Top 5 Surf Spots In Kona, Hawaii

1. Kohanaiki Beach

Popularly known as Pine Trees beach, Kohanaiki Beach Park is renowned across the world for its amazing waves, and thus attracts some of Hawaii’s best surfers. Perfect for surfers of all skill levels, the surf spot here is a remote, cool one, especially for beginners. It is also open for surfing in both winter and summer. Indulge in an amazing water sports experience here, including stand-up paddleboarding and longboarding. Just remember that swells come from the southwest, west, and northwest, and the surf spot has a reef and coral bottom, like many of Big Island’s other surfing spots.

Kohanaiki Beach

Address: Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States

Opening hours: 5:30am - 9pm (daily)

2. Banyans Beach

The eponymous Banyan Hotel and Mart sit right on the shore of the Banyan Beach surf spot. The waves here have been voted one of the “10 best waves” of Hawaii by Freesurf Magazine. This extremely popular surf spot that is renowned for its swift-moving, gushing, and hollow waves, is located around 4 miles (6.5 km) south of the heart of Kailua-Kona. One of the best Kona surf spots on the Big Island in the summer, Banyans can be surfed using stand-up paddleboards, longboards, and shortboards. The beach sees a host of experienced local surfers come down here, so make sure you’re prepared to follow the etiquette and flaunt your mad surfing skills. Again, the bottom is reef and coral, so watch out for sea urchins and sharp rocks.

Banyans Beach

Address: 766265 Alii Dr, on Holualoa Bay, Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii, HI 96740-2323

3. Kahalu’u Bay

The waves at the gorgeous Kahalu’u Bay are one of Kailua-Kona’s best surf spots in Kona for surfers of all skill levels, irrespective of whether you’re a veteran surfer or a beginner learning to balance the board. Located just past Magic Sands Beach, the surf spot at Kahalu'u Bay is a reef and coral bottom teeming with sea life, so surfers need to be a bit cautious. Kahalu'u Bay itself is nifty, featuring three reef sections with lagoons in between. The Ali'i Drive leading up to this spot offers surf lessons for beginners as well as board rentals for those who need them. Use stand-up paddleboards, longboards, funboards, and shortboards to have a great time surfing here.

Kahalu'u Bay

Address: Ali'i Drive, Keauhou, Island of Hawaii, HI 96739

Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)

4. Honl’s Beach

On the western shores of the Big Island, one of the most sought-after surf spots is Honl’s Beach, overlooking Wai'aha Bay, and around 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Kailua-Kona. Featuring one of the best reef breaks on the Big Island, Honl’s is popularly known as the place where boogie boarding originated in the early 1970s! Even today, this beach is one of Big Island’s more popular boogie boarding sites and a great place to go surfing in Kona, Hawaii, as well as the place where Kona’s Annual Roots Bodyboarding Contest takes place every summer. The small, sandy beach has strong swells and sharp rocks and sees a lot of local bodyboarders.

Honl’s Beach

Address: Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States

5. Lyman’s

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Located on the western shores of the Big Island, Lyman’s surf spot lies around 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Kailua-Kona. With a reasonably consistent surf, Lyman’s is loved by the locals for its long-sloping waves. While this Big Island surfing spot sees a huge lineup of surfers during the summer, winter surfing here offers a thrilling shortboard break with extremely fast lefts during big swells. Indulge in a spot of surfing at Lyman’s with stand-up paddleboards, funboards, longboards, and shortboards. Watch out for the coral and reef bottom, as usual, when surfing anywhere on the Big Island.

Lyman’s

Address: Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States

Thrilling surf spots in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Whether you’re a novice surfer or an experienced one, the amazing Gold Coast in Kailua-Kona on the western shores of the Big Island offers plenty of amazing spots for surfing. Check out these amazing surf spots on your next vacation to Hawaii.