Most Big Island travel guides will tell you to go to Hapuna Beach for the swim and Kua Bay for the postcard. Kohanaiki Beach Park is the third option, the one local surfers go to without thinking, and the one families pass on the way to find tide pools they did not expect to be that good. The locals call it Pine Trees, after the ironwood trees lining the lava-rock shore. The county calls it Kohanaiki. Both names lead to the same gated park north of Kailua-Kona, with surf, tide pools, camping, and the most full-feature county park facilities on this stretch of coast.
This is the working beach Kona uses, not the postcard beach.
Where to Find Pine Trees
Kohanaiki Beach Park is on the Big Island's west coast, around 10 minutes north of Kailua-Kona town and 25 minutes south of Kona International Airport. From Highway 19, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Kohanaiki Boulevard near Mile Marker 95. Follow the road through the Kohanaiki resort community for about two miles to the gated public park entrance at the end. The road runs through private development but the beach access is fully public.
The gate operates from 5:30am to 9pm daily, with security on site. Outside those hours the park is closed. Inside, paved parking handles around 100 vehicles, more than enough except on major holidays.
Why Surfers Drive Here
The wave at Pine Trees is the main draw. Multiple peaks run along the lava-rock coastline, with the best breaks in winter (November to March) on west and northwest swells. The takeoff zone is reef and lava, the wave is fast, and the lineup tightens on weekends. This is intermediate to advanced surf territory; beginners without local knowledge should not paddle out at the main break.
What makes Pine Trees the local pick over the more famous Big Island surf spots is access. The park sits 15 minutes from town, has paved parking, restrooms, showers, and a place to leave your truck while you surf for two hours. Other Kona breaks require dirt-road access or sketchy parking. Kohanaiki delivers full facilities at a working surf beach, which is rare anywhere in Hawaii.
Smaller-day summer surf is more forgiving. Boogie boarding and longboard cruising work in the calmer sections. If you are not a confident surfer, watch from the rocks and walk further along the park to find the calmer tide-pool areas.
What Families Find at Kohanaiki
The non-surf use of the park is more interesting than surfers usually advertise. At low tide, several shallow pools form among the lava rocks along the shoreline. The smaller pools stay nearly bath-warm and are safe for toddlers to splash in. The larger pools hold small reef fish, hermit crabs, and sea snails, all of which are excellent for kids who want to look without getting stung. Wear water shoes; the lava is sharp.
The grassy pavilion areas behind the rocks have shaded picnic tables, BBQ grills, and enough room for a full beach day. Drinking water is available. The restrooms are clean and have both indoor and outdoor showers. This is one of the better county-park setups on the Big Island and the reason local families spend Saturdays here.
Camping at Kohanaiki
Camping is allowed by Hawaii County permit only, bookable online through the county system at least 15 days in advance. Designated sites sit under the ironwoods near the rear of the park, with BBQ pits, picnic tables, and access to the park's main facilities. Approved campers pick up an overnight parking pass at the guard shack on arrival.
This is one of the cheaper legal camping options on the Big Island and the closest to Kailua-Kona town if you want camp atmosphere without driving to Volcano National Park. The wind keeps mosquitoes manageable and the setting (lava rocks, ironwoods, ocean) is genuinely nice.
What to Bring
Water shoes for the tide pools and the rocky entry. Reef-safe sunscreen, mandatory state-wide. Your own snorkel gear if you want to use the calmer pools. A surf or boogie board if conditions look right. Food and water; the closest supermarket is in Kailua-Kona town. A windbreaker for the morning trade-wind hours.
The park has shaded pavilions but they fill on weekends. Arrive before 9am for the shaded picnic tables, or come on a weekday.
Should You Visit?
Yes. Kohanaiki is the right Big Island beach for visitors who want either a working surf experience or a full-feature family day with tide pools, BBQs, and shade. It is not the most photographed Kona beach (Kua Bay wins that) but it is the most useful one. For the postcard alternative, our other Big Island content will cover Kua Bay (Manini'owali) when we publish that review. For the wider Hawaii context, our Best Beaches in Oahu and Best Beaches in Kauai guides cover the equivalent local-pick beaches on the other islands.
