Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area

One of my favorite beaches anywhere. Fantastic white sand. Good amount of parking, lots of functional showers for rinsing off. Great beach for families, novice boogie boarders, body surfing. I have never snorkeled there, but I did see people snorkeling there. Note: they do charge for parking/access now. There are a lot of families who come here year after year, it's a great place for family memories.

This is my first visit to this stunning beach. Water was Aqua marin color(gorgeous). The Killer Sunset tonight! Was accompanied with my 70 yr old mother and 18 yr old daughter. Here are some pictures I took, not a professional, but I think I did alright.

Great spot for the entire family. Soft sand beach, great facilities (life guards, shower and foot rinse stations, clean bathrooms, picnic areas, etc.). Ocean variable on currents but overall good for swimming. Good size parking lot but can get full at peak hours. For non-Hawaiian residents there is a fee of $10 per car, plus $5 per person. Pay at the mobile station and put on your dash. The pass is good for the entire day and includes access to Beach 69 (Waialea Beach). Additionally, make sure you have Reef Safe sunscreen. Hawaii passed legislation requiring it. You can search for info on details.

Hapuna is one of my favorite beaches to visit, I have been here a few times. I fell in love with Hawaiʻi aka the Big Island. It looks like something that you'd only see in heaven, the most beautiful sunsets and the white sand. Please remember to be kind and respectful to the people and the wildlife - don't get to close to the turtles and don't be a stupid annoying entitled tourist as we are visitors to this beautiful place. Mahalo! ☺️ Until I see you again Hapuna 🌊🐚

Some of the most beautiful reef I have encountered. Fish were friendly and plentiful. Currents are strong on the sandy side so be a good swimmer but the experience is definitely worth the workout.

Very beautiful beach! You will need to pay entrance and parking - for 4 it was $30 for about 4 hours. Sand is pristine and water was clear and beautiful! We also saw some fold cliff diving. Not many fish to snorkel and the waves were gentle so not great for boogie boarding.

Amazing beach, has a strong current but is picture perfect. Depending on the day it’s either very clear with great water or really fun with good small waves to ride on with a boogie board. This is the best beach on the big island.

Great beach. One of the best sand beach options near Waikoloa. Nice surf, plenty of room, good parking, and showers! What else do ya need!

This was our first beach to stop at in Hawaii, and it was a great stop! To start off parking was very easy. Please keep in mind that it's $10 for entry and $5 per person, but it was well worth it. We did not have a long walk from our car to the beach. The water at the beach is very pretty. The currents were very strong so we were not able to swim much, but that's to be expected when going to the ocean. If you're into surfing, the waves looked great for that! Also, keep in mind that you need to bring your own chairs and umbrella. There is no shade on the beach, so if you need some shade, make sure to bring your umbrella. It didn't look like there was a place to rent from here. Overall beautiful beach!

DAY 2 of Vacation - We visited Hapuna Beach after zipling since it was on the way to back to our hotel. My bf did research prior to visiting, and he really wanted to visit this beach. Out of all the beaches we visited, we found ourselves constantly coming back to Hapuna. The views here are breathtaking, especially during the sunset. Don't miss it! We also took sunset photos here the day before we departed. Hapuna was absolutely beautiful. The ocean was the cleanest water I've ever swam in. The water was also warm, so we weren't completely frozen. The waves constantly came onto the shore. Depending on the weather, some waves were large and some were small. This is a large beach, so there's plenty of space for everyone. There is a big parking lot. No one was attending the kiosk. It is self-pay at the machine. Though, when we tried paying, the machine constantly acted up. We gave up after that, so we did not pay for parking.

10/10 recommend this beach to people of all ages. There are 2 different parking areas where you have to pay for parking. Parking is $40 and the machines accept cash/card. You can park outside the gates for free but it is a farther walk. It's not far at all of a walk to the beach from the parking lot. No stairs. The waves were so calm and it is shallow for a long while before it dips we went here with my six month old and three year-old. We brought a Sun tent, which was the right thing to do since there aren't any umbrellas. It seems like people were renting umbrellas from the resort connected to the beach, which is the Westin. There are different wash off showers all over at each entrance of the beach and parking lot . Bathrooms close by. Can't wait to come back here!

