Kua Bay (Maniniowali)
Kailua-Kona, HI
Kua Bay, known officially as Maniniowali, sits at the north end of Kekaha Kai State Park with the kind of turquoise water more associated with a postcard than a roadside pull off. A steep bank of soft sand drops quickly into deep water, so the swimming is easy once you're past the initial shorebreak.
The color of the water alone justifies the reputation, but the easy paved access means it's the busiest beach in the park by mid morning most days.
How we score beachesCome before 9am. This is the most accessible beach in the park, with a paved lot right off the highway, and it fills faster than anywhere else in Kekaha Kai.
A paved lot sits right off Highway 19 near mile marker 88 and is the easiest access point in the park, which means it fills earliest too.
A paved path leads from the lot to the top of the sand, though the beach itself has a steep drop off that takes some care to navigate.
Dogs are not permitted on the beach within Kekaha Kai State Park.
Summer brings calmer, clearer water, while winter's bigger surf can create a punishing shorebreak right at the entry point.
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