Keokea Beach Park
Kapaau, HI
Keokea Beach Park sits on a dramatic stretch of North Kohala coastline, with sheer cliffs framing a small, partly protected inlet where a natural pool forms during calmer surf. Rough ocean conditions rule out swimming most days, but the picnic pavilions and camping sites draw locals for the views alone.
The cliffside setting is one of the most dramatic on this coast, but the ocean is unpredictable enough that a swim isn't ever guaranteed.
How we score beachesCheck the inlet before assuming it's swimmable. Locals judge the day by how much white water is breaking outside the pool, not by the calendar.
A free county lot sits right at the park and rarely fills outside of camping weekends.
Paved paths and stairs connect the lot to the pavilions, though reaching the water itself involves a rocky, uneven scramble.
Dogs are welcome on a leash at Keokea Beach Park, in line with the county's usual beach park rules.
Summer brings calmer surf and the best chance the inlet pool is swimmable. Winter's bigger north swells usually rule out getting in the water at all.
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