Manini'owali Beach (Kua Bay)

Maniniʻōwali Beach, also known as Kua Bay, is a popular white-sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii, known for its clear turquoise waters, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and body surfing, especially in the calm mornings. This beach is in my top 5. We experienced the most beautiful sunsets on the island of Hawaii here! Parking, toilet with changing room, shower, lifeguards. Parking is available with a gate that opens at 8 AM and closes at 7 PM. The water is blue, the sand is white, and the parking lot is almost full, but we always found a spot. Small steps lead down to the beach. The lava rocks create an unforgettable atmosphere and allow you to relax and unwind. The entry into the water is gentle, making it perfect for children. My daughter loved surfing here, although it's more like paddling a board for now. We'll definitely be back!

Great beach! Get there early for parking! Non residents will pay for entrance and parking but it is worth it! They don't accept cash or credit card. You have to scan a QR code and pay online. Then show your receipt to the attendant. We got there around 9 am and the parking lot was almost full. Bathrooms are at the end of the parking lot. Short walk and a few rocks to step over. Waves were great! Water was crystal clear! Nice sandy beach. Saw a pod of spinner dolphins too! Lifeguard on was on duty. Will be coming back again.

This is a faily large and beautiful sandy beach. It's busy even on a Friday so I can't imagine what it would be like on the weekends but it wasn't hard to find a spot. Would have been amazing in the sun so that we could see the color of the water but it was great either way. The waves are rough (but do some cool curls), so be careful if you're not use to it and are going to stay in the water close to the sand where they break. Luckily there is a lifeguard here. A turtle quickly stopped by to say hello.

The waves are wonderful — the surfers were out. We were there in the afternoon. It was difficult to approach from where we parked. Very beautiful seascape. The dogs tied down in the trucks are not there to be approached. Walk on the other side.