Photo Courtesy of Kris S on iStock
The largest white sand beach on the Big Island is likely the kind of beach you imagine in your dreams. Hapuna is generally sunny, with playful shorebreak, This ½ mile expanse of white sand is where you go to enjoy a quintessential day at the beach in Hawaii.
Watersports: Swimming, bodyboarding, snorkeling, sunbathing, and, during the Winter months, whale watching, are all at your disposal at Hapuna Beach. There is a lifeguard on duty.
Shade: Trees line the beach, providing generous shade and there is a covered pavilion as well.
Food: There is no longer food available on the beach, but you can walk up to the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is you are hungry for resort-style fare.
Directions and Parking: Hapuna beach is north of Kailua-Kona, near mile marker 70. Follow the signs for Hapuna Beach. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Entrance fee, $5 per person, free for children under 3, Parking fee $10 per vehicle, credit cards only. It is not recommended to leave valuables in your car. There are restrooms and showers available for beachgoers.
What’s in a Name: Hapuna means “spring of life” named for the fresh water springs that feed into the ocean here. It was also known in ancient times as a resting place for voyagers traveling the coast by foot or by canoe.
