Best of Both Worlds: Kona Snorkeling & Sunset Beach Spots
Discover Kona's Dual Beauty
Imagine slipping beneath the surface of crystal-clear tropical waters, where rainbow-colored fish dart through ancient coral formations and sea turtles glide effortlessly past. Now picture yourself, hours later, standing on those same shores as the sky erupts in a breathtaking display of oranges, pinks, and purples that seem almost too vibrant to be real. This isn't fantasy—it's just an average day on Hawaii's big island, where nature's most spectacular shows happen both below and above the water's surface.
Few destinations in the world offer the remarkable combination that Kona delivers. By day, the best snorkeling spots along this sun-drenched coast reveal underwater sanctuaries teeming with life that has thrived here for centuries. Schools of yellow tang create flashes of gold against the deep blue, while curious Hawaiian sea turtles approach snorkelers with ancient, knowing eyes. The volcanic history of the island has created a playground of lava tubes, dramatic drop-offs, and protected bays where marine life flourishes in astounding diversity.
As the afternoon sun begins its descent toward the horizon, these same magical locations transform into front-row seats for nature's most breathtaking light show. The leeward side of the big island is famous for its consistent, unobstructed sunset views—where the day's final light paints the sky in impossible hues that reflect off both cloud and water. This rare pairing creates the perfect Hawaiian day that captures the true essence of what makes these islands so special.
Come along as I explore five remarkable locations where underwater wonder meets celestial magic.
1. Kealakekua Bay
Historical Significance
Widely celebrated as one of the best big island snorkeling spots, the pristine waters of Kealakekua Bay offer an unparalleled underwater experience. This protected marine reserve is steeped in history as the site where Captain James Cook first made contact with native Hawaiians in 1779. The white obelisk monument marking his eventual death stands as a stark contrast against the lush green cliffs, visible from both shore and water. Today, this carefully protected marine conservation district serves as a sanctuary for countless marine species and provides visitors with a living window into Hawaii's rich natural and cultural past.
Underwater Highlights
What truly sets Kealakekua apart is its dramatic underwater topography. As you swim toward the center of the bay, the seafloor suddenly drops away into deep water, creating a stunning blue abyss that plunges to depths of over 100 feet.
This unique formation—created by ancient volcanic activity and subsequent erosion—attracts abundant marine life, with reef fish dancing along the edge where shallow and deep environments meet. Schools of yellow tang, butterflyfish, and triggerfish patrol the boundary in mesmerizing formations, while occasional large animals like spinner dolphins and spotted eagle rays glide effortlessly through the depths below. The excellent visibility—often exceeding 100 feet due to minimal runoff and protected conditions—allows you to safely hover above this underwater cliff and witness the meeting of two distinct marine ecosystems in their natural glory.
Sunset Experience
For the perfect sunset experience, position yourself on the left side of the bay near Napo'opo'o Beach as the day winds down. Local knowledge suggests arriving about an hour before sunset when the water often reaches its most calm state and the light begins its magical transformation. From this vantage point, you'll watch tour boats and kayakers returning to harbor, their silhouettes creating dramatic shapes against the blazing sky. The western exposure makes this bay one of the best spots to witness the full spectrum of sunset colors reflecting off both water and the surrounding volcanic cliffs.
As the sun makes its final descent, look for the rare green flash—an optical phenomenon sometimes visible for a split second as the upper rim of the sun disappears below a clear horizon. The combination of historical significance and natural beauty makes Kealakekua's sunset experience deeply moving, connecting viewers to both Hawaiian heritage and natural splendor simultaneously.
2. Kahaluu Beach Park
Perfect for Beginners
For those seeking a great place with easy access and modern facilities, Kahaluu Beach Park delivers all the essentials. Its gradual, shallow water entry and protected cove—shielded by a traditional Hawaiian rock wall—make it ideal for first-time snorkelers, families with children, and those who prefer a more relaxed experience. With ample parking, restrooms, showers, lifeguard presence, and rental shops within walking distance, this small beach packs tremendous value into a compact shoreline.
