At Kukio beach you can enjoy a fairly long stretch of white sands, which is great for taking a stroll. Palm trees, kiawe, and ironwood trees surround the beach and do provide some shade, but if you are going to stay for a while it is recommended to bring a beach umbrella. Overall the waters are not great for swimming due to lava rock being in the water in many of the locations. There are a few areas that you can easily walk into the waters to get to a deeper location and enjoy some great snorkeling when the water is clear. The waters are very calm, which does make for a great location for standup paddle boarding. While the waters can be calm, with the lava rocks throughout the waters it can be dangerous in areas to paddleboard. There is a small sandy cove that is great if you have children or are looking to take a quick dip in the water.
Kukio beach is not just a popular place for beachgoers, but is also a popular location for sea turtles to get out of the waters and rest ashore. Many guests have also seen spinner dolphins in the distance. It is also home to some of the nicest luxury homes on the Big Island of Hawaii, which are a part of the community called Kukio. Many of these homes are nestled on a beautiful setting with ponds and palm trees located between the homes and the beach with a wooden bridge over the ponds to give access to the beach.
There is a trail, Ala Kahakai, you will find at Kukio beach. This trail has been around since Polynesians first arrived on the Big Island over 1500 years ago. Along this trail you will find interested artifacts and fishponds.
All beaches in Hawaii are accessible to the public, but due to this beach being located near one of the more luxurious areas of the island it is slightly more of a challenge to get to than other beaches on the island. You will access the beach through the Hualalai resort guard shack and they will direct you where to park. There is limited parking so if you would like an easy parking spot it is recommended to go early in the morning. Once you are parked, there is a nice walkway that winds through the lava rock to take you to the beach.
