Where the meeting of freshwater and seawater turns the ocean a crystal-clear turquoise along the Kohala Coast, you’ll find the black sands of secluded Kīholo Bay. Part of the protected, 4,300-acre Kīholo State Park Reserve, the bay can be accessed by walking approximately one mile along the pebbled coastline that’s best traversed with sturdy shoes.
Once a thriving fishing village, Kīholo Bay is home to numerous tidepools plus a hand-forged channel connecting a brackish fish pond to the ocean, a route frequented by sea turtles seeking nourishment and respite. Lava tubes funnel freshwater from the island into the bay, creating the Keanalele Waterhole, two connected pools within the tubes also dubbed Queen’s Bath.
Kīholo Bay was donated to The Nature Conservancy by Angus Mitchell, grandson of renowned hair professional Paul Mitchell, in 2011. The global nonprofit now works with local 501(c)3 Hui Aloha Kīholo to protect and restore productivity to the area, in partnership with the State Parks Division. Oceanside camping spots are available on the weekends and can be booked up to 30 days in advance through the Division of State Parks website. Only one portable toilet exists near the camping spots, so it’s good to make use of it before hiking north to the bay.
Water Sports
Snorkeling around Kīholo Bay you’ll spot abundant tropical fish, coral reef and endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Fishing also remains a popular activity in Kīholo Bay, a locale that has provided sustenance to native Hawaiians for centuries.
Shade
Sparse shade can be found along the shores of Kīholo Bay, mostly provided by prickly kiawe trees.
Directions and Parking
Driving north from Kona on Highway 19, turn left on the access road between mile markers 82 and 83. Coming from the north on Highway 19, the access road is just past the Scenic Overlook on the right. The partially paved road is surrounded by a kiawe forest, with most of the gravelly route navigable by two-wheel-drive vehicles, though those with higher ground clearance will fare better over the rutted road, especially at the parking area. The gate to Kīholo Bay is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Wildlife Potential
Kīholo Bay is a sanctuary for protected Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, or honu. From the shore, whales can be seen breaching, manta rays often frolic and tropical fish populate the reef. The waters are also home to two endemic species, the hapawai (mollusk) and ʻopae (shrimp). Migratory birds including the endangered kioea (bristle-thighed curlew) are found in the bay, which also serves as a mating ground for the endangered aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt).
History and Culture
Kīholo Bay has been a sacred fishing ground for the Hawaiian people for hundreds of years. King Kamehameha the Great commissioned the building of Wainanali’i fish pond on the bay’s north end, completing the deep-water fishing pool in about 1812, only to have the lava flow from an eruption of Mauna Loa in 1859 destroy much of the architectural feat.
What's in a Name?
In Hawaiian, kīholo means large fish hook, traditionally made from wood, used to catch sharks and other large fish.
