Alula Cove
Kailua-Kona, HI
Alula Cove is a small, quiet pocket of white sand tucked right beside the entrance to Honokohau Harbor, easy to miss unless you already know the turnoff. The water stays calm behind a rocky point, and it's become something of a local secret for a midday swim without driving all the way out to the bigger state park beaches.
A genuinely calm, easy swim close to town that most visitors drive right past, though the lack of restrooms or shade means it's a short visit rather than a whole day.
How we score beachesBring your own shade. There's a little natural cover from the surrounding rock, but no trees or pavilion, and the sand gets hot fast by midafternoon.
A small lot near Honokohau Harbor serves the cove, a short walk from the water. It's rarely crowded, even on weekends.
A short, mostly flat walk from the lot leads to the sand, easy for most visitors, though there are no facilities directly at the beach.
Calm most of the year thanks to the sheltering point, with the clearest water for snorkeling in summer.
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