Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
4.5
About
One of the nicest sand beaches on the Kohala coast.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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Top ways to experience Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
13 within 3 miles
Attractions
23 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,745 reviews
Excellent
2,014
Very good
612
Average
90
Poor
23
Terrible
6
JoMich
Alma, MI246 contributions
Feb 2022
There is a reason that this beach has been called the most beautiful in the country. Part of a state park, Hapuna is a long, gentle expanse of soft golden sand, affording views of Mauna Kea and Hualalei volcanoes. We happened to go on a day when there was a high surf warning, so only the most intrepid were out body surfing or boogie boarding. The waves were as high as 10 feet, and it was thrilling to watch them crash against the rocks or even just break along the beach. The lifeguards were truly impressive as we saw them pull a couple of people out of the surf, including a young girl who became terrified when the undertow started pulling her, and the older people around her were unable to help. There is a truly magnificent hike—the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail—that is easy to walk and provides absolutely breathtaking views from the bluffs, especially during high surf! Hapuna Beach also includes clean bathrooms and a shaded pavilion with picnic tables. There are a few shady spots on the beach, but they fill up early. There is a charge both per person ($5 for residents and $7.50 for non-residents) and per vehicle ($10), but it is well worth the fee to experience this gorgeous beach.
Written February 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chandra S
Texas80 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
Our family of five from Texas and Oklahoma Oahu and the Big Island for Spring Break! We quickly learned that the Big Island is not known for its kid friendly sandy beaches.. as in there are hardly any there! We did research and decided to take our 6 and 10 year old grandsons to Hapuna Beach for an afternoon and were so happy to see a beautiful sandy beach that they could play in the water and not worry about them getting washed away by strong currents or getting beat up by lava rock! We were disappointed that they did not have working bathrooms..only port-a-potties.. The boys played for hours in the water and sand, while my husband, daughter and I watched them and the whales!! We watched the whales for over an hour and they were putting on quite a show!! So amazing to see!! The sunset was not the greatest because of it being so cloudy that evening but still got some really cool pictures!! If you are looking for a sandy beach while on the Big Island, definitely would recommend Hapuna!
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg S
Olympia, WA218 contributions
Sep 2021
Hapuna Beach is a beautiful, spacious white sand beach about 25-30 minutes north of the core Kailua-Kona commercial area. There is a $5 per person entrance fee and a $10 per vehicle parking fee. There was plenty of controlled parking area when we visited. It is under state management with state employees on site so this provides a certain degree of security. I didn't notice a rental place for beach umbrellas, chairs, etc., but most people had brought theirs. You may wish to rent these in advance. We spent a wonderful 3 hours walking the beach and enjoying the gentle surf.
Written September 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela C
Heber City, UT187 contributions
Aug 2022
The beach is very nice with lots of sandy areas to build sandcastles. Snorkeling and/or boogie boarding is hit and miss depending on the weather that particular day. You need to bring your own equipment as there are no rentals so unless you can snag a picnic table you will be in the sand in the sun. For me the biggest downside is that there is a charge for using the beach. $10.00 parking and $5.00 per person. There are plenty of gorgeous, free beaches in Hawaii so if you want to save a little money, go elsewhere.
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elijah H
1 contribution
Dec 2022
This is the third time we have brought family from the mainland to the famous flagship beach at Hapuna Beach state park on the big island. and it is the third time we have been totally embarrassed at the lack of washing and toilet facilities. They advertise wash off stations, toilets and change rooms. We were appalled that we could not even get into the changerooms to change our clothes or go to a flushable toilet. The port-a-potties that were temporarily placed by restrooms months ago were full by noontime and were not sanitary. Disruption around the entrance and parking area with construction ribbons have been there a long time and make it difficult to get to the beach. Why is it taking so long to make necessary repairs? There was no work being done and we were there in the middle of the week? We are losing one of our best tourist attractions on the big island by lack of action.
Written December 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah F
Oklahoma City, OK30 contributions
Mar 2023
This beach is beautiful and has great boogie-boarding. I was not pleased that I paid $10 to park my car plus $5 per person for entry, then to find out that there are no working facilities. The restrooms are closed, there are no changing facilities (we had to change clothes outside behind a deserted building - it was either that or try to hold our breath long enough to change clothes in a disgusting and overused porta-poddy), and there was no running water to rinse off.
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fred L
San Jose, CA1,515 contributions
Jul 2021
My family and I were on vacation in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area in July and we fell in love with Hapuna beach. So much so that we went there twice during our week stay. It's a long stretch of beach where the sand was powder soft and white. The water was unbelievably warm and clear. It was almost like being in a heated pool. The beach was not overly crowded. The waves oscillated between gentle and strong. Our girls (6 & 8) enjoyed playing in the water and going boogie boarding for the first time. This is the most beautiful beach that I have ever seen. There were showers, picnic tables, BBQ areas, lifeguards and an ample amount of parking. Though we read that there was a parking fee, we could not find anyone or any way to pay. If there is one beach that you go to while in Kona I would highly recommend this beach.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
subzi
13 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
It was a nice beach. Clean soft sand and water. We went on a Thursday at around 8 AM and it was pretty empty. We didnt go in the water so I cant say much about that. Parking is $10 and entrance is $5 per person. I preferred Kua Bay but thats just me!
