Makalawena Beach

This is our second trek to this beach on our vacation. The first time we parked North of the beach and walked along a rugged vehicle track from the highway. People primarily park at the entrance to Kua Bay state park to access the trail. Today we parked at the first parking lot for Keisha Kai state park and walked the road. This road is safely drivable in 4x4 pick up or jeep. It would have probably trashed our rental suv. It was 2.6 mile walk. The first 1.8 miles are pretty easy walking, although completely exposed and passes through a lava field. We were lucky and there was a strong breeze. The second part that passes by Maihaiula bay Beach was loose lava rubble and then sand. Again all exposed very little shade. The water is turquoise. There are only a few other people around. Bring plenty of water, there are lots of large pine trees for shade and I highly recommend spending the day here. Bonus there was a large green sea turtle basking in the beach. The first way was definitely quicker and shorter. The second longer route allows for stops at two beautiful beaches.

this beach is a beautiful hidden gem that definitely takes a lot of work to get to. it was empty on a Saturday afternoon, save for a few other folks spread out across the long strip of sand. the beach was clean, no debris from any trees or ocean wash up, and the sand was pristine and a gorgeous white sand. however, getting there is definitely a trek. we didn’t have a 4x4 or even an SUV with enough clearance, so we walked down the unpaved, lava hardened road. that walk took about 25-30 minutes and then we turned off that road to take another rocky path that was another 25-30 minutes. still worth it!! and definitely rewarding seeing the beach come over the horizon.

A must-visit spot — it feels like a little adventure! First you drive down an unpaved road that feels like something out of the Rocky Mountains. Then you park and hike across the lava rock trail, which is an experience in itself. Finally, you reach the beach — and it’s so worth it. The views are absolutely gorgeous, the beach is stunning, and the whole journey makes it feel extra special. Definitely a place you won’t forget.

Gorgeous beach with big waves and dramatic views. Rough rocky road to get there, then a 15-min walk from parking. No showers or facilities. Rocky entry, the waves can push stones around and hurt your feet. Not family-friendly (tough for kids). Great for adventure seekers wanting solitude and raw beauty. Bring water, sturdy shoes, water shoes and go prepared!

Totally worth the solid 45-50 min walk down to the beach, parked at the road, need a definitive 4WD with plenty of clearance to get down to the coast, all the vehicles (mostly trucks, few SUVs) had larger than stock tires. On the walk there is no shade, rocky road, did it in flip flops, best beach we found, not a lot of people, great waves for body surfing, not great if you are looking for an easy casual float or snorkeling.

Absolutely beautiful beach! Drive as far down as possible, it looks pretty rough to drive, but our minivan went pretty far. The hike is worth it! A huge monk seal came up out of the water and napped all afternoon 30 ft from us. Highlight of our trip!

Acces via Wai Opae: Hawaiian Anchialine Pool, Be careful, challengeing drive to the var park, restroom present but smelly, 20min walk to makalawena, beautiful walk, but only good for people without issues to walk on tight uneven ground

Great beach with soft sand. Not very busy, but that is probably do to the journey to get to it. If you're in a car you'll have to park by the highway and walk. About an hour hike. I did it in flip flops just fine.

As some travel experts have pointed out, Makalawena Beach is arguably the best beach on the Big Island that cannot be reached by road. That's right, there are two ways to reach this beautiful white sand beach and gem by hiking, and the path I took was via the Kekaha Kai State Park's main parking lot, and first that is a rough 20-minute drive with 4x4 vehicles like Jeeps from Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway to that trailhead. Then it's about another 30-minute hike in each direction and you go on lots of loose lava rocks and it can get hot, so make sure you have sunscreen, a good bucket hat, and plenty of water. I don't know about the second way in, so I could not speak to that method. But in any case, it is so worth the time and effort when it was all said and done. There were a few crowds when getting to Makalawena Beach but not super busy at all. You'll find other tide pools, palm trees, and other native plants. Waves are rather rough at times, but it is still swimmable for the most part.

