About Kaelehuluhulu Beach on Kona & West Island, Hawaii
Ka’elehuluhulu Beach is the easiest beach to get to in the main part of Kekaha Kai State Park (Mahai’ulu Section). It has abundant sand, but it’s located on a rocky point so getting into the water is tough and less desirable due to wave exposure. So if you want to swim in the ocean, consider walking north to Red House Beach (1/4 mile) or a bit farther to Makalawena Beach (1 mile). Kaelehuluhulu is an excellent beach if you are just here to sunbathe and want better facilities like picnic tables under shade trees and easy access restrooms (although they are smelly).
The sand here is course like rock salt mixed with peppercorns and has larger chunks of coral and lava rocks, especially where the surf hits the beach. Look for tide pools in the lava rocks about 200 yards to the right from where you get onto the beach. Behind the beach there are anchialine ponds and informational signs about them including the animals that inhabit the mix of freshwater and saltwater.
Hawaiian monk seals are commonly seen at Kaelehuluhulu Beach during certain times of the year despite their near extinction numbers. So be on the watch for them and stay away so they can rest undisturbed, although they don’t seem to be bothered by the huge airplanes that fly over this spot on the way to and from Kona International Airport to the south.
Access to Kaelehuluhulu Beach is via a rough road that starts between mile markers 90 and 91 on Highway 19. Look for the large green sign on the highway for Kekaha Kai State Park. It’s almost a two mile drive to the parking lot at the end of the road. Don’t get trapped inside the park when they lock the entrance gate at the end of the day – note the time when you drive in.
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 - Phone
- Park Name
- Kekaha Kai State Park, Kona Coast State Park
- Other Names
- Ka'elehuluhulu Beach
- Pet Details
- No dogs allowed in the park
- Free parking, no entrance fees
- Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Picnicking, Whale Watching, Tidepooling, Fishing
- Restrooms, Picnic Tables, BBQs, ADA Access, Tide Pools, Anchialine Ponds, Interpretive Signs