Keauhou Bay Park
Kailua-Kona, HI
Keauhou Bay Park sits at the southern edge of Kailua-Kona's resort strip, a working small boat harbor and canoe launch built near the site of King Kamehameha III's birthplace. There's little sand here, but the calm, protected water draws kayak tours and evening manta ray boats heading out to the famous night dive spot just offshore.
A genuinely useful launch point for canoe clubs and manta tours, but there's barely any beach here, more harbor than swimming spot.
How we score beachesBook a manta ray tour that launches right from the bay rather than driving further south. The boats leave at dusk and the ride out is only a few minutes.
A free county lot serves the bay and boat ramp, usually with room outside of evening tour departure times.
A flat, paved path connects the lot to the boat ramp and shoreline, an easy walk, though there's little actual beach to enter the water from.
Calm nearly year round thanks to the bay's shelter, with manta ray tours running regardless of season.
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