Kawa Bay(Kawaa Bay, Kāwā Bay)

Located in the Ka'ū District between the towns of Pāhala and Nā'ālehu, Kawa Bay - also known as Kawaa Bay or Kāwā Bay - is a large bay with an undeveloped shoreline with many pebbles.  Kawa Bay is situated to the southwest of Punaluu Black Sand Beach, which offers Instagram-worthy views of the bay, especially during sunset.  The bay is bordered by a creek and a cliff-top heiau (temple) named Keʻeku Heiau on the northern side, whereas on the other side there is the island's second-largest freshwater spring system named Kaalaiki and a fishpond estuary.  As an interesting fact,  Ka'ū chief, Nu'uanupa'ahu, as a youngster, became a powerful and experienced surfer by surfing the waves in this bay.  This beach also serves as a nesting beach for the endangered Hawaiian hawksbill turtles and Hawaiian green sea turtles, which are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, and harming them can result in a fine of up to $50,000 and possible imprisonment.  It is illegal to chase, hunt, handle, injure, or harass them in any way. 

Kawa Bay does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly.   This area has had disputed ownership but was recently acquired by the State of Hawaii with plans to improve public access and protect native sites.  Although all beaches in Hawaii are public, the bay itself is surrounded by private property and sacred burial sites, so avoid going too far inland to prevent trespassing. Dogs are not allowed here, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset. 

Kawa Bay offers many fun activities including swimming, sunbathing, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, diving, hiking, and picnicking.  If you are planning to go into the water near the beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and sharks, which can cause serious injuries to visitors.  Cases of accidents have also been previously reported in this bay.  At the far end of Kawa Bay is Kawa Spring, which creates a large brackish pond that is great for the keikis (children) and for anyone to wade on a high surf day.  Snorkelers can explore coral reefs and see a large variety of colorful tropical fish and Hawaiian marine life.  If you enjoy surfing, Kawa Bay is a great place to go surfing due to its frequently windy weather.  If you plan to fish in the waters near Kawa Bay, the southern side of the bay offers incredible fishing opportunities, but please make sure you follow local fishing regulations.  In addition, hikers can explore the nearby ancient Ala Kahakai hiking trail.  This beautiful bay offers solitude, beauty, and the allure of old Hawai'i.

Getting to Kawa Bay is difficult - there is a small dirt parking lot located at Mile Marker 58.5 on Highway 11 near the yellow gate.  After parking, walk half a mile down the dirt road to the bay.

There are many attractions near Kawa Bay.  Punalu'u Beach is a small black sand beach and offers many fun activities, including sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, camping, and picnicking.  The beach offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, picnic areas, and parking.  Visitors can often see endangered Hawksbill turtles and Hawaiian sea turtles nesting and foraging in the water or basking in the sun on the beach.  South Point Park is located on the southernmost tip of the Big Island on Ka Lae Point.  It is believed that Ka Lae was the first place where Polynesians first set foot when they reached the Hawaiian Islands as early as 750 A.D.  It is an ideal fishing spot.  Swimming is not recommended here due to the steep, rocky cliffs (approximately 40 feet high), deep waters, and dangerous currents.  However, it is an excellent place to relax and unwind oneself, as South Point Park offers breathtaking views of the endless Pacific Ocean.  The entire southern point is listed as a National Historic Landmark because it is littered with the remains of fishing shrines, heiau (temples), and other historical sites.  If you are looking for another attraction near Kawa Bay, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater that forms a small, uninhabited islet, and is home to two active volcanoes: Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive shield volcano.  The park features magnificent volcanic landscapes, including the Thurston Lava Tube, which is easily accessible by a one-and-a-half-mile hike through a rainforest, and a 500-year-old lava tube that was carved out by lava exceeding temperatures of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  In addition, there are many other amazing spots within the park, including the Halemaumau Crater, the Crater Rim Drive, the Kilauea Visitor Center, and 150 miles of hiking trails throughout this gigantic park.  Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kawa Bay.  Hana Hou Restaurant offers Hawaiian-inspired dishes including loco moco, salads, steaks, burgers, submarine sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, and desserts.  Ka Lae Garden Thai Food is an oceanfront Thai restaurant that serves amazing noodles, Thai curries, soups, salads, rolls, fried rice, pork, beef, and poultry dishes.  South Side Shaka Restaurant & Bar is an American restaurant that serves delicious pancakes, eggs, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, loco moco, laulau, katsu, seafood, pork, and poultry dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kawa Bay, the modestly priced Taco Tita is a Mexican restaurant that serves incredible tacos, nachos, taco salads, burritos, pork, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kawa Bay, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star Colony I at Sea Mountain in Pahala is nine minutes away by car and offers several amenities including an outdoor pool, hot tubs, and a golf course.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-star Sea Mountain which offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, hot tubs, a golf course, tennis courts, and barbecue grill facilities.  Another moderately priced option is the 2-Star Hawaii Island Resort which is situated on an 8-acre macadamia nut orchard that offers many amenities including an outdoor pool with sun terrace, a meditation pad, a fitness center, a games room, a theatre room, tennis courts, and complimentary tours of the orchard.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kawa Bay, the modestly priced Kalaekilohana Inn & Retreat offers a few amenities including complimentary breakfast.