snorkeling area as cases of drowning-related accidents have also been previously reported on this beach, so we recommend being extremely cautious.

Getting to Mackenzie State Recreation Area is easy - it has a free parking lot located near Kapoho-Kalpana Road, Highway 137, also known as the Red Road between the Mile Markers 13 and 14, and provides easy access to Mackenzie State Recreation Area.

There are many attractions near Mackenzie State Recreation Area.  Hawaiian Beaches Park is a family-friendly recreational area that offers many fun activities including picnicking, strolling, basketball, and baseball.  In addition, it offers many amenities including benches, picnic tables, a baseball field, basketball court, restrooms, shady areas, a playground, and parking.  Lava Tree State Monument is a public park that preserves lava molds of tree trunks that were formed in 1790 when a lava flow swept across a forested area.  This park offers many amenities including picnic tables, restrooms, walking paths, three covered pavilions, trash cans, a paved path, and disability access.  In addition, visitors can explore a seven-tenths-of-a-mile-long hiking trail that offers an interesting insight into the local biodiversity.  If you are looking for another attraction near Mackenzie State Recreation Area, Issac Hale Beach Park is a 2-acre park that has a long and wide black sand beach with many lava rocks.  It offers many fun activities including sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, camping, paddle boarding, body boarding, kayaking, canoeing, tidepooling, surfing, and fishing.  In addition, the park offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, pavilions, barbecue grill facilities, campsites, benches, a large grassy area, and a boat launch.  

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Mackenzie State Recreation Area.  Luquins Mexican Restaurant is an upscale restaurant that serves amazing nachos, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, shrimp, seafood, and poultry dishes.  Pele’s Kitchen serves dinner, lunch, and breakfast dishes including eggs, omelets, pancakes, French toast, loco moco, tortillas, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, and desserts.  Pahoa Fresh Fish serves incredible seafood, shrimp, tempura, sandwiches, tacos, nachos, salsa, wraps, burritos, and crabcakes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Mackenzie State Recreation Area, the modestly priced Coco Cantina serves delicious seafood, nachos, enchiladas, pasta, chile rellenos, pasta, tacos, burritos, burgers, fajitas, quesadillas, rancheros, and churros.

If you are looking for a hotel near Mackenzie State Recreation Area, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star At The Crater’s Edge is forty-one minutes away by car and offers a few amenities including a hot tub, a garden, and a golf course.  A more affordable hotel is the 3.5-Star Aloha Crater Lodge and Lava Tubewhich offers several amenities including a hot tub, a garden, and a complimentary breakfast.  Another moderately priced option is the 3-Star Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel which offers a few amenities including an outdoor pool and a swimming pool.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Mackenzie State Recreation Area, the modestly priced 2-Star Pele’s Breath offers a few amenities including a complimentary breakfast.