Ohai'Ula Beach

Located on the northwestern shore of the Kohala Coast on the Big Island,  Ohai'ula Beach - also known as  Ohai'ula Beach Park - has a long and wide white sand beach.  Ohai'ula Beach is located within Spencer Beach Park and offers Instagram-worthy views of the summit of Haleakala Volcano on the neighboring island of Maui, especially during sunset.   In addition, there is a popular Hawaiian temple, Puʻukoholā Heiau, built by King Kamehameha I in 1791, that is located just next to Ohai'ula Beach.  The temple is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, and has a Visitor Center, which offers wall exhibits and a free audio tour for smartphone users. It is important to note that entry to the public is restricted inside the temple to preserve the remains that have historic significance.

Ohai'ula Beach has many amenities including lifeguards (only on weekends and holidays between 9:30 am and 4:45 pm), restrooms, showers, picnic pavilions, picnic tables, barbecue grills, volleyball courts, trash cans, drinking water, a pay phone, and a large grassy area. Ohai'ula Beach welcomes dogs on a leash, and the beach is open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. 

Ohai'ula Beach is an ideal family-friendly beach and offers many fun activities, including boogie boarding, snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, scuba diving, fishing, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts.  If you are planning to go into the water near the beach, Ohai'ula Beach features a long offshore reef and the nearby Kawaihae Harbor that protect the beach from the strong ocean currents and provide excellent conditions for swimming and scuba diving most of the time during the year.  However, we recommend being careful, especially during winter, as it brings high surf, strong currents, and seaweed.  It is important to note that Hawaii's beach conditions are unique, so we recommend visiting www.hioceansafety.com or www.hawaiibeachsafety.com, which constantly monitor the surf, wind, and reports from public safety officials that directly affect the conditions for the safety of Hawaiian beaches.  The beach has two rocky outcrops that offer amazing snorkeling opportunities - visitors can explore coral reefs with a large variety of colorful tropical fish as well as Hawaiian marine life.  Depending on the time of year, visitors can also spot dolphin pods and humpback whales in the water near the beach.  If you enjoy surfing, Ohai'ula Beach is a great place to go surfing due to its frequently windy weather.  There are several basketball and tennis courts within the park that are free of charge and available to the public on a first-come-first-serve basis, providing a wonderful place for visitors to enjoy and play.

Getting to Ohai'ula Beach is easy - the beach has a free parking area located at 62-3461 Kawaihae Road, which is easily accessible by Highway 270.  After parking, you need to walk north for a minute to reach the beach.

There are many attractions near Ohai'ula Beach.  Puakō Petroglyph Park is 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 Ohai'ula Beach, 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 Ohai'ula Beach.  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 that offers 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 Ohai'ula Beach, 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 Ohai'ula Beach, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is 14 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, and 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 Ohai'ula Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Kona Seaside Hotelboffers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a sundeck, a hot tub, tropical gardens, and a barbecue facility.