Kua Bay/Maniniowali Beach  | Hawaii |  | Hawaii County |  |
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Address http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/hawaii.html Queen Kaahumanu Highway Kailua Kona, HI 96740 |
Hours Thurs-Sat 9:00am - 7:00pm Sun-Tues 9:00am - 7:00pm |
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North of Kailua-Kona, Kua Bay is located at mile marker 88 along Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Hwy. #19) across from the Veteran's Cemetery
Description:
Maniniowali beach, known primarily as Kua Bay has an illustrious reputation on the Big Island for its pristine white sand and clear blue green water. At one time it was one among a list of beaches that could only be accessed by a 4 Wheel Drive vehicle or by walking down the rough lava rock road to its shore. It was once visited by many locals looking for a quite oasis, free from the hordes of tourists that crowd the few sandy beaches in Kona. Within the last year Kua Bay, which is the northern most beach in the Kekaha Kai (Kona Coast) State Park system, has undergone a drastic change. Now the small beautiful beach has been made completely available to the public, as the state has created a paved access road, park facilities along with free public parking; creating a catch-22 for many island residents, who frequent the beach more regularly because of its manageable accessibility but feel disappointed that the once private location is now teaming with people and it’s secretive allure is now no more. These days, Kua Bay, which is located along the Kona Coast, north of Kailua-Kona, is one of the more popular beaches in the area. There is a decent amount of vacant soft white sand for lying out beach towels and chairs and sunbathing, though it is routinely interrupted with large segments of lava rock. The perimeter of the beach is lined with black lava rock and short green shrubs and trees and an occasional goat or two can still be seen wandering around. There is particularly no shade at the beach, save the couple of trees located next to the picnic area located along the paved path that leads to the beach. Most visitors bring umbrellas as a means to shield themselves from the sun, as it can become quite hot, especially during the mid afternoon hours. The rocks jetting out into the water along the ends of the beach create paths which people walk along to explore the coastline.
The water is notorious for its amazing multicolor appearance as it creates a striking view on the drive down to the beach. The inviting waves are usually swarming with local body boarders and now wet-suit clad tourists vying for a chance to catch a good wave. Although during the winter months the waves can become quite large and the shore break can be fairly intense and those who are inexperienced boarders should take caution before proceeding into the water. On calmer days the crystal clear water is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The sandy ocean bottom makes water time excellent for children as well. Some area hotels provide an Outrigger Canoe ride through the coastal bays into Kua, so occasional canoes are aground along the shore while paddlers enjoy snorkeling or relaxing time on the beach.
While Kua provides many excellent reasons to visit this picturesque beach, it is best advised to try to stop by on a weekday, as the beach is less crowded allowing for easier convenience to both sand and water. On any given weekend the cars begin to stream in early to the small parking lot, filling up the stalls quickly as well as any available sand space.
Written By: Hadley Catalano
Features
Bathrooms
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Fresh Water
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Parking
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Picnic Area
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Picnic Tables
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Sandy Beach
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Snorkeling
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Surfing
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Swimming Areas
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Kid Friendly
Comments
Yet one more beach taken over by tourists. I'm glad I got to see this beach before it was developed...same with Kuki'o, four-seasons (Ka Upulehu), and 69's.
- kawika on Sun, July 29, 2007
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