Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on November 15, 2023
Waialea Beach, also known as 69 Beach or Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area South, is a popular snorkeling location on the northwestern coast of the Big Island. The rocky and coral beds found off the beach support a diversity of sea life including green sea turtles, moray eels, and a kaleidoscope of reef fish.
From Highway 19 in the North Kona district, turn onto Puako Bay Drive. Just past the transfer (trash) station, turn right onto Old Puako Drive for a 1/2 mile. Then left at the beach entry sign of Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area-South.
The beach has plenty of paved and unpaved parking, free for Hawaii residents and toll for non-residents. The fees were $10 per vehicle and $5 per person in 2023.
Waialea (69) Beach is named because it is located at utility pole #69. This is also known as Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area-South.
Waialea (69) Beach is a long white sand beach with lots of shade from Kiawe trees. The trees are lovely, but watch out for their thorns.
There is easy entry from several spots (see map). Turn left when you reach the beach for best fish viewing (snorkel entry 1 on the map), but the easiest entry is from right side of beach (snorkel entry 2).
At this location, the water is from 0-50 ft deep. There are several volcanic rock formations and one largish island in the bay where many fish species congregate.
There have been some coral bleaching events, and while the coral has been damaged there are still many fish species to see.
Sea life frequently seen at Waialea Beach include the green sea turtle, bluefin trevally, several butterflyfish species, hawkfish, surgeonfish, goatfish, and eels. More rarely, the bay is visited by squid and manta rays.
In winter, whales pass by on the Kona Coast and can sometimes be spotted from the beach. The bay is often calm and flat, but in winter can have bigger waves.
There’s no restaurant on site, but Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea beach resorts are nearby for dining. Showers and bathrooms are present on site.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
