Kikaua Point Beach Park, affectionately known as Keiki Beach (keiki meaning child in Hawaiian), occupies a protected cove along the North Kona Coast within the exclusive Kukio Golf Resort community near mile marker 87 on Highway 19. This small white sand beach features natural lava rock outcroppings that form a protective rim around the swimming area, creating an exceptionally safe shallow lagoon ideal for young children and novice swimmers. Despite being located within a luxury resort development, Hawaii's public beach access laws ensure that up to 28 daily visitors can obtain free beach passes from the security gate, maintaining public enjoyment of this family-friendly shoreline. The beach's protected location between Kukio Bay to the north and the dramatic Kona coastline to the south provides consistently calm conditions that contrast sharply with the rougher waters common at many Big Island beaches. Green sea turtles frequently graze in the dazzlingly clear tide pools or sun themselves on the warm black lava rocks, offering guaranteed wildlife viewing opportunities. The combination of easy access via paved wheelchair-accessible trails, excellent facilities including restrooms and showers, and the safest swimming conditions on the Kona Coast makes Kikaua Point Beach particularly popular with families seeking stress-free beach days.
Swimming conditions at Kikaua Point Beach rank among the best and safest on the entire Big Island due to the protective lava rock barrier that keeps the inner lagoon calm and shallow with a sandy bottom perfect for children learning to swim and snorkel. The protected swimming area remains gentle even when surrounding waters show whitecaps and swells, providing reliable conditions year-round. Beyond the inner reef that rims the beach, another shallow tide pool offers interesting snorkeling when tides are not too high, revealing colorful tropical fish, coral formations, and frequent Hawaiian green sea turtle sightings in the crystal-clear water. More adventurous snorkelers can explore the bay adjacent to the keiki lagoon where excellent snorkeling reveals a dramatic underwater drop-off that attracts larger fish species and more diverse marine life. The south end of Kikaua Point provides the best ocean entry for those venturing into Kukio Bay, which offers relatively calm morning conditions suitable for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing in addition to swimming and snorkeling. No lifeguards are present, but the exceptionally protected conditions and shallow depths minimize safety concerns compared to most Big Island beaches. The clear water quality and abundant marine life make this an ideal location for introducing children to snorkeling in a safe, controlled environment.
Access to Kikaua Point Beach requires driving to Kukio Nui Drive near mile marker 87 on Highway 19 and stopping at the Kukio Golf Resort security gate where guards provide free visitor beach passes if parking spaces remain available among the 28 spots allocated for public use. Arriving by 9 AM or earlier is strongly recommended to secure parking, particularly on weekends and during peak tourist seasons when all passes may be distributed by mid-morning. From the parking area, a short paved trail suitable for wheelchairs and strollers leads to the beach, making this one of the most accessible Big Island beaches for visitors with mobility challenges or families with young children in strollers. Excellent facilities include restrooms with changing rooms, outdoor showers, and drinking water fountains, though no picnic tables or pavilions are provided - visitors should bring beach chairs, umbrellas, or towels for seating. The park operates from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset daily. Despite being surrounded by luxury resort development, the beach maintains public access and feels welcoming to all visitors, with the limited parking ensuring the beach never feels crowded. Visitors can also access the adjacent Kukio Beach via a paved coastal sidewalk that passes by the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, offering opportunities to explore multiple beaches in one visit.
Dining options near Kikaua Point Beach include the restaurants at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, accessible via the paved coastal sidewalk, where ULU Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge serves fresh local seafood with Pacific Rim-inspired flavors using ingredients sourced from over 160 Big Island farms, prepared through oven roasting, flame grilling, and wok firing techniques that fuse Hawaiian and Pan-Asian cuisines. Beach Tree offers the most casual Four Seasons dining experience with Californian cuisine featuring Italian influences, served beachside or in an open-air dining room with live Hawaiian music and occasional hula dancing performances. Both restaurants feature Big Island-grown ingredients including Kona abalone, local lobster, organic honey, mushrooms, tomatoes, avocado, and goat cheese. For more affordable options, nearby Kailua-Kona offers Da Poke Shack serving award-winning poke bowls and Hawaiian plate lunches, Umeke's Fish Market Bar and Grill featuring locally caught fish and island cuisine, and Huggo's oceanfront restaurant providing fresh seafood with sunset views. The cultural significance of Kikaua Point Beach extends to its role in preserving public beach access despite surrounding luxury development - Hawaii's shoreline access laws ensure that even beaches within exclusive resorts remain available to all residents and visitors, reflecting Hawaiian values of shared ocean resources. The beach's Hawaiian name Keiki Beach celebrates its role as an ideal location for introducing children to ocean swimming and Hawaiian marine ecosystems, continuing traditions of teaching young people to respect and enjoy Hawaii's coastal waters safely and responsibly.
