Kuki'o Bay

The name "Kuki'o", meaning "Ponds of Rising Waters", comes from the anchialine ponds along the beach where Ancient Hawaiians would stock fish for times when ocean fishing was unsafe. Although this beach fronts an exclusive resort area, the site itself is seldom dove and maintains a relatively wild & pristine atmosphere. This long crescent of white sand is surrounded by shady palm, ironwood, and kiawe trees. The white sand stretches into the distance across to the next cove. There is a band of lava rocks forming a narrow breakwater in the shallow water. If you want to swim or snorkel, you will need to walk towards the south end of the beach where there is an opening in the rocks. This beach area is littered with volcanic rock making swimming hazardous. Use extreme caution and monitor conditions before entering the water. Clean on-site showers & restrooms. The water in the small cove remains between 0.5 and 1.5 meter for a long way out and only begins to get deeper as you approach the mini-wall. There is a wonderful lava tube that can be accessed by descending through a skylight located between the two rocks breaking the surface farthest from shore. Outside the tube, you can turn either left or right along the wall and have a good dive and never getting deeper than 15 meter. Going to the right will lead you to a shallower, sandy area. Going to the left takes you slightly deeper and there are lots of overhangs on the wall. Directions: Take Highway 19 North for around 13 miles from the town of Kailua-Kona. Just a little way beyond Mile Marker 87 is the entrance to Kukio Bay. There is a green and white highway sign indicating the left turn lane. Kukio Bay is a resort area in-the-making and you drive to a guard house where you ask for a beach pass. From there one of the employees will have you follow them behind a golf cart to the 30 space parking lot.