The name Kamakahonu means “the turtle eye,” after a rock that once marked the shore and now sits buried under the Kailua pier. The beach itself is small and sheltered, in downtown Kailua-Kona between the pier and the King Kam hotel on Aliʻi Drive, with water that stays almost flat. It suits families with young children as a quick swim or snorkel stop, not a beach to plan your whole day around.
The Kona Boys shack on the sand rents snorkel gear, an easy first stop with young kids in tow. Some of the better snorkeling is just across the pier at Kaiakeakua, a short walk south.
A view back to Kamakahonu beach from the pier. This beach is a good place to spend some time with a young family
Things to do at Kamakahonu Beach
Snorkeling and a quick swim are what most people come for, but Kamakahonu also draws outrigger paddlers and dive classes working out of the bay.
The on-site Kona Boys beach shack rents snorkel gear ($24), beach chairs, boogie boards, and paddleboards, and runs outrigger canoe rides in Kailua Bay ($75 per person, 2 people minimum). It’s the easiest place to grab a mask if you didn’t bring your own.
King Kam beach (left) and Kaiakeakua beach (center) in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
Snorkeling
For snorkeling, swim out of the bay and turn right. Don’t turn left, since boats going to and from the pier use that side.
A tip for the early birds: the water is calmest at first light, before boat traffic picks up.
Kamakahonu Beach for kids and toddlers
White sand meets a grassy lawn behind the beach, so there’s room to set up, dry off, or let a toddler nap out of the water. That easy setup is why the beach picked up its other nickname, Kids’ Beach.
King Kam beach in downtown Kona is a good place to take a quick dip in between activities. You can find decent snorkeling on the other side of the pier
On the other side of the pier: Kaiakeakua Beach
Just 30 feet south of King Kam Beach, on the far side of the pier, Kaiakeakua is more a patch of sand than a beach. It works mainly as an easy entry into Kailua Bay, away from the boat traffic at the pier.
The buoys out in the bay mark a boat channel that’s off-limits, since larger boats use the pier. Stay between the shore and the buoys when you’re in the water.
Kaiakeakua Beach is 30 ft south of King Kam Beach, on the other side of the pier. This beach is a good place to snorkel
ʻAhuʻena Heiau
ʻAhuʻena Heiau, the temple of the burning altar, stands at the north edge of the beach. This is where King Kamehameha I spent his last seven years in power before his son Liholiho succeeded him. Reconstructed in the 1970s, it can be viewed from the outside but not entered. The hotel lobby displays artifacts tied to the temple, including a feather cloak and a mahiole (feathered helmet).
The ʻAhuʻena Heiau in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. ʻAhuʻena Heiau is Hawaiian for the temple of the burning altar. King Kamehameha I spent his last seven years in power here before his son Liholiho succeeded him
Directions to Kamakahonu Beach
Kamakahonu sits at the north end of Kailua Bay. Walk Aliʻi Drive north with the ocean on your left until you reach the pier; the beach is directly behind it, fronting the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.
Street parking near the beach is limited. The paid lot at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is the closest fallback, with rates posted at the entrance; it’s not cheap, so check the board before you pull in.
Shower and restrooms
Restrooms are at the toilet building at the start of the pier, between the two water entry points. A cold shower sits next to the building. Restrooms are open 7:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
King Kam beach in Kailua-Kona is a good spot for an early morning swim or snorkel, before the day heats up