Located on the western side of the Big Island on the Kohala Coast, Waikaloa Beach is a long and wide crescent-shaped beach with white sand. This beach is situated near the western edge of an upscale hotel named the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. There are many high-rise buildings along the shoreline, including luxury hotels, restaurants, and motels. The beach is located on the shores of Anaehoomalu Bay and adjacent to Anaehoomalu Beach and offers amazing, Instagram-worthy views, especially during sunset. The name of the beach, "Waikaloa," means "near the sea" in the Hawaiian language. Waikaloa Beach is home to two championship golf courses, historic petroglyph fields, and ancient royal fishponds. The two ancient Hawaiian fishponds, Ku’uali’i and Kahapapa, which are located right behind the beach. These ponds were originally used by Hawaiian royalty to raise mullets and other small fish, which were maintained by local fishermen and only given to the royals.
Unfortunately, in March 2011, a tsunami wave devastated the beach and the surrounding area, slicing Anaeho'omalu Bay in two pieces and destroying the wall of the ancient Ku'uali'i Fishpond. As of early 2022, repair work is still in progress. Although the beach's 100-foot gaping hole has been repaired, the ancient rock wall has yet to be reconstructed. The fishpond has been severely impacted by this devastation.
