Best Big Island Snorkeling Spots: Kahaluʻu, Kealakekua, Two Step

Three snorkeling spots within 22 miles of Kailua-Kona account for the best of what the Big Island reliably delivers underwater: sea turtles in the shallows, spinner dolphins in the sanctuary bay, and a drop-off at Hōnaunau that descends past 100 feet.

Kahaluʻu Beach Park is 5 miles from downtown Kona, shallow enough for beginners, and one of the few Big Island beaches with a lifeguard. Kealakekua Bay is a state marine sanctuary 17 miles south where the best snorkeling is on the far side of the bay from the parking lot. Getting there requires a hike, a kayak, or a boat tour. Two Step at Honaunau Bay, 22 miles out, has the clearest water of the three and a lava shelf entry that requires no tour.

For gear rentals, entry-level tips, and a longer list of snorkeling locations across the island, see our Big Island snorkeling guide. This page covers logistics and what to expect at each of the three spots. You can find more places to snorkel in our list of 14 snorkeling spots close to Kona or, if you are (also) going to our other islands, in our guides to snorkeling on Oʻahu,  snorkeling on Maui, and Kauaʻi snorkeling spots.

Kahaluʻu Beach Park, Kailua-Kona

Kahaluʻu Beach Park sits 4.5 miles south of downtown Kailua-Kona off Aliʻi Drive. The reef is partially sheltered by a breakwater, which keeps the bay shallow and calm on most days: most snorkeling happens in 3 to 8 feet of water over live coral on the south side of the bay. Sea turtles feed here regularly. The park has a lifeguard on duty, which is uncommon for a Big Island snorkeling location, and it is one of the few spots on this coast with an outdoor shower and changing facilities.

Kahaluʻu Beach Park is on of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island. By trickofthelight – original, CC BY 2.0.

Kahaluʻu Beach is also famous for its Honu (green sea turtles). Turtles feed in the shallows on most days, particularly along the reef on the south side of the bay. Sunning on the rocks along the shoreline is also common. Surfers use the north side of the bay. Stay on the south side while snorkeling and you will not be in their path.

For more on Kahaluʻu, including seasonal conditions and gear rentals nearby, see our Kahaluʻu Beach Park guide.

Getting there: Kahaluʻu Beach Park

Kahaluʻu beach park is located off of Aliʻi Drive, about 4.5 miles south of downtown Kailua-Kona. There are restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and two large pavilions present, and this is one of the few beaches with a lifeguard on duty.

The parking lot fills up quickly so the earlier you go the better.

Kahaluʻu beach park is one of the best places to go snorkeling on the Big Island. Close to Kona just off Aliʻi drive. Image credit: google maps

Kealakekua Bay, 17 miles south of Kona

Kealakekua Bay is a state marine sanctuary 17 miles south of Kailua-Kona. The parking lot is at the south end of the bay at the bottom of Napoʻopoʻo Road; the snorkeling area and the Captain Cook monument are on the north shore, across open water. The protected status prohibits fishing, which keeps the fish density and coral cover above what you find at more accessible spots. Spinner dolphins are resident in the bay and are most reliably seen in the early morning.

The bay is also know as “Captain Cook”, after a 27-foot tall monument commemorating the death of the British explorer Captain Cook at this bay on February 14th, 1779.

Napoʻopoʻo Beach is a small rocky beach in the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. Image credit: Nnachappa64 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

The center of the bay is deep and you can often find a pod of spinner dolphins playing around here. There are plenty of good spots for snorkeling in the bay, but the best snorkeling spot is on the opposite side of the bay from the parking area, close to the captain Cook monument.

Getting to the other side of the bay on your own is difficult, and there are 3 sensible ways to get to the snorkeling spot: hiking, renting a kayak, or with a boat (snorkeling) tour. You can read more about these 3 ways (and LOTS of other interesting information about the bay and things to do in its vicinity) in our guide to Kealakekua Bay or keep reading for a short summary below.

Kealakekua bay is a 1-mile wide bay close to the town of Captain Cook on the Big Island. The best snorkeling is on the north (left on the picture) side of the bay. Image credit: google maps

Option 1: Hike to the Captain Cook Monument (3.8 miles round trip):

The hike down into Kealakekua bay to the Capt. Cook monument is a challenging hike. The distance is 1.9 miles from your car to the water entry points, and over that distance you’ll lose 1300′ (400 meters) in elevation. After you are done snorkeling you have to make up for that elevation again. To make matters more interesting: almost all of the trail is exposed to full sun. Bring a hat, sunscreen, plenty off water, and comfortable, close-toed, shoes.

If you are interested in making the hike you should have a look at the great description on the bigislandhikes website for further planning.