We discovered Makalawena when researching hikes to beaches in Hawaii. There's definitely a close parking lot to the beach but the road to get there is unlevel in several places and we didn't have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, so we parked at the main entrance and walked down. It's just over a mile to the beach entrance. We ended up taking the path over to a nearby bay, which was much less crowded. It's gotta be in the flight path because we saw several planes fly over while there. The bay offered great snorkeling opportunities with pretty calm, clear water. It's super clean and well maintained. I really enjoyed this spot!

It's nice to get the chance to relax amongst sand and waves on an island filled with rock. The island of Hawai'i certainly is beautiful, but the beaches are far and few. Makalawena proved to be a perfect place to soak up some sun, swim in turquoise waters, and get a few pages read. It is a bit of a trek to get here; but it weeds out the weak from the worthy. Take the journey, embrace the adventure, and bask in the rewards. Gorgeous day!

Spectacular Beach!!! It's a trek by car (super unmaintained roads and highly recommend 4x4 off-roading capable vehicle) and by foot. I heard it was a quiet beach and one could find themselves alone there but it was pretty busy. I went in thought the Kelaha Kai state park access road. The beach itself is huge and I didn't even go all the way to the end. I was short on time so I spent my time swimming as much as possible. Tanning was my priority also because the south part where I swam was really rocky.

This place is terrible never go there. Just kidding. One of the best parts of this place is that it's so quiet and private. Absolutely divine.

Cool beach and hike to get there. You can drive down to the beach too but it looked like a very challenging and technical drive. The hike is 1.5 miles to the beach, and it is all lava rocks (well, you're on the Big Island!) so I'd recommend wearing a hat & sneakers, pack your water, snacks, sunscreens, towels and walk on down. You'll be rewarded with long white sand beach and blue ocean.

Gorgeous beach! I think it might be my favorite in all of the Hawaiian islands. Secluded and clean and teaming with wildlife. Key points to note about getting to this beach include having a 4-wheel drive vehicle & closed toe shoes for the hike to the beach. The road to drive in is not for the average rental car. I seriously only recommend attempting this drive with a heavy duty truck, suv or jeep. It is ROUGH! Then, once you make the drive in, there is a 1.25 mile hike across a rough lava field, to get to the actual beach. There are a few other beaches along the way, if you wish to cut the hike short but, Makalawena is worth the trek.

Never made it to the Beach. There's about an hour of this road that's absolutely horrible. Don't even try without a jeep. We're used to off roading from utah and experienced with off-roading and it was horrible. Either park at the very beginning and walk or hitch a ride with a jeep

The beach itself is beautiful, but the way to get there isn't super clearly marked. We followed google maps to the trail head but I guess there are two of them. We ended up accidentally choosing the one off highway 19 which was apparently more for 4 wheel vehicles. What we were told by several friends and multiple social media posts was a 20 minute hike turned out to be almost and hour and 20 minutes. The beach is great, but be careful to bring lots of water and take the right path in if you are going there.

Hawaii got 99 problems, but da beach ain't one. The road to get to THIS beach is the problem. It legit requires a 4x4 (or 4wd) vehicle with "high clearance" to traverse the unpaved, uneven, & rocky road through 4.5-mile coastal Kekaha Kai State Park (from Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway aka Hwy 19). Kekaha Kai is a black lava wasteland ... that opens through a row of shade trees to an idyllic salt-and-pepper white sand beach (Makalawena Beach) frequented by Hawaiian water birds, turtles, locals, and tourists. Of course, you can skip the road and trek the 25-40 minute hike across the black rocky landscape, too. We slowly attempted the drive and I'm so glad we did ... to find this popular, yet "hidden" beach surrounded by tranquil tide pools plus palm and other tropical trees. The Ōpaeula Pond wetlands was a small fishing village that was wiped out in a devastating 1946 tsunami and named a National Natural Landmark in 1972. Makalawena Beach is marvelous, less-crowded, and serene (except the occasional plane landing at nearby Kona International Airport). At times, it really felt like we were on a deserted tropical island with just the breeze, birds, and waves to keep us company. I truly wish I was there now!

