Kolekole Beach Park


Beneath a highway bridge, this park sits alongside Kolekole Stream in a verdant tropical valley. The river-mouth break is a local surfing and bodyboarding hot spot, but ocean swimming is dangerous. There are small waterfalls and full facilities. Camping is allowed with a county permit, but the narrow area can get crowded and boisterous with picnicking local families. However, as of 2017, the park has been closed due to lead contamination in the soil – it is expected to reopen by early 2020.

To get here, turn inland off the Hawaiʻi Belt Rd at the southern end of the Kolekole Bridge, about 1300yd south of mile marker 15, right before the bridge.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Botanical World Adventures

1.84 MILES

Under development since 1995, this garden remains a work in progress. Sprawling grounds include a shrubbery maze, waterfall and arboretum – nothing…

2. ʻAkaka Falls State Park

2.88 MILES

The island's best ‘tourist waterfall’ is found at this outstanding, family-friendly park. Walk the paved path counterclockwise, on a loop that traverses…

3. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

5.15 MILES

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this rainforest garden is beautifully situated by the ocean and superbly managed. A paved trail meanders through over 2000…

4. Honoliʻi Beach Park

8.96 MILES

For boardsports, this is it: Hilo's only surfing and bodyboarding spot. Locals flock here for the consistent wave action, never mind the rocky beach. Don…

5. Laupahoehoe Train Museum

10.21 MILES

If you love quirky history, pop into this unassuming museum. It's an old station agent's house full of cool stuff, brimming with fascinating artifacts and…

6. Maui's Canoe

10.9 MILES

See the current swirling around a large rock in the upstream Wailuku River? Legend has it that the demigod Maui paddled his canoe with such speed across…

7. Mokupapapa Discovery Center

10.92 MILES

Geared for kids, this center aims to educate the public about pristine Hawaiian ecosystems. Even adults might not know that the Hawaiian archipelago…

8. FW Koehnen Building

10.92 MILES

Built in 1910, this iconic blue building housed Koehnen's Interiors, a classy home furnishings store, from 1929 until 2012. Three generations of Koehnens…