Option 2: Boat Tours to Kealakekua bay

There are several tour operators that will take you on a snorkeling cruise to visit the bay. These cruises take between 3 hours and half a day and often provide snorkeling gear, snacks and refreshments, as well as cultural, natural and historical information relevant to Kealakekua bay.

Tours operators that follow the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawai’i (more info) guidelines are e.g. Sea Paradise and Fair Wind (both departing from Keauhou Bay).

Private Snorkeling charters to Kealakekua Bay

If you are with a group of typically 6 or more people it can be worth it to consider taking a private charter rather than to join a larger snorkeling tour. The advantage of a private charter are to near-complete freedom you have about your itinerary and of course the privacy. A disadvantage is that these charters work out to a higher per person price if you don’t fill the boat.

A private charter we recommend is the one organized by Torpedo Tours, check out the following page to read a few reasons why:

Option 3: Rent a Kayak to Kealakekua Bay

Kayaking from the boat landing to the statue takes between 15 and 25 minutes (one way). Take plenty of water, sunscreen, and don’t forget your snorkeling gear!

The local ecosystem in Kealakekua Bay is suffering under its own popularity, and the Division of State Parks now issues mandatory permits. You are not required to get your own permit when renting a kayak if the vessel possesses a valid permit for transiting the bay. This can be done either by joining a guided Kayak tour or by renting a kayak yourself.

Guided Kayak Tours: Only two companies have been issued permits by the Division of State Parks to lead guided commercial Kayak Tours to the Captain Cook Monument (last verified June 2025, source). These are:

• Adventures in Paradise (approx $100/2.5 hours),
• Kona Boys ($230 for the 5-hour morning snorkel or $170 for the 3-hour afternoon snorkel)

Renting a kayak yourself: If you want to make the trip yourself you can rent a kayak online here or find people offering kayak rentals on the side of Hwy 11 and along the road down to the bay (route 160). The list of permitted vendors changes often so please make sure to ask whomever you choose if they have a current commercial use permit.

Permitted kayak vendors are required to display State Parks decals on both sides of the bow. Check for the decal before your trip to confirm your vendor holds a current permit.

Two Step, Honaunau Bay: 22 miles south of Kona

Two Step is named for the two-level lava shelf at Paeʻa where snorkelers enter the water. It is the least developed of the three spots on this page: no lifeguard, no rental facilities, no tour required. The water clarity here is typically better than at Kahaluʻu or Kealakekua, and the reef drops past snorkeling depth a short distance from the shelf

This spot is often rated the second best place on the Big Island for snorkeling after Captain Cook. The waters are usually clear and the average depth is about 20ft. Often you can see pods of dolphins swimming close to shore. There is a very easy place to enter the water called Paeʻa or “Two Step”. It is at the end of a finger of lava and easy to find because you will see lots of people getting in and out of the water.

Two step (Paeʻa) in Hōnaunau Bay is one of the best places to snorkel on the Big Island of Hawaii. Two step is named after two steps in the lava rocks that allow access to the ocean.

Snorkeling at Two Step

The north side of the shelf is deeper and more exposed. Most snorkelers start on the south side, where the reef begins in about 10 to 15 feet of water and the fish density is higher. The coral cover at Two Step is among the most intact of the three spots on this page. Visibility on a calm day runs 60 to 80 feet; on flat mornings it can exceed 100 feet. Spinner dolphins pass through the bay regularly. They are resident here rather than transient, which makes early-morning snorkeling at Two Step the most consistent opportunity for dolphin encounters of the three. Sightings are more common before 10:00 AM, before boat traffic arrives from Kona.

One caveat: the entry can be rough on days with south swell. If the shelf looks agitated, skip it and come back on a calmer morning.

Two step (center-left, in the distance) is located right next to the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park (right) on the Big Island

Getting to Two Step, Honaunau Bay

Park on Puʻuhonua Road. The lava shelf is visible from the roadside and a short walk from the car. On weekends, the roadside fills by 9:00 AM; arriving early is the single most reliable way to get a spot. There are port-a-potties near the entry. No showers, no lifeguard, and no gear rental. Bring your own equipment. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is less than half a mile down the road and worth the stop if you are already making the drive.

Two step is the name of the entrance to the water just left of the center of this image. This is one of the best snorkeling spots of the Big Island. Image credit: google maps.

Snorkeling on Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi

If the Big Island is not the only island you are visiting on your vacation (fingers crossed!) you might be interested in our collections of top snorkeling spots on Maui, Kauaʻi, and Oʻahu:

• 11 Snorkeling Spots on O‘ahu for any itinerary
• Our 10 favorite Maui Snorkeling Spots (+5 snorkeling tips)
• 11 great Kauaʻi Snorkeling Spots (for families, wildlife, and more)