Makalawena Beach was one of my favorite beaches on the big island because it was harder to get to and peaceful as not many people were there. Without really hiking in, you do need a 4WD vehicle because you are bouncing over lava rocks and potholes. Most rental companies don't let you drive here with their cars. It is definitely worth the trip! Makalawena Beach is a must for all trips to Kona.

You Work for it. But it's worth it. We did the hike from the south. Go early to beat the sun through the lava field. No crowds. Our fav place for sure

We bought the "Hawaii The Big Island Revealed" book as recommended by the car rental guy. In this book he mentioned this beach. Also, when we did the Night Manta Ray tour one of the guys recommended this beach to us as well. BUT everyone says the road is pretty nasty AKA you need a 4 wheel drive car with high clearance. As we drove here I was reading Yelp reviews on what to expect. One guy said he did this in his CAR RENTAL! Like, regular car! Not high clearance! I later went on to read (I can't remember if it was the same guy or not) that he suggested hiking this with your kids, their strollers, and a ice chest. Haha. After that I figured out he had to have been kidding. I'm going to go on here and say that for the record do NOT try this in anything other than a Jeep. And a wrangler for that. I mean, you SERIOUSLY need the clearance for this. The holes are DEEP in some spots. That is if you're renting it. I'm sure if you live here and own your own car...you can do you bro. But for the rest of us visitors, you have to have a high clearance vehicle otherwise you will scrape the ish out of the bottom of your car and pay a ton in damages. Cool! So that's out of the way. Once you get to the gate that forces you to walk on foot you're going to see signs that it's private property. Now, the book, nor the guy mentioned anything about it being private land. I guess a caretaker lives there? Just, be respectful of his area. There's literally a sign that says not to pick the coconuts. So you have to realize that at some point, someONE thought it was okay to walk up to a house with coconut trees and pick their fruit. My idea behind the signs is to keep the disrespectful people out. Like, be quiet, don't leave your trash everywhere and don't destroy the land. Simple. Respect where you're at. This beach is so beautiful BECAUSE not many people can get to it. I do wish we had more time to spend here though. Next time we come we will devote an entire day here-no questions asked. The sand was so soft, the water so chill and clear, it was quiet and secluded. Some shady spots. It was truly perfect!

Great beach, but you have to earn it. The road is not maintained. A high-clearance vehicle is helpful. You can walk instead, and that may be advisable if you value your car. Believe it or not, they actually have speed bumps, as if the unmaintained road wasn't enough of a speed bump! Once you get to the parking area, it's still a walk over lava flows to the beach. All this difficultly makes the beach better because a lot of people won't be willing to do this. So on a Saturday, it wasn't very crowded. It's a good swimming beach, and we saw a monk seal.

A really nice little secluded beach off the beaten path! Certainly not as crowded as other beaches like Anaeho'omalu Bay or Ku'a Bay, especially with the 1.5-mile trek on foot from the parking lot off the highway or the very rental-car-unfriendly road. We were there on a day where the waves were particularly choppy, so snorkeling wasn't great for us since it felt like a sandstorm underwater! The sand at this beach is very soft, but there were a lot of smaller lava rocks underneath. There is plenty of shade at the beach from the small trees nearby, and likewise a lot of dried foliage that dropped from those trees. Overall, a pleasant little beach to chill at, with some good peace and quiet if you get there before more people with Jeeps show up. :)

If you are going out here take a truck or SUV. Don't take a car especially not a rental. Always love coming out here, less tourists, more snorkeling, and more to see.

Other than a long drive on a very bumpy road and a few minutes that you are reminded that there are more tourists arriving and your in the flight zone, this beach is awesome! Lots of space (if you're not too lazy, old, disabled, or loaded down with stuff) to walk to. Grills, picnic tables, trash cans, no flush toilets, lava/sand beach, snorkeling on calmer days and fresh breezes. You might even spy a Hawaiian Monk Seal on the beach.