Written July 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris D
Atlanta, GA155 contributions
Jul 2022
It's considered the most beautiful beach in the country in most Travel magazines, but it's not worth the visit relative to the parking fee. It costs $10 per car, and $5 person, so it would have cost $25 for the 3 of us. We only had a few minutes, so I parked for 10 minutes and risked a fine, or tow, or something just to see it.
I say it's not worth it because Mauna Kea Beach is just a couple of miles north, is equally as beautiful, and the parking is free. Both had the same small crowds on a Tues. Save your money and visit Mauna Kea instead.
OK, if you have all day, go ahead and spend the money, but do yourself a favor and check out Mauna Kea too.
I say it's not worth it because Mauna Kea Beach is just a couple of miles north, is equally as beautiful, and the parking is free. Both had the same small crowds on a Tues. Save your money and visit Mauna Kea instead.
OK, if you have all day, go ahead and spend the money, but do yourself a favor and check out Mauna Kea too.
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina K
7 contributions
Mar 2022
There is a fee to use this area - be prepared for a long wait to buy your pass and pay parking fees. They only have one ticket machine which is very slow and then you have to take the ticket back up to your car - quite inconvenient. However, the beach is gorgeous with lots of space to plant yourself. It got a bit crowded in the water at times with everyone trying to catch the surf.
Written March 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary W
32 contributions
Is it handicap accessible
MmmmmmChocolate
Sydney, Australia131 contributions
There are multiple paths without steps that wind down the hill to the beach from the car park. There is designated parking close to the paths but it’s a bit of a walk/roll down to the beach. You can’t drive down. I didn’t walk the length of the beach so I can’t answer with certainty, but I didn’t see wheelchair path access across the sand to the water.
beckstar5
Ontario2 contributions
Would it be better to rent from snorkel bobs in kona??
jstevens2000
Dallas, TX587 contributions
Yes, in Waikoloa there is one right behind the Foodland.
beckstar5
Ontario2 contributions
Is there a fee to enter the park!
Do they rent snorkel gear
SummerGirl71
Lincoln, NE11 contributions
$5.00 for non-Hawaii residents to enter park. I believe you can rent about anything—umbrellas, chairs, snorkel gear. I didn’t go up to the rental shed myself, but there were plenty of people coming back with beach stuff.
germaphobia
SF11 contributions
Are the waves here too strong for a toddler to play in the water?
Justmycupoftea
st. louis, mo153 contributions
It's a perfect beach for little ones! Shallow water, gentle waves. Enjoy :)
We are planning to stay at Hapuna Beach state park during our visit and I am wondering if the kitchen has also pots, bowl, etc. or we have to bring our own amenities?
Thank you
Vladi
Thewongplace
Kelowna, Canada15 contributions
In the A-frame shelters, there is just a table and electrical plugs. In the shelter, there is a shared cooking area with a microwave, stove and fridge but I did not check to see if they were working. I would bring my own cooking stuff.
ryarch
Portland, OR1 contribution
Hi, I have reservations to stay in the shelters at Hapuna beach, but recent read a post from 2014 that said they were infested with centipedes, ants, and cockroaches, and in general, not maintained very well. Does anyone know if this is still the case? Thanks!
DrMrinmay
Kuwait City, Kuwait57 contributions
Can't answer this one since we did not stay there. We drove to the beach from Kona.
Enjoy your trip
What are the ways / public transport to reach the Hapuna Beach from Hilo Barbour? Thank you
Nannielle
Cool, CA29 contributions
I'm unfamiliar with the public transportation? Uber? I would recommend a car.
jessie_dong
Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada1 contribution
What time did you go if I want to snorkeling at Hapuna Beach. I heard that you have to be there in the early morning to see turtles and fish.
Jen B
Edmonton, Canada6 contributions
Hi there!
We usually went in the later morning for a few hours. But truthfully, we didn't see any turtles and only some fish near a rock. We were told about a snorkelling place (as we were leaving of course lol), that was on the south side of Kona, but I don't remember the name.
Ps: go snorkelling with the manta rays; it's incredible ❤️
Jen
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area (Puako) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
- We recommend booking Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area:
- (0.22 mi) The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
- (0.24 mi) Hapuna Beach Residences
- (0.23 mi) Hapuna Beach Residence A12 at Mauna Kea Resort
- (0.31 mi) Opulent Oceanview Estate w/Pool, Spa & AC - Lounge in Luxury at The Bluffs 22
- (0.97 mi) Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
- Restaurants near Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area:
- (0.15 mi) Meridia
- (0.22 mi) Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel Beach Bar
- (0.28 mi) 'Ikena Landing
- (0.28 mi) Naupaka Beach Grill
- (0.31 mi) Piko Coffee + Bar
- Attractions near Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area:
- (0.28 mi) Sunshine Helicopters Big Island
- (0.28 mi) Hapuna Golf Course
- (0.53 mi) Waialea Beach
- (0.28 mi) The Beachery
- (0.93 mi) Mauna Kea Beach