Over the past 20 years, my parents have come to this resort when it was the prince and then got bought out later by the Westin. Year after year this beach has stayed true its name although it does have a public and private side. Everybody is polite and helpful when needed! Snorkeling in the cove is like a dream and the earlier in the morning the more flat and wildlife you'll see! I actually don't know how to swim but I can snorkel so maybe the saltwater helps me stay afloat?! Lol if you stay at the hotel, you can actually rent Snorkel and gear for two hours for free. You just have to sign up. There's a lot of perks to this hotel and I love the cultural center and the classes they offer!! I love the Hawaiian culture and history and I hope with this new mayor, they are able to keep everything the same!! Their history needs to be told!!

I'm normally more wordy than this, but I have some catching up to do... When you think of a white sand beach in paradise... Hapuna beach is the picture you have in your mind. Beautiful white sand and blue water. Parking can be expensive, but it's worth it if you've already invested in the trip to Hawaii. Along with the picturesque beach itself there are modern bathroom facilities and you may get to experience some of the local wildlife. Feral chickens and Nene geese. While you are in Hawaii please spend some time and learn the history and the true culture of the Hawaiian islands. As long as you are in the area make sure you check out the local shopping and restaurants!

Such a great beach! We come here every time on the Big Island. Come early as the parking lot ffills up quickly.

Loved this beach! It's pretty quiet with soft white sand and clear waters. Fyi, there's a parking fee and only a small water spout to wash off

Hapuna was my first Hawaiian beach I've ever set foot on and it was a doozy! We pulled up pretty early in the morning after grabbing malasada for breakfast. We got to the beach around 9am and there was plenty of parking in the free public lot. The beach was still pretty quiet and perfect for taking peaceful photos without people in the background. The water is beautiful - the whole scene looks like something out of a computer screensaver or a postcard. It got a little busier after a couple hours so we decided to head out and grab lunch. Definitely recommend if you're visiting Kona!

this is one of the most amazing white sand beaches on the big island . No lava rocks so you don't need reef shoes and the walk from parking is minimal for people with orthopedic or asthmatic issues . A cart is helpful but if you pack light you really don't need it . We arrived a round 9:30 -10:00 am and there was a handful of people by noon it had doubled . The water was quite warm probably 70+ degrees. The water was also very calm, no white caps until about 2pm when the wind picked up . This is a very windy beach so please leave your umbrella at home. Seriously , leave it at home unless you want the liability when your umbrella smacks someone in the head . Several people had umbrellas that were being pulled out of the ground by the wind gusts and one went flying so fast end over end it almost hit another group of people. it would have but someone caught it . We had a beautiful peaceful day. The huge difference between CA beaches and HI beaches is in Hawaii there are no seagulls and no sand fleas. i highly recommend this beach for small children . The depth is pretty shallow even 100 yards off shore. There is a jetty of lava that many people were snorkeling around . The water was crystal clear well our past the reef. Take nothing but a photo, leave nothing but a footprint .

Awesome beach/ didn't mind paying the parking (10 per vehicle and 5 per person). Nice shallow and sandy slope, few rocks, perfect for two hours of swimming at least Would return Wish you could rent umbrellas and chair

Absolutely beautiful beach with lots of parking. If you go in the morning, definitely calm seas here and great for family outings & gatherings. Multiple recreation areas on the grass Hill with lots of bathroom and BBQ space here. Mostly sandy beaches, little bit of rocks here and there.

Large beach with amazingly clear water! The kids body boarded in the waves and built sand castles in the sand. There is a bit of a walk down the hill to the beach (that means back up after!), water to rinse afterwards which is appreciated. This is NOT a place to snorkel! Do NOT come her for snorkeling, this is a fun beach for playing in the water and in the sand. Bring everything you need for your time here as there is nothing else. It is a really nice beach as long as you don't think you are going to go snorkeling. :/

Wanted to go to a beach that had less rocks and was more swimmable, and Hāpuna was a great option. We arrived around 9 AM and there was lots of parking. Parking is $10 per vehicle and $5 per person. Make sure to bring a mat, chair, or umbrella since there's lots of space to lay out.

While I love coming to Hapuna Beach, unfortunately, today (7/28/23) I had to give my favorite beach a 1 star rating because get this-- NO FRESH WATER at the beach. Apparently, there hasn't been any fresh water since OCTOBER 8, 2022 that's almost a year! That's right, there was no way to wash our salty bodies after a relaxing swim in the ocean. That really should never be the case at a State Beach Park. Other than that, it was really a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. The kids had a fun time boogie boarding and the waves are perfect for it. But not having any running fresh water really was a drag. The powers that be need to get this problem fixed. The grass in the area is drying up and the palm trees are dying. This is all surprising to me given that the people of Hawaii take much pride in their land and to see this beach go to shit is upsetting.

