Located on the Kohala Coast about 30 miles north of Kailua Kona and sandwiched between the Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani Resorts, Hapuna Beach State Park is a 61-acre park crowned by a beautiful crescent of golden sand with rock outcroppings on either end. The full stretch of the beach is about a half mile long, and it is more than 200 feet wide. This is a classic tropical beach with excellent swimming, and there is good snorkeling and diving at both the south and north ends of Hapuna Beach around an offshore coral reef. The waters remain relatively calm for most of the year, but can be a bit rough in the winter. Lifeguards are on duty—but not at all times. Afternoon winds make for good body and board surfing.

One of the appeals of Hapuna Beach State Park is the large grassy and shaded area behind the beach. Located here are picnic tables, a picnic pavilion, beach equipment rental outlets, snack food concessions, and ample parking. There are also restrooms and showers. There isn’t a great deal of camping on the Big Island, but you can rent state park A-frame cabins here. They are quite basic and located about a five-minute walk from the beach, but they do give you a taste of camping out. If you’re staying at the Mauna Kea or Hapuna Prince resorts, you can visit Hapuna Beach in rented canoes or kayaks. There is also oceanside golfing at the 18-hole Mauna Kea Golf Course.