My daughter loves to look at pictures of our family trips. Her most memorable moments have come during our trips to visit family and friends in Hawaii. The other day she pulled out a picture taken of her enjoying the day at a popular beach near my parent’s home. She’s decked out in a bright pink swimsuit with matching floppy hat happily splashing about in a crystal clear tide pool. It got me thinking about what a great time we had there and how kid-friendly the beach is. It’s called Onekahakaha Beach Park and I would highly recommend it to families visiting the Big Island of Hawaii.
Onekahakaha (quite a mouthful; it’s pronounced: oh-nay-ka-ha-ka-ha) Beach Park is not one you will see prominently featured in the state’s tourist guides, rather it a beach made popular by local families. It is located in Hilo (on the Eastern shore of the Big Island of Hawaii), just off of Kalanianaole Highway. It doesn’t offer miles of powder soft white sand, a choice snorkeling area, or a great snack hut. What it does offer is a shallow, sandy bottom swimming and wading area for families with small children. It is perfect for toddlers, but will still hold the interest of kids up to about 12-years-old. My two-year-old loves to have the gentle waves lap at her feet. Gentle, being the operative word, as a wall of giant rocks buffers the beach and swimming areas. For parents, this means that you never have to worry about your child being swept away by a strong current or be concerned that they will be swallowed up by a wave twice their size. In addition, lifeguards are on duty year-round.
Onekahakaha Beach Park also offers restrooms, showers and picnic pavilions. There are also many large trees that provide ample shade. This is especially nice for families with infants. The grassy areas under the trees provide a great place to set-up a pack-and-play or to just spread out a giant beach blanket and allow your baby to enjoy the warm temperatures and sea breezes.
Growing up, I must have gone to Onekahakaha Beach at least once a week. It was where I learned to swim and where my family shared many, many picnic lunches. It’s home to countless childhood memories and the fact that I now take my own child there endears me to it even more. (It also makes me feel very old.) Here’s hoping it can provide you with a few special moments the next time you are in Hawaii.