My favorite beach on the big island- so relaxing and beautiful. Be sure to come for sunset...have a drink at the hotel. The view from there is breathtaking

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area is a very popular beach to go to and even with the large parking lot, it may be hard to find a good spot to park at. The waves can get rather intense during the winter months but the sand itself is great overall. There are also some covered picnic areas nearby and restrooms are close by.

Its a world class beach with all the beautiful light blue waters you could ask for. On Winter months the waves can be intense so bring your boogey boards! Great shaded picnic tables on the hillside with amble restrooms and lifeguards. Not the best snorkeling place but that is not why everyone comes here. Parking lots are massive but you still might find yourself out on the street it is so popular. There is a side road on the south side for handicap accessible vehicles to get your loved ones closer to the sea level Of the many dozen times I've come here I've never seen any urchins so I'm always barefoot though I've seen a few jellies but the water is so clear that I've had time to get out of the way.

Best beach on Big Island ! Large covered picnic areas, lots of parking. Best of all was the soft white sand on a large beach and the fact that it continued all the way into the ocean as far as I could go. Big fun waves to play in! Lots of body / boogy board fun! No rocks to hurt your feet on which was amazing ! People of all ages having FUN !!! The only thing was the bathrooms seemed to consist of porta potties and the water fountains for drinking and rinsing off feet were not working at all. I wasn't there for as long as I wanted to be, so I may of missed some other stuff. It gets very hot so please apply your sunscreen ! Then re- apply often. I saw some very nasty sun burns !! Highly recommend if you love the beach and swimming ! My only regret was not being able to stay longer!!!!

A compliment to the staff at Hāpuna State Beach for well maintained grounds and facilities. There is a restroom facility, parking lot, rinse-off showers, paved walkways for easy access to the beach, picnic tables, shade structures and an easy to use parking/entrance fee pay station. Parking is $10 per vehicle with a per person fee. This is a great price for a full day of entertainment, great sandy beach and swimmable waves. Our family visited this state park more than once in our short visit to Kona. The sandy beach and sandy shoreline were the best. You didn't have to worry about hurting your feet on sharp rocks and definitely do not need water shoes. We brought a picnic a couple umbrellas and bamboo mats but all you need is your bathing suit and sunblock. Will see you next nice Hāpuna. Mahalo!

Probably the best beach on the Big Island. You have to pay for parking and admission but worth it. I was bummed that they are renovating the bathrooms so no running water so you have to us port-a-potties but that's a minor inconvenience. Sand is white and fine. Snorkeling was good especially by the hotel. Very spacious and family oriented. This is definitely my favorite beach in all of Hawaii. Definitely will be back.

Hapuna is our favorite beach in close proximity to Waikoloa Village. Beware there are 2 separate beaches. Do not turn into the one with little beach and all rocks. Get back in your car and keep driving off route until you reach the next parking lot. There you will find beach!!! The weather was perfect, parking lot ($10 parking, $5 per person), bathrooms, shower stations, what more do you need? On the way out the malasada truck is right out front on the main road for a sweet snack afterwards.

Loved this beach so much we came here twice during our trip. They have picnic tables and porta potties. The water is clean and have super soft sand. It's a decent sized beach so you still have space around you even when it's busy.

This beach os beautiful and probably the best in the northern area of the island near Kona/Waikoloa Village. The problem is that is COSTS to be here at this state run beach. I hate that as Americans, who pay taxes, we are required to PAY to go to a beach in this Country...$10/vehicle + $5/person...saw lots of families leave after they were approached about paying. There are beach staff attendants who literally walk up to you right when you get out of your car to make sure that you paid the fees to be there...Super UnAmerican. They have 2-4 life guard towers, beautiful picnic gazebos with coverage, a grassy area, some shade spots, and showers to wash the sand off. The attendant told us there was no shade, and advised us to go about a mile south to the WaiLea Bay Beach. He said, "If you want shade there are all trees at that one..." We left and headed there..HORRIBLE beach. Rock Reefs, rocks, and ugly, old, and rotting trees lined the tiny beach area of about 100 feet. We spent some time there, where you pay the same price: $10/vehicle + $5/person, and then drove back after getting cut on our feet and knees from being in the water. We headed back to Hapuna State Beach, since we had already paid until 6pm. Got there, and the attendant lied. There was plenty of covered gazebos, picnic spots, trees, and some other shade places we could have been setup under. Never trust a local. He hates that we are here to enjoy HIS beach...at a price. Ruined our whole beach experience this day. Oh well, we learned our lesson and will head to Makalawena Beach about 15min south next time. A true local pointed us there, and assured us that it would be a greater experience.

