Crusin’ Honoli‘i Beach with Tita Nui

Is Honoli‘i Beach Park a beach—or not?

Well it depends on who you ask. Some say it’s a beach; others say, nope, it’s just a surf spot.

However you define it, Honoli‘i is a beautiful beach that sits right outside of Hilo as you head up along the Hāmākua Coastline.

Enjoy a beautiful afternoon with waves rolling in on the north end of the beach into Honoli‘i Stream. Darde Gamayo photo.

View from Honoli‘i Beach Park looking south toward Hilo with Keaukaha in the distance. Darde Gamayo photo.

Facilities at Honoli‘i Beach Park. Darde Gamayo photo.

Parking is tight at Honoli‘i Beach Park. Darde Gamayo photo.

It hosts an exposed reef break that provides for very consistent surf, especially during the winter months.

On the east side of Hawai‘i Island, it is surely one of the best places to catch some waves.

Parking is very limited and often tricky, to say the least; however, it is a great spot to watch surfers and boogie boarders shred the waves.

It’s also a great spot to whale watch during the winter months.

The steep stairs leading down to the bottom can be tiring for some, but well worth the effort if you want to enjoy a rocky, black sand beach.

It is recommended that those not familiar with the ocean conditions in the area check in with the lifeguard, who is on duty daily.

Honoli‘i Stream meets the ocean on the north side of the beach. The stream is usually calm and offers a great place to cool off on those hot Hilo days.

If you love collecting beach glass, the north side of the beach provides an excellent spot to fill your bucket.

Honoli‘i Beach Park location. Google Maps.

The bathroom and grounds of the park are maintained by the County of Hawai‘i, as well as the local surfers.

Honu often make an appearance at the shoreline either basking on the rocky shore or feeding on the reef.

While the honuo are quite a site to see and photograph, it is worth noting that there are laws here in Hawai‘i that protect turtles, so keep your distance and give them their space.

The bridge above that spans across the gulch is a perfect spot for some very picturesque photos.

After you’re done visiting the park, you can take a drive along that section of the old Māmalahoa Highway. It will give you just a quick taste of what it’s like driving through a tropical rain forest.

Honoli‘i Beach Park is truly a beautiful spot to stop and take a break from the hustle and bustle of life.