Spencer Beach Park

Located in the town of Waimea, Spencer Beach Park has a small, narrow, and white sand beach situated below Puʻukohola Heiau, a famous temple built by Kamehameha I. Spencer Beach Park was named after Samuel Mahuka Spencer, who was Hawaii’s county chairman for 20 years and was responsible for developing the north Kohala Coast. Spencer Beach Park is an awesome family-friendly picnicking spot with open grassy lawns, large shade trees, and a large population of birds. The beach is a popular destination for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing as it is protected by an outside reef and the harbor breakwater.

Spencer Beach Park offers many amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, barbecues, and a camping spot. Please note that you must have a permit to camp at Spencer Beach Park and it costs $21 per adult and $6 per adult for locals.

There are many fun activities at Spencer Beach Park, including swimming, snorkeling, fishing, camping, birdwatching, picnicking, and sunbathing.

Getting to Spencer Beach Park is very easy – after you get off of Kawaihae Road, turn west and drive for a few minutes on Spencer Beach Park Road to get to the park’s free parking lot. After parking, you will need to walk three minutes west to reach the beach.

If you are looking for attractions near Spencer Beach Park, 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. Spread across 62 acres, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area features many beautiful white sand beaches and is great for many water sport activities including swimming, snorkeling, bodyboarding, and whale watching. Dolphin Quest Hawai’i - Swim with Dolphins is located inside Hilton Waikoloa Village – it features dolphin shows, swimming with dolphins, and touch tanks. Another great attraction near Spencer Beach Park is Hapuna Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course with beautiful views of the Kohala Coast and Pacific Ocean in the front and Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kohala Mountains in the back.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 15-minute drive of Spencer Beach Park. The Fish And The Hog is a barbecue restaurant with a nice menu that includes beef brisket, chicken quarters, kielbasa sausage, beef ribs, and pork ribs. If you like Tex-Mex food, Los Tres Mex serves fajitas, nachos, Chili corn carne, tamales, and enchiladas. Another good restaurant near Spencer Beach Park is Ocean Club Restaurant- Private Club, a seafood restaurant featuring oysters, surf ‘n’ turf, groupers, fish ‘n’ chips, and shrimps.

If you are looking for a hotel near Spencer Beach Park, you can drive 25 minutes to many nearby hotels. The luxurious 5-Star hotel Four Seasons Resort Hualalai offers a spa, fitness center, gym, an 18-hole golf course, seven pools, two bars, three restaurants, and tennis courts. The Westin Hapuna Beach Hotel is an upscale 4-Star hotel with many amenities including a beachfront spa, gym, an infinity pool, an 18-hole golf course, and three restaurants. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Spencer Beach Park, the 3-Star Waipiʻo Lodge provides nice waterfront rooms.