White sand beaches and fairly sheltered swimming cove! What a lovely, accessible state Park beach access! $10 to park plus $5/person entrance fee (look for the kiosk near the bathrooms). This beach has shaded picnic tables and amazing coastal access! It's hard to find beaches that aren't sharp, hot, black lava, but Hapuna State Beach is covered in soft white sand with plenty of shaded bits to tuck into as the heat picks up. Family friendly, the coast is protected from large winds and waves, making it accessible for those just learning to swim. If you're staying at the Westin, the resort hard beach access from the hotel.

Beautiful beach but no water facilities. Porta Potties only. No where to change if you are going for the day. The surf can be dangerous also.

Beautiful beach. With amenities Parking is only -$5.00. Park in lot and an easy walk dosn. There's grills and picnic tables. I think it's a state park too

Awesome beach for body surfing with lifeguards on site and some shade for our group of 16.

Hapuna Is probably the most perfect beach on the Big Island and a lot of other places. Big wide white sand beach. It's a classic Hawaiian beach and if you haven't been - go. Lots of room, ample parking, restrooms, and easy to access. Of course it is often busy and a favorite of a lot of people, so don't expect to have it to yourself!

Sand sand sand!!! There's a dearth of sandy beaches on the big island. They are here, but so are a plethora of ouchy lava rock beaches where a thick soles shoes are highly recommended. Ah, that is where the answer to our prayers comes in. Bless you Hapuna Beach founders. You done good. So many perfect boogie boarding and body surfing waves. Soft sand will cushion your landing if you wipe out. It was a lot of fun watching everyone frolicking in the water. There are also plenty of trees around and picnic tables on the hill down from the parking lot to the beach. All you fair-skinned folk - rejoice!

It's a pretty nice beach. Came on a rainy day and it still wasn't too bad. Parking is $10 + $5 per person at a kiosk nearby for non Hawaii residents. Tides were pretty strong and there wasn't too many people on a Thursday.

We drive by the beach, and decided to park the car and take a look. The beach seems very nice, and very popular among local people. There are two gazebos facing to the ocean, we sit there for a while watching the ocean and people, that's quite fun.

This is an awesome Sandy beach that's great for families and boogie boarding but it's soooo crowded. If crowds bother you, don't bother here especially during tourist times and weekends. There is a small parking lot but you likely have to park farther and walk. Water facilities were down today so don't count on them. Beautiful location.

We came to this beach today to try to snorkel. The cost is $10 per car plus how many persons, which is $5 per person. The wave and current was strong this afternoon. There were several rinse stations. The water is clear. Lots of people was here today.

Soft sand, great for swimming...plenty of parking and picnic tables...no running water and only pit toilets...the bathrooms are all locked up...

Beach time! [Waialea Bay section] We drove to North Kona on the Kohala Coast and spent some beach time at Hapuna, Waialea Bay section. It's still part of the Hapuna Beach State Recreational Area. What a gorgeous beach! I've read somewhere that this is on the list of the best beaches in the world and that it was named the Best Beach in America by the Florida International University in 1993... the backdrop is a breathtaking natural landscape and the beach, itself, with soft white sand and calm waters... great sand castle sand :) The area is very clean and equipped with restrooms, showers, picnic tables and BBQ stations... oh, and also good looking lifeguards ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Recommended by two of my friends, this is a must visit when in Kona. 34 miles from our resort at The Royal Sea Cliff in Kailua-Kona. It was a great day for lazing at the beach... actually, any day is a great day for lounging in a beach in Hawaii. Large beach with lots of space, the parking lot was full but the crowd was pretty spread out. There is a sign before heading to the beach part... former military training area! UXO (unexploded ordnance) may be present... whaaaat? Hapuna was used for military exercises during World War 2. Review #2296

Parking is $10 and there's a $5 admission charge per person. This beach has lovely white sand. It's soft and easy on the feet. The water is shallow for a good stretch and there were pretty decent waves the day we went. If you snorkel, bring your gear. There's a good amount of parking, bbq areas, and restroom facilities. Bring your own sun umbrellas as there's no shade. The few treed areas are kind of far from the water. We had a fun afternoon at the beach!

