Discover Waialea Bay
Posted on Jul 17, 2009 under Big Island Beaches |The Purest Ocean Waters on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast.
Waialea Bay is a small, picturesque beach nestled within the Hawaii oceanfront town of Puako, about 30 miles north of Kailua-Kona. A dense grove of keawe trees keeps the inlet fairly protected but the surf gets choppy as the trade winds pick up in the afternoon and in winter. The strong coastal currents and fresh water runoff provide clear, aqua blue waters that make this a snorkeler’s heaven. The paved roads around Waialea Bay are good for bicycling and walking.
Though there are plenty of sandy areas in which to stretch out, the beach is scattered with formations of old tree trunks, huge pieces of driftwood and giant lava rocks. Various sandy alcoves appear in between, which are usually well-populated. It is customarily warm here with soft ocean breezes flowing through. Stretched along the northeast coastline are the vivid green slopes of the Kohala Mountain range.
A segment of the Ala Kahakai coastal trail traverses the backside of Waialea Beach and runs for miles along a sandy path lined with palm, keawe, ironwood and various other trees. The trail parallels the high backyard gates of Puako’s luxury beachfront residences. Numerous private sandy coves appear in the clearings, along with a few shaded areas with picnic tables.
Waialea is a protected geological area for endangered sea life as part of the Marine Life Conservation District, and is part of the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. A vibrant tropical sea life and rich coral gardens may be explored within this pristine environment. Snorkeling is best in the morning when the waters are usually calm. Migrating Humpback whales can often be seen outside of the bay during the winter months. Fishing is not recommended due to the bay’s protected status.
This is a clean beach with facilities and a freshwater rinse stand. Find it off Highway 19 between the Mauna Lani and Hapuna resorts. From Kona, make a left at the Puako turnoff, about a mile from Mauna Lani. Make the first right onto Old Puako Road. Turn left onto a narrow one-lane road and follow it a short ways until you reach telephone pole 71, where you’ll see a “government property” sign. The beach is just at the end of the gravel parking lot.
