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Honokohau Beach

(Not Yet Rated)
Honokohau Beach 0:0

Address

Queen Kaahumanu Highway
Honokohau , HI

Review

Honokohau Beach, although surrounded by new development, is a beautiful historic bay tucked behind the Honokohau Harbor where ancient relics of the past still stand. It was first developed by early Hawaiians as a coastal dwelling where fish traps; fishponds, heiau (sacred temples) and halau (long houses) were built and used in every day life. Today this long stretch of sandy beach displays the past still available to the public for educational and recreational purposes.

The beach is accessed through the Honokohau Harbor entrance and is part of the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. Take the first right and follow the Shoreline Access signs around the back of the harbor to the designated parking area. A small, dirt walking trail is found through a small gate and the path leads to the beach. A fork in the path directs visitors to two areas of the beach. If the visitor is interested in the shortest walk to the shore, take a left at the arrow reading Ai opio Fish Trap. This path leads directly to the halau and southern end of the beach that houses the heiau and fish trap. Here the clear blue-green water is very shallow, making a great place for children to swim and adults to wade. The fish trap lava rock walls are still visible and standing in the water. This area of the beach is a popular stop for many beach-goers as the palm, coconut trees and halau provide plenty of shade and there is ample space to set up a barbeque, beach chairs, blankets and umbrellas. While this area may cater well for swimmers and sunbathers it should be noted that there is another animal that uses this area for sun basking purposes. The Hawaiian sea turtle or "hone" routinely swim to the protected cove of the bay to sun bathe on its sandy shores. As part of Park and Hawaii state protocol is it illegal to touch sea turtles and it is advised that people stay at least 20 feet away.

Many locals visit Honokohau to walk and run and take their dogs to the beach. It is a decent distance of sandy coastline that is rarely found on the lava-filled west side of Hawaii Island.

The beach is also used by traditional practitioners who use the heiau for religious and traditional ceremonies and chants. Many locals and visitors alike have used the picturesque backdrop of the halau and fishponds as the setting for their beach wedding, typically timing it with sundown to capture the beach’s timeless beauty. Returning to the fork in the trail, if visitors choice to take the right path -- Almakapa fish pond and Visitors Center -- they will find a small dirt path that leads through the large wall of vegetation behind the shoreline of the beach. Small paths cut away from the main trail and lead to the shore. Keep traveling this trail and the road will fork again. One path leads north throughout the rest of the Park and the other leads towards the Information/Welcome Center building.
Written By: Hadley Catalano
On: 9/4/2006

Directions

Take the Honokohau Harbor entrance off Queen Kaahumanu Highway just north of Kailua-Kona. Follow Shoreline Access signs.

Features

Bathrooms | Fishing | Parking | Paved Parking | Sandy Beach | Shady Areas | Snorkeling | Surfing | Swimming Areas

Map

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