A charming and picturesque coastal spot nestled in the Kekaha Kai State Park, Kua Bay was once a well-kept secret, but something this beautiful can’t stay a secret for long and now word has got out, it’s attracting more and more visitors all the time. In spite of its growing popularity, it’s still one of the quieter beaches along Ali’I Drive. The surrounding park offers good hiking opportunities and plenty of lookouts for great views. The beach is the perfect place to relax, see the marine life and to surf.
As it’s pretty secluded, the beach doesn’t have any facilities, so arrive early and bring everything with you that you’ll need for the day. Then just find a quiet spot, lay back and soak up some rays.
For some of the best views, hike along the well-maintained trails all around the beach. Again, be prepared as there’s nowhere to get essentials such as water along the way.
If you’d rather stay on the beach, head out into the blue ocean waters and get close to the marine life. Get up close to Hawaiian sea turtles that inhabit this stretch of coast. Watch out for dolphins frolicking in the surf or you may even spot whales breaching in the deeper waters.
In the winter months, the beach is popular with surfers who head here to take advantage of the winter swells. You can join them by hiring a surfboard from Kailua-Kona. If you’re a novice, there are beginner’s surfing lessons available.
The park surrounding the bay is open during the daytime all through the week except on Wednesdays, and it won’t cost you to enter. You can reach Kua Bay itself by taking the unpaved road north out of Kailua-Kona, turning off at the Kekaha Kai State Park and continuing ahead for less than two kilometres before you reach the beach itself.