What can I say this is probably one of, if not my favorite beach on the Big Island! The road to get here is pretty sketchy and I was kind of scared we were going to pop our tires on the lava rock road but we went anyways! Once you get there and get parked I suggest taking the walking trail down about a 1/4 mile and on the left is an absolutely amazing white sand beach with such beautiful views and the sunset here was unbelievably amazing! If there is one thing I could have done differently it would be to devote a whole day to this beach! I wanted more!

Sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals come on shore sometimes, great spot to catch waves and surf, white sand and great sunshine

One of the most gorgeous and expansive beaches we've ever seen, Makalawena Beach is a jewel of the Kona coast. Set well away from the main road, you either need to walk in from the first parking lot or have a rugged car that can take you all the way down the raw and unpaved road. Once at the beach, you'll see a decent amount of cars parked in the small lot, but don't let this dissuade you - Makalawena is massive, and you can easily walk along the shores and find a nice and secluded spot all to yourself. We came on a Sunday, and for a beach this incredible, we were amazed to see the lack of crowds. There are a few areas that have beautifully clear water, although fish aren't in particular abundance - we did see some celestial jellyfish and an angry eel however. Sand here is warm, fine, and welcoming, and nearby there are tide pools and outcroppings of lava jutting out into the sea, where local boys often fish. Ample trees along the coastline shade several picnic tables, so it's easily a place you can spend the entire day. We didn't explore the far north end, but there are several long expanses on which you can play frisbee or smashball, and there is easy, gentle access to the water for those who want to swim. The sunset from here is also stellar, although at least in January you may have a bit of vog obscuring the surrounding mountains. Our favorite beach so far and worth making the trek - my only regret is that we didn't make it here earlier in the day to enjoy it even more!

30 minute hike over jagged volcanic rock. Wear appropriate shoes for walking on the volcanic rock. It is well worth the trip. Get there early for a great spot. Lots of turtles, even swimming in the ocean. This place is gorgeous.

Makalawena Beach was quite the trek to get to through lava fields but was so worth it. I wouldn't recommend carrying anything too heavy and would be sure to wear decent walking shoes. It has the most powdery white sand I've ever seen and the clearest mesmerizing turquoise and blue waters. My pictures to do not do it justice. Snorkeling was fantastic and the beach wasn't too crowded on such a beautiful day. There are also brackish freshwater pools that we hadn't seen anywhere else. Very cool spot!

Fabulous beach, provided you take the long walk across the lava field to the far north beach. There you will find a paradise waiting. One might think to find a more liberal bathing suit optional practice in such a remote beach, but nope, the usual prudish culture applies here. Do not underestimate the road. As others stated it is rough, and obviously left to further degrade. The double speed bumps are beyond me, I've never seen those anywhere else.

My favorite beach on the Big Island. Simply beautiful. Worth the 40 minute hike across the lava. It is very scenic. Calm, clear ocean in the summer months. Great for swimming and hanging out in the awesome water. We had turtles swimming all around us. PARADISE!

Great spot. Not crowded. Perfect snorkeling spot! Clear water calm. Liked it better than hapuna bay beach area.

One of the most absolutely beautiful beaches in Hawaii! Beware: It was a rough road we took to get to this beautiful beach, but totally worth it!

This is an amazing beach that offers privacy, soft sand, and some of the most beautiful looking beach I've ever seen. It's a bit of a hike to get here but it's worth it, mostly because the effort it takes to get here practically ensures you will not be on a crowded beach. I recommend bringing water for the 25 minute hike over and a snack if you plan on spending some time there. There are plenty of shaded areas once you get there that are either man made from palm leaves and tree branches or from the trees along the woods. Oh, and there are goats, sometimes.

Absolutely gorgeous, secluded beach. Beautiful white sand, palm trees, lava rock, and views. The hike in is over a mile on treacherous rock with absolutely no shade. Definitely not for the faint of heart. Would absolutely recommend wearing tennis shoes. We both stubbed our toes and drew blood. No shade on the beaches also, so plan accordingly.

