Historic waterfront hotel — Water quality at Kamakahonu Bay
The King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel (affectionately called “King Kam” by locals) occupies one of the most historically significant sites in all of Hawaiʻi — the former royal grounds of Kamehameha the Great at Kamakahonu Bay.
The bay is a sheltered, protected cove with generally calm waters and excellent visibility. Being right in Kailua-Kona Harbour, it benefits from the surrounding structure that blocks open ocean swell. Water quality is consistently good by Big Island standards. There is some boat traffic in the adjacent harbor, but the bay itself is generally clean.
This is one of the best locations in Kona for sea turtle sightings — resident honu regularly rest on the beach and feed in the bay. The adjacent Ahuʻena Heiau temple is a sacred cultural site; please be respectful.
Based on: Kailua-Kona harbor water quality data, DOH Big Island monitoring, bay protection from swell
The Hawaii DOH recommends staying out of the ocean for at least 72 hours after heavy rain. Kona is typically drier than other parts of the Big Island, but urban runoff after storms can affect the harbor area.
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⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, or any government agency or hotel brand. Water quality ratings are estimates based on publicly available data and are not real-time measurements.
Always verify with the Hawaii DOH Clean Water Branch before entering the water.
When in doubt, don't go out.