Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Plan to arrive early. Public access to the beach is limited to 40 cars at a time and is on a first-come basis. It fills up fast. Arrive by 9 a.m. or plan on waiting to enter until someone leaves. Drive north on Highway 19, if heading out from Kailua-Kona. Turn left at the Mauna Kea Resort entrance, or Mauna Kea Beach Drive, about a 30-minute drive north of Kailua-Kona. The road is not clearly marked, so look for the resort sign or mile marker 68. Follow the signs to beach access until the road dead-ends at the small parking lot. Walk down the golf cart path to the public beach access. It's about a five-minute walk.
Drive to nearby Hapuna Beach State Park, about a mile south just off Hwy. 19, if parking is full at Mauna Kea. Park here and hike the 1-mile trail that follows the shoreline to Mauna Kea Beach.
Bring your snorkeling gear. This beach is a snorkeler's paradise thanks to its calm water and abundant coral. Follow the rocky edges of this secluded bay to see turtles and a variety of tropical fish, including tang, jacks and butterfly fish.
Pack sand toys and rafts. Your kids will find the thick, sugary sand on Mauna Kea Beach supports large-scale sand castles. Or, if you just feel like relaxing, float on the calm, clear blue water.