Kawaihae Harbor

Located on the northwestern shore of the Kohala Coast on the Big Island, Kawaihae Harbor has a small beach with beige sand. Kawaihae Harbor is situated on the shores of Kawaihae Bay and offers Instagram-worthy views of Mauna Kea Volcano and Mauna Loa Volcano, especially during sunset. The name "Kawaihae" means "Water-of-Wrath" in the Hawaiian language and is a reference to the battles over the life-giving [R1] waters of one of the springs in the area. In the 19th century, Kawaihae Harbor was a busy whaling and trading port and was also the place where ships brought the first horses and cattle to Hawaii. In the late 1950s, the US Army Corps of Engineers expanded the Kawaihae Harbor into a deep-draft harbor (authorized to be constructed to a depth of more than 45 feet) and widened its entrance channel and basin to accommodate more ships. As a result, the coral reef that posed a threat to ships was cut and scraped, and the material dredged from the reef was utilized to build a landfill on top of which port facilities were constructed, and the town of Kawaihae lost access to the beach. Fortunately, over time, the harbor was used and shared by the DOT, DLNR, the US military, private boat tour operators, and the general public. Today, Kawaihae Harbor is one of the largest and second busiest ports in Hawaii and is a major center for shipping raw sugar. Kawaihae Harbor has a fuel depot, mooring areas, a shipping terminal, and a military landing site. The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbor Division has announced a new Commercial Harbor Master Plan 2035 to construct a new pier in place of the beach. Due to this, recreational users will be limited only to the Kawaihae South Small Boat Harbor and Pelekane Bay in the future. Interestingly, this location has been used to film some sequences of the Hollywood film Waterworld. In addition, there is a famous Hawaiian temple, Puʻukoholā Heiau, built by King Kamehameha I in 1791, which is located just south of Kawaihae Harbor. It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, but entry to the public is restricted here.

Although Kawaihae Harbor does not have lifeguards, it does offer several other amenities including picnic tables, restrooms, shady areas, a pier, and a boat ramp. Dogs are allowed on the beach if they are on a leash, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset. 

Kawaihae Harbor offers many fun activities including scuba diving, fishing, surfing, canoeing, paddle boarding, sunbathing, picnicking, beachcombing, and swimming. If you are planning to go into the water near the beach, Kawaihae Harbor features a one thousand feet long man-made breakwall that protects the beach from the strong ocean currents and provides excellent conditions for swimming and scuba diving. Kawaihae Harbor is considered an ideal spot forfishing, and you will find manybar goatfish, bluefin trevally, iridescent cardinalfish, goldsaddle goatfish, blacktail snapper, crevalle jack, and blackside hawkfish. Visitors can book fishing chartersto enjoy sport fishing, but please ensure that you comply with the local fishing regulations. The beach offers amazing snorkeling opportunities - visitors can explore coral reefs with a large variety of colorful tropical fish as well as Hawaiian marine life. If you enjoy surfing, there is a popular surf spot named PuaKailima o Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park located just outside the man-made breakwall. There are also large tide pools near the beach that visitors can explore during low tide. In addition, visitors can book guided tours and experiences including kayak and canoe rides, sailing tours, snorkel tours, glass-bottom boats, and daily catamaran cruises. To make a booking, visit https://www.bigislandshaka.com/.

Getting to Kawaihae Harbor is easy. It has a paid parking lot located at 31-3661 Kawaihae Road near Mile Marker 3, which is easily accessible by the Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270).

There are many attractions near Kawaihae Harbor. Puakō Petroglyph Parkis an archaeological preserve with over 3,000 ancient petroglyphs (carvings in rocks), lava rock carvings etched into stones, dating back to 1200 A.D. It features carvings of humans, canoes, and turtles, which are thought to be records of births and other significant events in the lives of the people who once lived on the island of Hawaii. It is important to note that the site is unpaved and goes through a kiawe forest with thorns on the ground, and we recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Kiholo Bay has a black sand beach that offers many fun activities including snorkeling, swimming, hiking, camping, and fishing – and visitors can spot green sea turtles near the beach. If you are looking for another attraction near Kawaihae Harbor, Pololu Valley Lookout offers amazing, Instagram-worthy views of Pololu Valley and sea cliffs that crumble into the Pacific Ocean. The lookout offers several fun activities including hiking trails (Pololu Trail and Awini Trail) and a black sand beach.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Kawaihae Harbor. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill is an upscale restaurant that offers amazing Hawaiian-inspired dishes including salads, steaks, chops, and seafood. A-Bay’s Island Grill is a beachfront restaurant offering amazing salads, tortillas, sandwiches, steaks, loco moco, burgers, and seafood. Waikoloa Shrimp Co. serves shrimp-based dishes, steaks, poultry dishes, and desserts. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Kawaihae Harbor, Foster’s Kitchen Waikoloa serves shrimp, bruschetta, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, flatbread pizzas, poultry dishes, steaks, chops, tacos, and desserts.

If you are looking for a hotel near Kawaihae Harbor, there are many great nearby options. If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is 15 minutes away by car and has many amenities including three outdoor pools, hot tubs, a lap pool, tennis courts, two golf courses, a spa, a fitness center, an oceanfront restaurant. Another upscale option is the 4-Star Hilton Waikoloa Village which offers many amenities including three outdoor pools, hot tubs, a spa, a fitness center, two golf courses, tennis courts, and several restaurants. In addition, it also has other amenities including a black sand beach, a swimming lagoon with green sea turtles, kayaking, paddle boating, and a dolphin encounter experience. A more affordable hotel is the 3.5-Star Hilton Grand Vacations Club Kings’ Land Waikoloa which offers many amenities including a fitness center, tennis courts, five outdoor pools, hot tubs, a gift shop, a convenience store, and a restaurant. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Kawaihae Harbor, the modestly priced 2-Star Kona Seaside Hotel offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a sundeck, a hot tub, tropical gardens, and a barbecue facility.