Kiholo Bay
Waikoloa, HI
Kiholo Bay spreads out below the highway in a wide crescent of black sand and lava rock, sheltering a warm lagoon and a spring fed pool where green sea turtles come to rest so regularly that finding one feels less like luck and more like the norm. The walk in from the road takes you past coconut groves and old fishpond walls before the bay opens up all at once.
The turtles and the lagoon make this one of the most beloved wild beaches on the island, though the walk in and the lack of any facilities keep it from being an easy, quick trip.
How we score beachesHead north along the shoreline to Wainanalii Lagoon, the pale blue pool locals call the Blue Lagoon, for a swim warmer and calmer than the main bay itself.
A small roadside pull off along Highway 19, between mile markers 82 and 83, holds a limited number of cars, with a ten to fifteen minute walk down to the bay.
The walk in follows a rough, unpaved lava and dirt path, uneven enough that it isn't suited to strollers or wheelchairs.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the walk in and along the shoreline, though keep them well clear of any resting turtles.
Calmer summer surf makes the bay and lagoon easiest to swim, while winter can bring bigger waves and stronger current at the bay's open mouth.
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