Kikaua Point Beach

This protected cove in Kailua-Kona is the kind of beach Big Island locals quietly cherish — calm, turquoise water perfect for keiki, with soft sand made of coral and shell fragments. The reef break keeps things mellow even when the rest of the Kona Coast is choppy, and there's plenty of shade from kiawe trees.

Yes, you'll need to get a free parking pass from the Four Seasons guard gate (just say you're going to the public beach), and the tiny lot fills fast. But here's the thing — most people stick to the main swimming cove near the restrooms. Walk past the lava rocks to the second bay for incredible snorkeling where schools of yellow tangs, Picasso triggers, and fearless green turtles hang out in just 2-3 feet of water.