Marine Life Encounters
The star attraction at Kahaluu is undoubtedly its resident Hawaiian sea turtles (honu), considered spiritual guardians in Hawaiian culture. This area serves as a natural cleaning station where these gentle creatures gather to have their carapaces tended by specialized fish species like the Hawaiian cleaner wrasse. The turtles enter a trance-like state during cleaning, allowing snorkelers to observe this ancient symbiotic relationship from a respectful distance (remember the "10-foot rule"). =
Beyond the turtles, the snorkeling area hosts an astonishing variety of colorful fish, with vibrant yellow tangs moving in coordinated schools, ornate butterflyfish patrolling coral heads, and parrotfish using their beak-like mouths to scrape algae from rocks. Be particularly watchful around the finger-like coral formations where octopuses sometimes hide, changing their skin texture and color to perfectly match their surroundings.
Evening Atmosphere
As day transitions to evening, Kahaluu's unique lava rock formations create dramatic silhouettes against the painted sky. The volcanic rocks at the southern end of the beach offer perfectly positioned natural seating for sunset viewing. The shallow reef that hosts so much life by day now reflects the sunset's warm glow in its tide pools, doubling the visual impact.
After your evening snorkel, food trucks at the Kahaluu Beach Center offer fresh poke bowls, tropical smoothies, or authentic plate lunches as the day's final light fades over the Pacific. Local musicians sometimes gather for impromptu performances, adding a soundtrack to nature's light show that captures the laid-back spirit of Hawaiian beach life.
3. Two Step (Honaunau Bay)
Sacred History
This popular spot earned its nickname from the natural lava rock formation creating two convenient "steps" for water entry. Adjacent to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge), Two Step combines cultural significance with exceptional snorkeling opportunities that consistently rank it among Hawaii's best snorkeling sites. The name "Pu'uhonua" refers to this area's historical role as a sanctuary where those who broke kapu (sacred laws) could seek absolution and safety.
Underwater Caverns
What makes Two Step a snorkeling adventure unlike any other is its extensive network of lava tubes and sea caves. These underwater passageways, formed by ancient pahoehoe lava flows, create fascinating swim-throughs where sunlight filters down through ceiling openings, casting ethereal light beams that dance with the water's movement.
Experienced snorkelers can carefully explore these structures to discover hidden pockets of sea life—from shy moray eels and colorful nudibranch sea slugs to schools of convict tangs that appear to change color as they turn in unison. The area is also famous for regular sightings of Hawaiian spinner dolphins that frequent these protected waters, sometimes approaching snorkelers in curious, playful groups. The varying water depths—ranging from shallow 3-foot coral gardens to deeper 30-foot drop offs—allow both novice and experienced snorkelers to find their comfort zone.
Golden Hour Magic
The best time to witness Two Step's sunset transformation is during the golden hour, when water temperature remains comfortable for a late-afternoon exploration. Local photographers particularly value this period when sunlight strikes the water at a low angle, illuminating underwater features with golden light that makes corals glow from within. As the sun begins its descent, the ancient stone walls and heiau (temples) of the nearby historical park cast long shadows across the bay.
The leeward side location ensures calm waters that perfectly mirror the sky's changing colors, creating a 360-degree sunset experience that envelops you in warm golden light. For the ultimate experience, position yourself along the southern rocky outcropping where you can simultaneously view both the sunset and the illuminated historical structures, bridging Hawaii's natural beauty and cultural heritage in a single panoramic view.
4. Manta Ray Night Snorkel Spots
Day-to-Night Adventure
For a truly unique snorkeling adventure that bridges day and night, the manta ray experiences along the Kona side of the island stand unrivaled. The primary viewing locations—Keauhou Bay ("Manta Village") and the Kona Airport area ("Manta Heaven")—offer the extraordinary opportunity to witness some of Hawaii's most majestic creatures in their natural environment while enjoying spectacular sunset views from the water.
Gentle Giants
The highlight of this experience is the chance to see manta rays—close relatives of sharks but completely harmless to humans—gliding gracefully below you with balletic precision. These gentle filter-feeders, which can be distinguished by their unique belly patterns, are drawn to these specific areas because underwater lights attract plankton, their primary food source.
An afternoon tour timed to coincide with sunset allows you to witness the full transition from daylight snorkeling to the magical evening hours when these gentle giants arrive to feed. With wingspans often exceeding 15 feet and weighing up to 3,000 pounds, watching mantas perform their graceful backward somersaults is a transcendent experience that tops the list of best things to do on the island.
