Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area

Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area is a large park and sandy beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is also located adjacent to the beach. Hāpuna (literally, "spring" or "pool" in Hawaiian) is popular with residents and visitors.

This is one of a few other white sand beaches on the west coast of the Big Island. The few others include Kua Bay (Manini'owali Beach), Kaunaʻoa Bay, known as Mauna Kea Beach, and Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park. It was named the Best Beach in America by Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, known as "Dr Beach", in 1993 and 2021.

The 61.8-acre (25.0 ha) park is located at coordinates 19°59.4789′N 155°49.3809′W / 19.9913150°N 155.8230150°W / 19.9913150; -155.8230150, west of Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19, called Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway) on Hapuna Beach Road. It is about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) south of Kawaihae, Hawaii. A part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail runs through the park from Spencer Beach to the north, to Puako to the south.

Hāpuna beach has lifeguards, but can be hazardous during high surf conditions since the beach is not protected from the open ocean.

Junior lifeguard program

Every Summer, Hawai’i County hosts a Junior Lifeguard Program at Hāpuna for youths 12–17 years of age.

On Saturday, June 29, 2019, Hāpuna hosted the Hawai’i Island Junior Lifeguard Championships.

Park and Rec services

The park has free admission for Hawai’i residents and $5 for visitors, paved parking, pavilions, picnic areas, restrooms, and showers. Camping permits are available.

References

Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert; Esther T. Mookini (2004). "lookup of Hapuna ". in Place Names of Hawai'i. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
Stephen P. Leatherman. "Beaches previously ranked as America's Best Beach by Dr. Beach". DrBeach.Org web site. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
Hapuna Beach State Park: #1 Beach in america 2021 drbeach.org, May 30, 2021, retrieved June 1, 2021
"Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area". official web site. Hawaii state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
"Ala Kahakai Trail (Kawaihae-Anaehoomalu)". official web site. Hawaii National Park Services. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
"South Kohala map 2". Shoreline access. on official Hawaiʻi County web site. Retrieved February 14, 2017.

Protected areas of Hawaii

Federal

National Parks	Haleakalā Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
National Historical Parks & Sites	Honouliuli NHS Kalaupapa NHP Kaloko-Honokōhau NHP Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau NHP Puʻukoholā Heiau NHS
National Monuments	Papahānaumokuākea Marine
National Marine Sanctuary	Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale
National Wildlife Refuges	Hakalau Forest Hanalei Hawaiian Islands Huleia James Campbell Kakahaia Kealia Pond Kilauea Point Kona Forest Oahu Forest Pearl Harbor
Wilderness Areas	Haleakala Hawaii Volcanoes
National memorial	Pearl Harbor

State Parks,
Monuments
Recreation Areas
and Preserves

Hawaiʻi (island)	ʻAkaka Falls State Park Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area Huliheʻe Palace Kalopa State Recreation Area Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park Kekaha Kai (Kona Coast) State Park Kīholo State Park Reserve Kohala Historical Sites State Monument Lapakahi State Historical Park Lava Tree State Monument MacKenzie State Recreation Area Manuka State Wayside Park Mauna Kea Ice Age Reserve Mauna Kea State Recreation Area Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area Wailoa River State Recreation Area Wailuku River State Park / Rainbow Falls
Kaua‘i	Ahukini State Recreation Pier Haʻena State Park Kōkeʻe State Park Nā Pali Coast State Park Polihale State Park Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park Wailua River State Park Waimea Canyon State Park Waimea State Recreational Pier
Maui	Halekiʻi-Pihana Heiau State Monument ʻĪao Valley State Monument Kaumahina State Wayside Park Makena State Park Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park Waiʻanapanapa State Park Wailua Valley State Wayside Park
Moloka‘i	Palaʻau State Park
O‘ahu	Ahupuaʻa O Kahana State Park ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area Diamond Head State Monument Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Heʻeia State Park ʻIolani Palace State Monument Ka'ena Point State Park Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline Kaka'ako Waterfront Park Keaīwa Heiau State Recreation Area Kewalo Basin Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument Lāʻie Point State Wayside Makapuʻu Point State Wayside Mālaekahana State Recreation Area Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau State Monument Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside Queen Emma Summer Palace Royal Mausoleum State Monument Sacred Falls State Park Sand Island State Recreation Area Ulupō Heiau State Historic Site Waʻahila Ridge State Recreation Area Wahiawā Freshwater State Recreation Area

Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources

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