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. While it takes quite the hike over sharp lava rock under a warm and beating sun, the payoff is worth it. Once you climb over the last ridge and get to overlook the beach, you'll know why anyone makes the trek. The water is an amazing shade of blue, the sand is bright white and super soft, and there are never any crowds due to the difficult access. The waves are great for swimming and playing around, but be careful of the lava rock protruding from the sand beneath your feet. Also, make sure you have plenty of water to combat the sun and saltiness of the ocean. I've made the trek to Makalawena a good five or six times, and it's been worth it each time. Tip: There is a small freshwater pool among the trees where you can rinse off before making the long trip back to your car.

Incredible hidden gem that's nice and quiet off the beaten path. Prepare for a 1.5 mile hike in the lava fields (wear sneakers) after you drive on a long unpaved dirt road off the highway. Fluffy soft white sand. Beautiful views. Water great temperature. Only con is you will hear planes overhead going to KOA

Beautiful beach (because all of the beaches we saw in Hawaii were beautiful). The water was nice and warm and not too choppy so it was nice to swim here and it was also not super crowded, all around making for a very serene beach.

To the tune of "Macarena": If you want to get to Makalawena You will have to walk a long way, the Hike is pretty rough to Makalawena Hey, Makalawena But once finally at Makalawena, You will want to stay the whole day, the Best beach on the island's Makalawena Heyyy, Makalawena!

Awesome place. Be ready for a hike there. Wear comfortable shoes. Great swimming! Not for lazy people.

One of the prettiest beaches I've gotten to go to. Try to pack as little as you can because the 30-minute trek across the lava rocks, especially in the heat, can be a little tiring, but as everyone said -- it is well worth it. We even went with a baby in tow haha. Definitely wear tennis shoes. The beach is small, with the best section less than a quarter mile wide. But the sand is perfect, water is gorgeously clear, and the beach itself is clean. Limited shade options, but it doesn't get too crowded.

Sick views of the Pacific swells...well, when there's been tropical storms galore. It's not an easy trek, you have to earn it to get to the beach area. Unless you have a flatbed truck with monster tires...like we did. This beach is where you can spend a whole day, relaxing, tanning as well as swimming in warm, beautiful blue water. Trust me, ha'oles. Mahalo

This is definitely in our Top 10 of beaches to visit while on the Big Island. Each beach is unique and there are different reasons to love each one of them. What we love about this beach is it is secluded and uncrowded. A great place to just sit back and sunbathe, snorkel, play in the water and repeat. It's a 30 minute hike across a hot lava path (well marked) but wear shoes! The road is rocky but if you go slow it won't be a problem. Our Other Top Not to be missed beach picks **Mauna Kea beach (Kauna'oa) - This may be the prettiest beach on the island. We love the view of the Blue Ocean. They have the best Soft Sand here. But beware limited parking spots so better be there before 9:30am (60 minute drive from Kona). **Hapuna - This beach is just perfect. A great place to relax and body surf in the waves. This is a super big beach with lots of parking, facilities and some shade. 60 minutes from Kona. **Kahalu'u Beach Park. Conveniently located just South of Downtown. Not much of a beach but it has decent Snorkeling & usually turtles too. The break water makes this place calmer than other beaches. Crowded after 11am **Kekaha Kai Beach Park has three beaches. This is the best of the three and just a short walk, No facilities only a port-a-potty. I love this beach. When you think of perfect Hawaiian beaches this is it. **Manini owali/ Kua bay has the most amazing azure blue blue water, enjoy playing in the waves. The sand is so soft, and the facilities and parking a great. **Honanaunau also known as 2 Step. No beach here, just good snorkeling and sometimes dolphins. **Makalawena is a short hike across a hot lava path (30 min total) worth the effort but wear shoes. This secluded beach is a nice place to Swim, snorkel, and Sun bathe **Beach 69 (Waialea Bay) Just 60 minutes from Kona. - This beach has lovely, soft golden sand, lots of shade, and nice waves. The snorkeling is pretty good here too. Busy on the weekends. ** Kikuau point (Four Seasons) This beach is my new favorite beach, perfect for families with young children. Nice sand and views and there is a gentle swimming area for kiddos. Beautiful palm trees, excellent facilities. 30 Parking spots so be there by 11 or after 1pm to get a spot. Just 45 minutes from Kona. **Black sands beaches. On Kona side there are a few. Beach 49/Ke awa iki, is well okay but the most famous is Punalu'u on the south end of island and picture perfect. Enjoy!

