Robert C.
Yelp
Snorkeling along the ocean north of Waikoloa on the big Island?
I had read about Puako Beach being a good place to snorkel, and decided to come.
We left our resort in Waikoloa, driving north on highway 19 for 7 miles, before making a left turn onto a narrow paved road called Puako Beach Drive. A fork in the road appears, with Old Puako Road going to the right.
Sign here says entering the Hapuna Beach State recreation area. Beyond the sign is a long sandy beautiful beach called Beach 69 -I know what you are thinking!. Further along appears the famous Hapuna Beach, perhaps the most popular beach on the Island..
$5 nonresident fee to enter State beaches. Now I may look like a local at 5' 7" and 185 lbs, with a mild CA tan, but my driver license says otherwise. We take the left fork, going along Puako Beach Drive.
Driving a ways we see a big open area of the ocean. This is Puako Bay with a boat loading ramp, where snorkeling tour boats head out for manta ray showings at night.
Traveling along Puako Beach Drive, we enter Puako town proper, with built up areas of residential homes on both sides of the street. Many older buildings, reminding me of Old Hawaii, on the mountain side.
Periodically we see gaps on the ocean side, with 7 public access easements to small sections of beach. Very limited public parking in these narrow easements
Puako beach runs parallel to Puako Beach Drive, with small areas of black and white sands
beach broken up by expanses of black volcanic lava.
We drive the entire 4 mile length of Puako Beach Drive, until it dead ends in the south. About 100 yards before it dead ends, on the ocean side is Holoholokai Beach Park.
Tall trees surround the dirt entrance to this beach park, with trees delineating the parking area for perhaps 20 vehicles at most.
Porta potties here, but no showers to wash off your gear. Most people change in and out of their swimming suits in their cars or vans. Would not want to trip, on taking off your pants, fall against the inside wall, and tip over the porta potty! Then you would really need a dip in the ocean!
Signs warns of dangerous rip tides, and of the dangers of stepping on the edges of the volcanic lava, and having it break off.
It's 10am on a weekday but already the place is packed with pickups and older vans, sure signs of the locals swimming here.
Tide pools abound on the rocky volcanic edge of the beach. Difficult access for snorkeling from here, although you can walk among the tide pools. On a calmer day, one might see turtles among the tide pools.
Today the waves are pounding the area with a strong surf, as there is a surf advisory in November. Only the locals, who know how to swim in these rugged waters, are out in the waters.
Two young ladies in thong bikinis sunbathing, concealed by the large volcanic rocks on the beachfront. I want to stay for a better look, but the wife wears the pants in the household, unlike those pants less ladies, and has contrary ideas.
No snorkeling for us today, as they would be bringing me out in a body bag!