Trip Plan
Overview
The Big Island offers the most dramatic and varied honeymoon setting in Hawaiʻi: black lava against white sand, rainforest waterfalls, stargazing from 9,000 feet, and some of the most secluded beach coves in the state. This three-day itinerary is based on the Kohala Coast, where luxury resorts line a sun-drenched lava coastline, with excursions to the lush Hilo side and the volcanic south.
Advance planning: Book sunset dinner reservations at Kohala Coast resorts at least 2 weeks ahead during peak season. Reserve the Mauna Kea stargazing experience early. Arrange a private snorkel charter for Day 2 at least a week in advance.
Day 1 — Kohala Coast: Mauna Kea Beach & Sunset
8:30 AM
Mauna Kea Beach — Start your honeymoon at Kaunaʻoa Bay, a pristine crescent of white sand framed by the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The beach has a sheltered cove feel with calm morning water and a gentle slope into turquoise depths. Snorkeling along the southern rocky point reveals sea turtles and tropical reef fish. Non-resort guests can access the beach; 30 free parking spots are available at the hotel gate, first-come-first-served.
Check water quality; this beach generally tests very clean due to its rocky substrate and lack of stream input.
Parking: 30 free public spots at hotel gate. Arrive before 9 AM or try after 2 PM when morning visitors depart.
Midday
Lunch at the resort restaurant overlooking the bay (non-guests welcome, $40-60/couple for casual poolside dining). Afterward, walk the short coastal trail connecting Mauna Kea Beach to Spencer Beach Park to the north (about 20 minutes one way over lava rock, wear sturdy sandals). The trail passes through ancient Hawaiian fishpond ruins and petroglyphs.
4:00 PM
Drive 15 minutes south to
A-Bay (Anaehoomalu Bay) for the best sunset on the Kohala Coast. This palm-fringed bay faces due west with unobstructed horizon views. Ancient Hawaiian fishponds border the beach, and the shallow sandy bottom makes for warm, gentle wading as the sun drops.
Check water quality. Stay for the afterglow, which often turns the sky deep orange and purple behind the silhouetted palms.
Evening
Drive 15 minutes to the Mauna Lani resort area for dinner. Several oceanfront restaurants offer Hawaiian regional cuisine with locally sourced fish and produce. After dinner, drive back along Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway with the windows down; the dry Kohala air is warm and fragrant with kiawe wood smoke.
IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE
The Kohala Coast is extremely arid and rarely affected by brown water. If conditions are poor, book a couples spa treatment at a Kohala Coast resort, then enjoy sunset from A-Bay as planned (the beach is still beautiful even without swimming).
Day 2 — Private Snorkel Charter & Kona Town
8:00 AM
Board a private or small-group snorkel charter from Honokohau Harbor in Kailua-Kona (40 min drive south from Waikoloa). Half-day charters ($150-300/person) typically motor to Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook's monument marks one of the best snorkeling spots in all of Hawaiʻi. The bay is a Marine Life Conservation District with exceptional coral coverage and spinner dolphins are frequently seen in the mornings. The water clarity here often exceeds 80 feet. Boat access avoids the steep 1.5-mile hike down from the road.
Midday
Return to Kailua-Kona for lunch along Aliʻi Drive. The waterfront strip has numerous restaurants with ocean views. Walk the seawall path to Huliheʻe Palace, a 19th-century royal vacation home, and watch surfers at the small break in front of the Kona Inn.
Afternoon
Drive 40 minutes south to Puʻuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park ($20/vehicle), the ancient Place of Refuge. The reconstructed Hawaiian temple platform and carved wooden kiʻi images sit against a dramatic lava coastline. Snorkeling in the adjacent Two Step cove is excellent, with a natural lava-rock entry into crystal-clear water (not part of the paid park; free access from the south side). Return to Kohala Coast for an evening at leisure.
IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE
Kealakekua Bay and Two Step are on the dry Kona coast and usually unaffected by runoff. If conditions are genuinely poor, explore the Kona coffee belt (20 min upslope) with farm tours and tastings, then visit Puʻuhonua o Honaunau for the cultural experience.
Day 3 — Manta Rays & Stargazing
9:00 AM
Hapuna Beach — Spend a relaxed morning at the Big Island's most awarded beach. The half-mile crescent of white sand is framed by lava rock headlands and backed by kiawe trees. Morning conditions are typically calm with clear water.
Check water quality. The southern end of the beach has a small rocky cove that offers more privacy. Bring your own shade since the trees are set back from the sand.
Parking: Hapuna Beach State Park lot ($5/vehicle). Fills by 10 AM on weekends; arrive early.
Afternoon
Drive to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station at 9,200 feet elevation (1-hour drive from Kohala Coast via Saddle Road). Arrive by 4 PM to acclimate to the altitude. The station offers free stargazing programs after dark with telescopes set up by volunteer astronomers. The Big Island has some of the darkest skies in the Northern Hemisphere due to strict light-pollution laws. Bring warm layers; temperatures at 9,000 feet drop into the 40s after sunset even in summer.
Evening
After stargazing, return to the Kohala Coast (45 min drive downhill). Or, if you arrange it in advance, book the night manta ray snorkel experience from Keauhou Bay ($100-150/person, departs around 6:30 PM). Floating in the dark water while manta rays with 10-foot wingspans glide beneath you, attracted by plankton-gathering lights, is one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters in the world. The experience lasts about 45 minutes in the water.
IF BROWN WATER IS ACTIVE
Skip the beach morning and head directly to Mauna Kea VIS for the full afternoon-to-night stargazing experience. Or drive to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (2.5 hours south) for the Kilauea Iki crater hike.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — it is not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health,
any entity mentioned on this page, or any government agency or hotel brand.
Water quality ratings on this site are estimates based on publicly available testing data and geographic analysis.
They are not real-time measurements and may not reflect current conditions.
Always verify current water quality conditions with the
Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch
before entering the water. This site is for informational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for any swimming decisions.
This site does not recommend or advise anyone to swim at any beach. We share government data and geographic analysis so you can make your own informed decisions. By using this site you accept full responsibility for your own safety. See our Terms of Use for full details.
When in doubt, donʻt go out. 🤙