Waialea Bay

Looking for a nice beach that offer a great beach experience while also allowing the more adventuresome in your group to so a little snorkeling? There are a few to choose from on the Kohala Coast; Mauna Kea Beach, Hapuna, Spencer are all great choices, but not my favorite... Waialea Bay. Also known as Beach 69 this place used to be found by locating an unmarked path through the woods at telephone pole #69. These days Waialea Bay features public bathrooms, a freshwater rinse, and easy parking without a long walk to the beach. There are also several large patches of coral reef that provide decent snorkeling. Maybe not the spectacular snorkeling of the open reef at nearby sites like Puako, but a good experience in shallower water and a partially protected bay where the sea conditions will be a little friendlier.

Reach this site by driving north from Kona on the Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy to the Puako turn off. About 1/2 mile after turning off the main highway take a right on a small paved road immediately opposite the Puako Waste Transfer Station. Go a little less than mile down this one lane paved road until you see a gated parking lot on the makai (seaward) side of the road. If you miss the turn and go another mile you will arrive at the better known Hapuna Beach.

The site is an excellent beginners site where a nice beach entry and shallow coral reef, quite near the shore, provides an experience to be enjoyed by even timid novices. Good fish and a friendly reef experience encourages exploration and learning the skills needed to tackle more adventures in the future.

Turtles are common in the bay, but more often seen in the shallows in front of the beach than out on the coral.

Entry is beyond easy, simply a soft sand beach and sand well out into the water. Winter storms can strip much of the beach of sand leaving more cobble and less sand, but there is usually some beach.

Conditions can be variable at the site. Like all bays and coves, if the surf is up the waves will stir up the sediment and snorkeling conditions will be poor and visibility will quickly degrade. The bay has few currents to sweep the turbid water away and will have poor visibility while the more exposed sites at nearby Puako are clear. Do not go over the coral if you can not see it or the experience will be painful for both you and the coral which is damaged by contact. When the surf is up take the boogieboard down to the beach, not the snorkel gear.

When the surf goes away, typical in summer months, conditions here can be good to spectacular, with swimming more friendly than a backyard pool. The perfect place for an introduction to snorkeling. More adventuresome snorkelers can simply go out further to deeper water.