Truly lovely beach. Cool white sand. When the swells are calm, it's a nice place to snorkel. There's a lot of coral and different types of exotic and colourful fishes. Warning: You do need to have a 4-wheel-drive do get down here. Otherwise, it's totally worth the twenty-minute off-road drive.

By far my favorite beach! I've been to Honolulu and Kona and this beach beats all the beaches I've stepped on. Got to swim with turtles and swim in clear blue water! The hike to the beach was a bit strenuous mostly because I was wearing sandals. Take shoes and a hat on your way to the beach. It'll take about 30 minutes to walk to it but once your there you will be highly impressed.

Can't believe we wasted our time hiking through the hot lava fields. Worst beach we've been to on the island. Got bad blisters walking back cuz of the sand stuck in my shoes and socks It's like a 2 hour hot hike over jagged lava rocks no bathrooms no showers. Goat poop and even human poop is everywhere too btw.

Too rocky to drive , too long to hike. Very strong undercurrent and not much to see snorkeling because waters seems sandy and blury. Lots of shade and very nice paper and salt sand. Portable restrooms and trash bins available. No access by the car , be ready to carry your load. Pros: very uncrowded on Saturday sunny day which is a big plus. Not an easy way to go buy food or eat so come with sandwich :)

The most beautiful beach I've ever been to. It's super secluded and it takes quite a hike to get there. If you do go, make sure to bring LOTS OF WATER, put lots of sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes for the hike. I felt so in tune with nature the moment I stepped into the sand. Lots of lava rocks but there is a beach area that will just take your breath away. Total worth it!!

What a nightmare to get to! Lots of lava rock and a decent hike to get to the beach. You really earn your day at the beach with the drive and hike. The beach/ocean has large lava rocks and cut a few of our feet. I wasn't impressed. Being slammed into these by the waves wasnt fun. We have been to better hawaiian swimming beaches with easier access. We did get some good pictures and saw a turtle swimming. There were trees for shade which was nice. It wasn't crowded per say when we went over a holiday weekend in January, but busy enough to fight for the shade and parking "spots"

Great, picturesque beach. Clear blue water and soft waves on top of fluffy white sand. It's a little hidden too so less people and crowds, especially during the weekdays. To get there: park in the parking lot and walk all the way across the beach (North) past the old buildings (from 1880). Follow the lava rock path which is about 0.5 mile. Lots of greenery and color that contrasts nicely the field of lava rock behind the beach. Great place to spot sea turtles too, we saw a few in the water. The only downside is there isn't great snorkeling despite some rocky areas. Perfect for wading in the water and relaxing on the nice sand. Enjoy!

The drive was doable without 4x4 as long as we drove slow. There is parking and restrooms near the beach. The water is gorgeous but you can't really ride waves because there are so many rocks. You definitely want to bring water shoes to avoid getting cut. Plenty of trees for shade which was awesome.

Will be my quickest review on Yelp ever. This is the most beautiful place on earth. One tip: bring real shoes to get there + a bottle of water. That's it. #Aloha

A hike on a road of lava rock (so wear tennis shoes), but it's beautiful when you arrive. We only saw 4 other people out there on the beach.

One of the best beaches I have ever been to. Good hike especially with my 6 year old, but worth it. Few people, lots of pristine beach. We even saw a Hawaiian monk seal sleepin on the beach. Rare sight. Saw turtles underwater. Tip: if you have little kids or the water is rough, keep going almost to the last cove and hit a nice protected area. The blue Hawaii book helps a lot to find this place. You gotta work for it, but it's worth it.

Walked the hike down from the trailhead. Got to the first rocky beach, garbage everywhere. No trespassing signs posted and locked gate going to the nice sandy beach. Turned around and walked back to the car.