Kaunaoa Beach, Half-mile beach on Kohala Coast, Hawaii, US

Kaunaoa Beach is a crescent of white sand along the Kohala Coast with calm, clear water perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Coral formations frame the shallow areas at both ends, while palm trees line the shore and create natural shade.

Kaunaoa Beach lies on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii County, in the district of South Kohala. The bay is formed where a lava flow from the Kohala volcano met the sea, leaving a sheltered cove of white sand and shallow reef. The surrounding coast was part of the lands worked and settled by Hawaiian families before the arrival of outside visitors.

Kaunaoa means "the long" in Hawaiian, and the beach lies at the foot of the Kohala Coast near Puʻukoholā Heiau, the temple Kamehameha I completed around 1791. Visitors can spot the heiau's stone platform on the slope above the sand, a reminder that this shoreline sits within a landscape of early Hawaiian chiefly history.

Access requires going through the resort property, and parking fills quickly on busy days, so arriving early helps. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen, as shade is limited and the sun reflects strongly off the sand and water.

After sunset, lights from the nearby resort attract manta rays that glide into the shallow water, a rare sight visible directly from shore. This natural gathering happens regularly enough that visitors planning an evening visit have good odds of seeing them.