What a beautiful beach this was a little more than 1/2 mile from our camp. Would have loved to spend more time. It was the best! I hope I get to do this again.

It's really tough to find a more perfect beach anywhere in the Hawaiian island chain than Makalawena. Swimming is usually pretty safe when waters are calm. The land behind Makalawena is private.
Makalawena Beach is part of Puu Alii Bay, and this entire area is very rich in marine life. Bodyboarding, swimming, and snorkeling are common activities here.
The sand at Makalawena feels different from the coarser grains of other Kona beaches. It’s powdery soft, almost like stepping onto a silk blanket stretched across the earth. This alone makes it worth the trek.