Waiulaula(Mauna Kea Beach)

Located in the town of Waimea, Waiulaula Point has a long and narrow beach that is situated on the north side of the upscale 4-Star hotel Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection.  Also known as Waiulaula, the beach at Waiulaula Point has beautiful white sand and is filled with tourists as well as locals.  Waiulaula Point is surrounded by large Kiawe trees, tide pools, and offshore rock arches.  Waiulaula Point is adjacent to Kauna’oa Bay which is home to many marine creatures making it an incredible destination for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. 

Although Waiulaula Point does not have lifeguards, the beach offers many amenities including restrooms, showers, rock arches, and driftwood. 

Many fun activities at Waiulaula Point include swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, and paddleboarding.  If you are looking for additional activities, The Ala Kahakai Trail is a 15-mile-long hiking trail south of the beach and leads to many very beautiful anchialine ponds. 

Getting to Waiulaula Point is very easy – the beach’s free and limited parking lot that belongs to the hotel is situated at 62 Mauna Kea Beach Road and is within walking distance to the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Waiulaula Point, you can drive 12 minutes to Kalahuipua'a Historic Park – an awesome fishing spot with petroglyphs, lava tube dwellings, trails, and fishponds from ancient times.  If you like hiking, Holoholokai Beach Park has a long shoreline hiking trail that overlooks the ocean and is home to an excellent beach featuring black lava rocks mixed with white coral.  The Village Course at Waikoloa is the second oldest golf course in Hawaii and was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. – it has a clubhouse restaurant and practice range.  Another great golf course near Waiulaula Point is Hapuna Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course with beautiful Instagram-worthy views of Kohala Coast and 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 10-minute drive of Waiulaula Point.  The upscale surf ‘n' turf restaurant Kamuela Provision Company offers steak, seafood items, and has a romantic patio overlooking the coastline.  Kings Bistro Restaurant At King’ Land features pizza, French fries, taco, fish, sandwiches, burgers, and live music.  Another good restaurant near Waiulaula Point is the Hawaiian restaurant Brown’s Beach House Restaurant which serves taro, poi, breadfruit, limu, taro tops, and sweet potato.

If you are looking for a hotel near Waiulaula Point, you can drive 18 minutes to nearby options.  Fairmont Orchid - Hawaii is a 5-Star oceanfront hotel that offers a pool, spa, fitness center, six restaurants, 10 tennis courts, and two 18-hole golf courses.  Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection is a luxurious 4-Star hotel situated in front of Mauna Kea Beach and has a pool, wine bar, grill, spa, fitness center, an 18-hole golf course, two airy restaurants, and 11 tennis courts.  The Islands at Mauna Lani, a Destination by Hyatt Residence is a nice 3-Star hotel with a private beach, pool, bar, spa, gym, an oceanfront restaurant, and two championship golf courses.  If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Waiulaula Point, the 2-Star Kamuela Inn is situated in the heart of Parker Ranch, one of America’s largest cattle ranches.