Ahalanui Beach Park

Located in the Puna district on the eastern coast of the Big Island, this park is one of the more unique in the islands. The small remote beach is the only hot spring publicly accessible in the islands.

AT A GLANCE

Highlights: a rocky shoreline with powerful crashing waves separate the warm water pond by a simple concrete sea wall.

Activities: swimming, picnics

Lifeguard: Daily between the hours of 9:30am-4:45pm

Warnings: Winter months bring higher surf and stronger rip currents, rough and dangerous conditions. Windy conditions are prevalent in the winter months. Stinging Portuguese man-o-war jelly fish frequent in varying numbers 10 days after the full moon. Do not leave any valuables in your car at anytime. Nudity is prohibited. Because the possibility of serious bacterial infections, do not enter the pond if you have open cuts, wounds or lacerations

Amenities: restrooms, showers, picnic tables, parking, water

HOW TO GET THERE

Hookena Beach Park is located 27 miles south of Kailua-Kona. From Kona International Airport at Keahole. proceed south along Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19) for .5 miles turn left onto Kaiminani Drive. Turn left onto Hawaii Belt Road (19) Hawaii Belt Road and continue for 20 miles. Turn right onto Saddle Road turn right at the first traffic light and left onto Puainko Street at the second light. Turn right onto Hawaii Belt Road (11) and continue for 5 miles. Turn left onto Keaau Pahoa Bypass Road. Turn right onto Kapoho Road and left onto Kapoho-Kalapana Road. The entrance to the park will be on the left.

A full day is necessary to enjoy the drive from the Kona Coast to this remote beach park. The drive is filled with fantastic views at varied elevations before concluding at the beach just steps from the rugged coastline.

The beach park has a very tropical rainforest feel. A large coconut grove thrives to the right of the entrance and just beyond is the parking lots, picnic pavilions and other amenities. Should the parking lot be filled, visitors are welcome to find a spot that will not block driveways or other vehicles from arriving or leaving. Those visiting on weekends will find that the park is a popular place for area residents to gather for relaxation, while families also use the picinic pavilions to host birthday parties and other family events. Weekdays are usually more for island visitors who find a place under the canopy of ha'u and coconut trees and languish in the pool for hours.

The pond is fed by a fresh water spring and a concrete sea wall was constructed to keep the ocean from eroding the shoreline and destroying the pond. During periods of high surf, ocean waves are known to crash fiercely into the pond, but for the most part the pond remains sheltered and safe even for children. The pond has a soft sandy bottom and is naturally heated by the volcano to lukewarm to around 90 degrees depending on volcanic activity.

Address:

Along Kalapana Kapoho Beach Road
Pahoa HI 96778
GPS: 19.468008 , -154.83367

http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/parks-and-recreation/