Kahaluu Beach Park Overview An easily accessible hotspot for snorkeling, surfing, and swimming, Kahaluu Beach Park is a great destination for family-friendly beach fun on the Big Island’s sunny Kona Coast. Located on Alii Drive, Kahaluu Beach Park is a unique beachfront in Kona, mixing history with water activities and nearby amenities. The bay is contained by an underwater rock wall that surrounds the area and blocks the larger waves, letting just small currents flow into the bay, which clean and replenish the water regularly. Originally a sacred place with heiaus (temples) and fish ponds, ancient Hawaiians built this barrier rock wall in the bay to break the surf for better fishing conditions; the end result – exceptional small waves and calm, clear ocean perfect for enjoying the water and exploring marine life. Kahaluu Beach Park Activities Kahaluu Beach Park is one of Hawaii’s premier areas to learn to surf as well as a local favorite for snorkeling, swimming, and hanging out with friends and family. The water at Kahaluu Beach is generally tranquil and shallow, ideal for the novice snorkeler. While this area is not a marine preserve like Kealakekua Bay, you’ll be impressed by how many fish you will see. The water is really shallow, even at high tide it’s generally under 15 feet, allowing sunlight to nourish the coral and support a healthy fish population. The floor of the bay is mostly lava rock and coral with just a small amount of sand up near the shore, this makes the water stay much clearer so snorkeling visibility is very good at Kahaluu, especially as you go further out.