Kaunaoa Beach(Kauna'oa Bay, Kauna'oa Beach, Mauna Kea Beach, Waiulaula)

Located in the island of Hawai’i (also known as Big Island), Kaunaoa Beach - also known as Kauna’oa Beach, Kaunaoa Bay, Kauna’oa Bay Beach, and Mauna Kea Beach - is a half-mile long crescent-shaped beach with light tan-colored sand and many nearby palm trees. Large rocks are present near the southern and northern ends of Kaunaoa Beach. This beautiful beach is situated near an upscale hotel named the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (also known as Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection). This beach is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach, and was also listed as one of the best beaches in the world by the Travel Channel. 

Although Kaunaoa Beach does not have lifeguards, it has many other public amenities including showers, changing rooms, restrooms, and nearby concession stands with beach rental facilities that are available at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

Kaunaoa Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, hiking, fishing, volleyball, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, skimboarding, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, and boating. The water near the beach is shallow and has a gradual depth, along with a sandy bottom, which makes it ideal for beginner swimmers. The water near Kaunaoa Beach also occasionally offers fun surfing waves, particularly during summers. In addition, snorkelers also enter the clear water near Kaunaoa Beach in order to explore its vibrant biodiversity - the water near the rocky northern and southern ends of the beach are particularly great spots for snorkeling. The water near the southern end of Kaunaoa Beach also has coral fields and you can view many kinds of animals in the water near Kaunaoa Beach including oysters, urchin, shrimp, and many kinds of fish including snapper and parrotfish. Visitors can also view Hawaiian green sea turtles on rare occasions in the water near Kaunaoa Beach, especially during summers – these endangered sea turtles are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act 1973 and harming them can result in a fine up to $25,000, along with possible imprisonment.  Depending on the time of the year, you can also see migrating whales in the water near Kaunaoa Beach. After sunset, the staff at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel often casts a bright artificial light on the water near the northern part of the beach. This bright light attracts a lot of plankton, which in turn attracts many manta rays which you can watch from a nearby observation point. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Kaunaoa Beach, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and rogue waves, particularly during winters. Kaunaoa Beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean and the Kohala Coast, especially during winters - you can also get a distant view of the Mauna Kea mountain from this beach. If you are planning to fish in the water near Kaunaoa Beach, we recommend following the local fishing regulations. The beach is also part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which is a 175-mile long trail which offers a unique insight into Hawaii's vibrant landscape and natural and cultural history.

Getting to Kaunaoa Beach is easy - from Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway (which is a part of Hawaii State Route 19 and the Hawai’i Belt Road), you need to turn towards Mauna Kea Beach Drive. Mauna Kea Beach Drive will lead you to the entrance of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel - you need to simply inform the hotel staff at this entrance that you need to visit Kaunaoa Beach, and they’ll let you pass through. From there, You then need to keep on driving until you reach the hotel’s parking lot. Once you park at this lot, you can easily walk to the entrance to Kaunaoa Beach. If you are planning to visit Kaunaoa Beach, we recommend doing so early as the parking lot near the beach gets very crowded year-round.

There are many attractions near Kaunaoa Beach. Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve has more than 3,000 specimens of Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs (locally known as kii pohaku) that date back to the 13th century - while the meaning of these petroglyphs has still not been deciphered, it has been assumed that they were used to keep track of significant events by the ancient Hawaiian people. The preserve also has a kiawe forest and a beach and it also offers a unique hiking experience, along with a unique insight into the local history. Kalāhuipua'a Historical Park is a historical site that has multiple artificial ponds - these ponds were created by ancient Native Hawaiians in order to raise fish for food (the ponds at this park often produced fish for consumption by the Hawaiian nobility) and they still contain many interesting varieties of fish. Another major feature of this site is an exquisite lava tube, which was inhabited by ancient Hawaiians between the 13th and the 18th centuries - in addition, the park also has interesting petroglyphs that were created by ancient Hawaiians. 

Another attraction is the Hapuna Golf Course, a beautiful and challenging 18-hole golf course that has incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and the Kohala Mountains. If you are looking for another attraction near Kaunaoa Beach, Anna Ranch Heritage Center, which is a 20-minute drive away – it was the former home of a rancher and businesswoman Anna Leialoha Lindsey Perry-Fiske who was also known as the "First Lady of Ranching." This historic building was built in the early 20th century and it currently serves as a museum that offers interesting insights into the interesting history of ranching in Hawaii and the legacy of the Lindsey Family, into which Anna was born.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kaunaoa Beach. Brown's Beach House is an oceanfront fine dining restaurant that has received a four-diamond rating from the AAA. This restaurant offers delicious gourmet dishes which exhibit Hawaiian culinary influences including tempura ahi and Big Island ka‘u coffee venison - the restaurant also offers live Hawaiian music. As another upscale option, Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store Maua Lani offers amazing Hawaiian-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner including soups, salads, seafood, poultry dishes, and steaks. Foster’s Kitchen Waikoloa offers amazing pizzas, burgers, salads, soups, sandwiches, pasta, poultry dishes, pork chops, steaks, and seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kaunaoa Beach, Hawaiian Style Cafe - Waimea offers amazing Hawaiian-inspired dishes for lunch and breakfast including loco moco, burgers, sandwiches, stews, pork dishes, poultry dishes, steaks, French toasts, and fried rice.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kaunaoa Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star Fairmont Orchid – Hawaii offers many amenities including six restaurants, ten tennis courts, two 18-hole golf courses, a spa, and a large pool, along with a fitness center. The 4-Star Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection is located directly adjacent to Kaunaoa Beach and offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a wine bar, an 18-hole golf course, 11 tennis courts, a fitness center, and a spa. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Paniolo Greens offers many amenities including a hot tub, tennis courts, a gym, barbecue areas, and a pool with a kids section. The hotel also offers many fun activities including hula dancing sessions. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kaunaoa Beach, the 2.5-Star Waimea Country Lodge is a 20-minute drive away and has 22 rooms – this hotel offers many amenities including a nearby restaurant, a microwave, and complimentary morning coffee.