Beach Activities

An easy drive from the Inn is one of the most intersting National Parks in the State, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the only Park in the nation to be situated on an active Volcano.  Visit lava tubes, hike on trails that lead down to the caldera, or watch as lava pours into the Pacific Ocean.  A Visit to this National Park will leave you with images that will last a lifetime.

The following are additional Parks and beaches that are of interest to Big Island Visitors.

Parks & Recreational Areas:

Akaka Falls State Park - Just 3.6 miles southwest of Honomu off Highway 220 at the end of Akaka Falls Road. The park features Kahuna Falls and the 442-foot Akaka Falls amid lush tropical foliage.

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area - Ideal for swimming during calm seas, bodysurfing during periods of shorebreaks, sunbathing and other beach-type activities. Can be dangerous during high surf. Picnicking and shelter lodging opportunities. On Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19), 2.3 miles south of Kawaihae.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Found on the southeastern coast, 29 miles southwest of Hilo and 96 miles east of Kailua. Established in 1916, the park encompasses the world’s most active volcanic areas. The Kilauea Visitor Center and park headquarters, open daily, 7:45 a.m. - 5 p.m., is a good starting point with literature and displays. Three miles west at the Uwekahuna overlook is the Thomas Jaggar Museum, open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., where seismographs and tilt meters illustrate how volcanoes erupt. Chain of Craters Road, the park’s main road, encircles Kilauea Caldera with many lookout points and also takes visitors down to the coast, where lava flows may be visible as they enter the sea. The park is open daily. Admission. (808) 967-7311. For recorded information on the Big Island’s volcanic activity: (808)967-7977.

Kamakahonu Beach & Lagoon - Once the home of King Kamehameha the Great, you’ll find this site beside the Kailua Pier.

Kealakekua Bay State Underwater Park - Take Puuhonua Road (Highway 160) to Government Road onto Beach Road or Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11) at Captain Cook or Keei Junction to Lower Government Road. A good place for beginners to snorkel and swim. Bay diving available through boat charters. The adjacent State Historical Park offers viewing of Hikiau Heiau, where priests paid reverence to Captain Cook in 1779 thinking that he was the god Lono whose return was foreseen.

Lapakahi State Historical Park - 12.4 miles north of Kawaihae on the Kawaihae-Mahukona Highway (Highway 270). The 262-acre park on the site of a partially restored ancient Hawaiian coastal settlement, featuring with cultural demonstrations, storytelling and self-guided walks. Marine preserve nearby. Open daily, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (808) 889-5566.

Liliuokalani Gardens - This small park near the northwest end of Banyan Drive in Hilo has picturesque gardens and meandering footpaths leading across ponds and arching bridges and past stone lanterns and pagodas.

Spencer Beach Park - Located near Kawaihae, adjacent to Puukohola Heiau National Historic Park. Shoreline has a gentle slope that is good for children. The bay offers protection, making for calm waters.

Onekahakaha Beach Park - This South Hilo park features a sandy swimming area and is perfect for a family outing with its pavilions, picnic tables, camp sites and restrooms.

Wailoa River State Recreation Area - The river banks in downtown Hilo provide space for relaxing, picnicking and boat fishing in this landscaped park set around a spring-fed estuary. Information and cultural displays featured at Wailoa Center, accessed off Pauahi Street. Parking is at the end of Piilani Street.

Wailuku River State Park - Situated off Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo, the park’s popular attractions are the Boiling Pots Area at the end of Peepee Falls Drive and the Rainbow Falls Area on Rainbow Drive.

Beaches

Hapuna

The Big Island of Hawaii is so young that lava coastlines are the norm and white-sand beaches the exception. Hapuna's white sands and easy water access more than make up for the rest of the island's lack of swimmable coastline. With very little wave action and rarely any cloud cover, the water at Hapuna offers unbelievable visibility. There are also restrooms, showers and resorts nearby.

Kailua Bay

World-famous for its deep-sea fishing, Kailua-Kona is really more of a boater's haven. However, there are a few strips of sand in Kailua and a few miles south. The clarity of the water and general lack of currents mean the water's perfect for swimming on a blistering Kona afternoon.

Kealakekua Bay

A snorkeler's dream, Kealakekua Bay is most scenically reached via tour boat, easily booked through any hotel or travel desk. A natural reserve, Kealakekua's crystal-clear waters teem with friendly marine life of all shapes and sizes. A monument to Captain Cook and the rugged coastline make the views above water spectacular as well. Bring your beach gear when you visit neighboring Puuhonua o Honaunau -- the two spots are just minutes apart.

Hilo Bay

Having been devastated by tsunamis (seismic ocean waves) a number of times, the townsfolk of Hilo finally constructed a huge breakwater that shields the bay from not only devastating surf, but any and all surf. The water in Hilo Bay is often murky and best for kayaking or swimming because of extensive runoff from nearby streams and rivers. Directly in the line of equatorial currents, Hilo Bay's highlight is beachcombing, as floatsam from around the Pacific Rim can wash up here.

South Point/Green Sand Beach at Papakolea

The southernmost point in the United States can be reached after a 9-mile drive along a deserted road that leads to spectacular sea cliffs. While the ocean itself here is difficult to access, the coastal views are spectacular. A roughly 3-mile-long jeep trail leads to the green-sand beach at Papakolea, a trek well worth the effort. Liberally sprinkled with specks of olivine crystal, the sand here appears to be green, hence the name. Swimming and snorkeling are fine, but don't go in the water if the surf looks rough.