Kayaking, snorkeling, and easy waves here! So laid back feels private like your own beach. Beaches in LA don't look like this! The sunset is what you need to stick around for!

I am by no means a beach person. I hate baking under the sun and not being able to go into the freezing water to cool off, but Hapuna is a beautiful beach. Plenty of shade from the large trees to set up under as well as clean bathrooms and a whole shaded structure with picnic tables. The water was so clear and the sand felt so nice under my feet. No rocks and I had no problems going barefoot. I ended up going into the water multiple times because of how clean and gorgeous the beach was.

Beautiful white soft sand beach with ample parking. Incredible visibility in the water and lots of fun for the family! There's restrooms and a place to rinse off the sand after your visit. There's also a few covered picnic areas and 2-3 lifeguard stands along the beach. If you looks at the rocks on the west side then you might see some kids jumping from them! You can't go wrong with hapuna beach!

As a kama'āina the State has failed to mālama this beach. No proper bathrooms and showers for years! State need to return it to the people so it can be usable and the booth is useless with no one to charge the tourist!

This was the whitest / sandiest beach we saw on the island. It's a traditional looking beach, wouldn't say it's the most spectacular on the island, but worth a check out if you are on a tour of the hawaiian beaches.

Extremely large, beautiful, and accessible family beach on the Big Island. NO WATER!!??!!??!!?? It was an extremely disappointing discovery... no bueno!

Such a fun beach is soft sand (hard to find on the big Island) water was warm and felt so good to lay in. Was so refreshing and relaxing to breath in the air. Miss the beach.....

This is a lovely beach, gentle waves, wide beach area. At the north end of the beach, there is a small cove with a small sand area and steps up to the Westin resort. This cove has tons of fish in it. We saw more different fish here in just a few minutes than during the snorkel tour at Capt. Cook's monument. You can swim from the main beach area, but be mindful of the tides.

Huge waves !! Awesome clean beach with lots of parking. Wish they had umbrella rentals so that I could lay here down for the whole day!!

Gorgeous. Lovely. Paradise. Currently the bathrooms are closed due to a water main break, but there are portable toilets. Bring water. :-) definitely worth the visit. $25 to park.

This is my parents favorite beach on the big island. They come every winter and stay in the Waikoloa Beach Resort area so this beach is conveniently located near by. We came twice when we joined them for 10 days this year. This beach is known to be good for boogie boarding because of the big waves. On our first visit, the waves were huge. Anthony and I both boogie boarded and had a great time. It was exhausting with such big waves. The waves were much smaller on our second visit. We actually liked boogie boarding better because you didn't have to fight as many waves to get out there. It's a really nice beach. My only issue is that it was very crowded both times. I prefer a less crowded, more relaxing beach. There also isn't much (if any) shade on the actual beach. There's a lot of shade behind the beach on the grass which we took advantage of (I prefer to be on the beach though). Since it's a state park, parking costs $5 if you park inside the gates. There is plenty of parking, but since it's crowded, you might have to walk quite a ways to get there. Stop at the nearby Hot Malasadas truck after for the best warm, fresh donuts. If you like boogie boarding, this is a great beach to come to. Overall, if you can avoid the crowds, it's a really nice beach.

Loved this beach! Although I did take a nasty tumble straight into the sand while body surfing. The ocean was angry that day. Regardless of my mishaps it's an awesome beach with great facilities & such fun boogie boarding & body surfing!

The white sand is soooo soft! It's like walking on pastry flour. Strolling along the comfy beach as calm waves dutifully checked-in on Yelp was a wonderful feeling. There was only one negative: fees. Non-residents: $5/person Parking: $10/vehicle * Credit Card Only * Hawaii residents: free This was one of the most popular beaches for families we visited. So the entrance and parking fees aren't keeping tourists away. The beach park is notably landscaped plus there are picnic tables, shelters, restrooms, beach showers, and lifeguards available, too. Hikers should consider the 15.4-mile loop Ala Kahakai Trail along the coast. It isn't strenuous, but it is beautiful because, ya already know, it's the Hawaiian coastline. As the largest white sand beach on Hawaii with super-soft sand, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area is a wonderful beachy-keen outing, yet note that for 4 tourists, Hapuna cost $30 more than other Big Island beaches.