Twilight Spectacle
What makes this experience especially memorable is how the fading daylight enhances the atmosphere. As afternoon transitions to dusk, smaller boat tours position themselves in prime viewing locations where you can float comfortably and watch the sky transform while waiting for the mantas to appear. Expert guides share information about specific individual mantas that frequent the area—many have been named and tracked for years by researchers.
The golden hour creates spectacular visual effects as sunlight refracts through the water, occasionally causing the manta rays' white undersides to appear to glow naturally. Once darkness falls and the underwater lights activate, you'll witness the extraordinary interplay between sunset's final colors above and the illuminated water below. The experience typically concludes with a moonlit or starlit return journey to harbor, where the Milky Way is often visible—the perfect celestial finale to an underwater ballet that few ever forget.
Transform your space with the vibrant colors of Kona's magical sunset captured in our original artwork. Browse Hawaiian Sunset Now.
5. Honaunau Bay (Place of Refuge)
Cultural Sanctuary
Beyond its significance as a best snorkeling site, Honaunau Bay carries profound cultural importance as part of Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park. This sacred ground once provided sanctuary to Hawaiian kapu-breakers (those who violated sacred laws), defeated warriors, and civilians during times of war. The massive 10-foot-thick Great Wall that extends for 1,000 feet along the bay's edge stands as a testament to ancient Hawaiian engineering. Today, it offers sanctuary of a different kind—a peaceful haven for snorkelers seeking both natural beauty and connection to Hawaii's spiritual heritage.
Diverse Marine Ecosystem
The coral reef structures here are particularly special, with ancient lava flows creating a complex underwater landscape that resembles an alien cityscape. These formations house an incredible diversity of reef fish, with some endemic species found nowhere else in the world except Hawaiian waters.
The excellent visibility, often reaching 80-100 feet on calm mornings, reveals healthy corals in varying water depths, from shallow tide pools where young fish find refuge to deeper formations that attract dense schools of fish. Patient observers might spot the Hawaiian day octopus demonstrating remarkable camouflage abilities, or spotted moray eels peeking from their rocky homes. This location is known for its healthy population of Christmas wrasse, with males displaying spectacular patterns of green, red, and white that give the fish their holiday-inspired name.
Spiritual Sunset
As day transitions to evening, Honaunau offers perhaps the most distinctive sunset experience due to its seamless blend of natural and cultural elements. The white sands near the bay catch the day's final light with a golden glow, while the intricately carved wooden ki'i (guardian statues) of the historical site create unforgettable silhouettes against the painted sky.
Listen carefully and you might hear the rhythmic sounds of traditional chanting or drums during special evenings. The spiritual significance of this place, considered a thin veil between worlds in Hawaiian cosmology, seems to heighten as shadows lengthen across sacred grounds that have witnessed centuries of Hawaiian history. Many visitors report feeling a profound sense of perspective and peace here that they carry with them long after leaving the island.
Bring home the ultimate Hawaiian Sunset that you can experience every day.
Capture the Colors of Paradise
The Dual Experience
Having explored these underwater wonderlands by day and witnessed their transformation at sunset, you'll understand why Hawaii's landscapes have inspired artists, poets, and dreamers around the world for centuries. The best way to experience the big island is through this dual perspective—seeing both its hidden underwater treasures and its sky-painted evenings within the span of a single, perfect day.
Bring Paradise Home
For those who wish to bring these magical sunset colors home, my Hawaiian Sunset piece captures the essence of these Kona coast evenings. I worked to give a calming yet captivating interpretation of vivid Hawaiian sunsets—from the deep oranges that blaze across Kealakekua Bay to the soft purples that settle over Honaunau's sacred grounds. Each piece is created with specialized pigments that shift subtly throughout the day as light in your home changes, mimicking the dynamic quality of an actual sunset.
These pieces serve as portals back to moments of perfect tranquility and natural wonder, bringing the healing energy of Hawaiian sunsets into your daily life. Many customers report that glimpsing their Hawaiian sunset piece during a hectic day provides an instant sense of calm—a visual reminder of the perfect balance between underwater exploration and sunset reflection that defines the authentic Kona experience.
This one-of-a-kind artwork captures the exact moment when Hawaii's underwater wonders and sunset skies create perfect harmony. Browse Hawaiian Sunset Now.
