Waikoloa Beach, Coastal beach in South Kohala, US

Waikoloa Beach is a coastal strand along the Kohala Coast featuring white sand, tidal pools, and black volcanic rocks along the shoreline. Coral formations shape the waterline and create varied sections for swimming and exploring.

The Kuʻualiʻi and Kahapapa fishponds lie just behind the sand at ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay, where ʻAnaehoʻomalu was a centre of thriving aquaculture. The two ponds belonged to a complex of fish farms tended by ancient Hawaiians. Geomorphologically they are anchialine ponds, fed by both freshwater springs and seawater.

Waikoloa holds roughly 30,000 petroglyphs carved into flat lava, most from the 15th to 18th centuries, with 19th-century messages in modern Hawaiian interspersed among them. The Ala Kahakai, a trail about 175 miles (282 km) long known as the King's Trail, linked communities, temples and fishing areas along the coast.

The beach provides restroom facilities, picnic pavilions, and lifeguard services at multiple access points along Puako Beach Drive. Arriving early helps secure good spots, especially during busy periods.

Anchialine ponds near the beach contain a mix of fresh spring water and seawater, creating specialized habitats for native marine species. These waters form where underground freshwater sources meet the ocean, a natural occurrence found in only a few locations worldwide.