Reviews

5 reviews

Summary

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Ho‘okena Beach Park is a charming destination with a lovely beach featuring soft gray sand, ample shade, and a beautiful backdrop. Visitors enjoy snorkeling, spotting turtles and dolphins, and appreciate the kid-friendly facilities. While parking is limited and access involves a winding road, the experience is deemed worthwhile, especially for camping and enjoying stunning sunsets.

Based on guest feedback

4.8

Overall rating

Based on 5 reviews

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S.H Traveler

S.H Traveler

January 21, 2026 Verified review

Amazing black sand beach but the 2 mi drive down and up is a bit scary. The lane is big enough to fit 1 car but allows 2. The parking is free but extremely limited. I can’t imagine how people park there in the busy summer. You would have to wait for someone to leave to park there, I guess. The water was clear and calm with visible fish.

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Michelle W

Michelle W

January 31, 2026 Verified review

Hidden gem, lovely salt and pepper colored sand beach. Super soft and a nice bay with a lot of shade and sun. A cliff backdrop. A place you can snorkel and swim. Seems to be good for spear fishing as well. We saw whales but we are told the dolphins are more frequent then whales.
Kid friendly nice showers bathroom close by.
Parking can be limiting and a challenge if u had a bigger vehicle.
Its a long windy road to the bottom

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Beavit2Leaver

Beavit2Leaver

March 17, 2026 Verified review

Love this place. Very lovely place to camp. Nice sand. Epic sunsets. Take a stroll to the right looking at the ocean and find a few shallow dipping pools for the feet. Maybe not so choice for swimming unless your feet are made of iron. Sea urchin and random waves might bummer your evening.

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Craig Hooper

Craig Hooper

May 5, 2026 Verified review

It's a bit of a drive from Kona, but well worth it. Don't let the road down intimidate you, it's not bad. Parking is limited, so go early or get lucky. Nice beach that is Grey sand, so the sand is hot. Saw lots of snorklers. Turtles and dolphins too. Enjoyed our stay and will come back. Would be fun to camp here too.

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Eric B

Eric B

May 22, 2026 Verified review

Nice spot. Small parking lot only fits about 20 cars. We got here at 9:30 and there were only a few spots left. Plenty of shade trees. Water was a little rough today. Not sure if that's typical.

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Location & Directions for Ho‘okena Beach Park

86-4322 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI 96704 United States

Nearest town

Captain Cook, HI - 11 mi

About 21 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is on Mamalahoa Hwy. Hookena Beach Road is near.

Near Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

The closest entrance is: Kahuku Unit Entrance

Approximate drive: 31.8 mi · 55 min

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Captain Cook, HI

Captain Cook, Hawaii

Population: 3,419

Nearby city: Hilo, HI

Approx. 58 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,381 ft

Captain Cook, HI

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