Big Island Family Photographer | Exploring Punaluu, Kona Coast, and Waikaloa

Adventures with Little Bird on Big Island

If you’re jumping in now, this post is part of a two-part series exploring the Big Island. You can hop over to part one to see details on the Hilo side and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park here. Here, the adventure continues as this Big Island family photographer continues from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park along the Kona Coast and up to Waikoloa Village.

A Pitstop at Punaluu Beach

There is something undeniably fascinating about black sand beaches. As we made our way to the coast from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we decided to make a quick pit stop at Punaluu Beach to dig our toes in the dark, sparkly sand and search for sea turtles. This 10-minute rest morphed into one hour and then two. Once a giant busload of tourists drove away in a cloud of angry diesel, it was too peaceful to leave. Besides, the sea turtles were putting on a good show. There were at least a dozen massive turtles munching on neon green algae in the low tide. They bumped and knocked each other as they reached for the leafiest morsels. Mila learned how to do a mean turtle impersonation.

A Calm Beach on the Kona Coast

Normally, the Kona beaches are mellow with excellent snorkeling. On this day, the surf was up and the beaches were all too rough for the kids. They were begging to play in the water, but we didn’t want to drive very far. We took a gamble on Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. There was some vague information online that mentioned good snorkeling and swimming. We parked at the boat harbor, walked down a very short trail to the fish pond (5 minutes) and were rewarded with our very own beach. Protected, beautiful, and sandy with a stellar sunset and even more turtles. Another dozen or so. You can never see too many turtles.

An Excellent Snorkeling Beach along the Kona Coast

Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is a great spot to visit with family. They have hands-on activities for a good dose of Hawaiian culture in beautiful beach landscape. The heat can be intense in the park, but fortunately, Two-step Beach is just a short walk down the road. It’s a wonderful little snorkel spot with abundant sealife. It’s fairly deep (you’ll take two big steps off a lava shelf to jump into the deep water), but there are large tide pools for kids to splash in. This tiny beach can get very crowded.

Waikaloa and the Kohala Coast

The entire South Kohala Coast is lined with stunning beaches and coastal hikes (and luxury resorts). We randomly picked the Waikoloa Resort in Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay) and it was perfect for the kids. On a calm day, you will find paddlers and snorkelers in a shady setting. This is a prime hammock beach. Beautiful sunsets a bonus.

An Easy Final Day

On our last day, we made a quick visit to the beach at the Mauna Lani resort. Most of the parking is reserved for hotel guests, but as all Hawaiian beaches are public, they’re required to reserve a few spots for public access. At the gate, request a beach pass. If they’re out, you can ask for a hotel pass. Last chance, a hiking pass. The north end of the beach has lovely clear water that is fun for snorkeling and swimming. There are showers and bathrooms and you can even stop at the resort for lunch.  It’s a lovely spot for photos and you can see a family photo session at Mauna Lani here.

Are You Planning a Family Vacation to Hawaii?

The Big Island has so much to offer that it can be a bit overwhelming. For ideas, check out this post covering more Black Sand Beaches and family hikes around Big Island.