Water quality, surf conditions & state park guide
📍 Kohanaiki State Park, Kailua-Kona — Also known as Pine Trees
Kohanaiki (Pine Trees) benefits from the same dry Kona microclimate that makes the entire west coast of the Big Island famous for excellent water quality. Minimal rainfall means minimal runoff. The open ocean environment provides constant flushing with clean deep-water Pacific Ocean.
The area sits within Kohanaiki State Park, which preserves anchialine ponds — rare landlocked pools connected underground to the ocean that harbor endemic Hawaiian shrimp. Sea turtles regularly rest on the lava shelves. This is a culturally significant area with ancient Hawaiian fishponds and historical sites.
Based on: Dry Kona microclimate, no stream input, open ocean flushing, state park protection
The Kona Coast rarely receives significant rain, but after the occasional storm, wait at least 72 hours before swimming. Rough surf can also increase when storm swells arrive from distant weather systems.
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⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Safe to Swim Hawaii is an independent passion project — not affiliated with the Hawaii Department of Health. Water quality ratings are estimates based on historical data and are not real-time measurements.
Always verify with the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Water Branch before swimming.
When in doubt, don't go out. 🤙