Lagoon Beach occupies the shoreline of a four-acre protected saltwater lagoon at the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort on the South Kohala Coast, offering a unique swimming experience in a man-made tropical paradise connected to Waiulua Bay. While primarily serving Hilton resort guests, the beach and lagoon are open to the public with day-use fees that provide access without requiring an overnight stay, though reservations are recommended to guarantee entry during peak periods. The resort created this artificial lagoon in the 1980s as part of one of Hawaii's most ambitious hotel developments, carving channels through ancient lava fields to bring ocean water inland and create a protected swimming environment free from waves, currents, and most ocean hazards. The lagoon shelters rare Hawaiian green sea turtles, colorful reef fish, and tropical marine life in calm, clear water that allows close wildlife observation in conditions safe for even nervous swimmers and young children. The beach features fine imported sand along the lagoon's edge, surrounded by lush tropical landscaping, paved pathways suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, and resort amenities that include equipment rentals, restaurants, and restroom facilities. Located approximately 1.4 miles from the popular Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay) public beach, Lagoon Beach provides an alternative swimming option for visitors seeking resort convenience and guaranteed calm conditions regardless of ocean swells affecting nearby coastlines.
Swimming conditions at Lagoon Beach are exceptional year-round due to the protected lagoon environment that eliminates waves, strong currents, and most safety concerns associated with open ocean swimming. The saltwater lagoon maintains depths suitable for both wading children and adult swimmers, with the sandy bottom gradually sloping into deeper areas without sudden drop-offs or hazardous underwater features. The calm, clear water allows swimmers to observe green sea turtles and tropical fish swimming beneath them, creating an aquarium-like experience in a natural setting. While not a traditional snorkeling destination due to the limited coral reef development in the man-made lagoon, the clear water and marine life make mask and snorkel use worthwhile for observing the fish and turtles that inhabit the lagoon. Equipment rentals available at the lagoon beach shack include pedal boats, paddle boards, kayaks, and snorkeling gear, allowing visitors to explore the four-acre lagoon from multiple perspectives. The protected environment makes this an ideal location for introducing children to ocean swimming and water sports without the intimidation factor of waves and currents. No lifeguards are required given the controlled conditions, though resort staff monitor the lagoon area. Farther out in Waiulua Bay beyond the lagoon's protected area, snorkeling is surprisingly good near the rocky points, though fewer people venture into the open bay compared to the comfortable lagoon setting.
Access to Lagoon Beach requires either paying the Hilton Waikoloa Village day-use fee or locating the small free public parking lot on Waikoloa Beach Drive near the intersection with Keana Place. From the public parking area, a walking path leads through the Waikoloa Anchialine Pond Preservation Area with interpretive signs explaining these rare brackish water ecosystems before reaching the resort grounds. Visitors using resort amenities can arrange complimentary self-parking with a minimum 0 food and beverage purchase at resort restaurants, making lunch or dinner at the Hilton an economical way to access the lagoon for the day. All paved paths around the resort are open to the public, allowing exploration of the expansive property featuring marble statues, tropical gardens, and viewpoints overlooking the Kohala Coast. Amenities at Lagoon Beach include the beach shack with equipment rentals, restrooms, showers, restaurants within walking distance, and access to resort shops and services. The artificial lagoon and surrounding resort development sit on ancient lava fields that once supported Hawaiian fishing communities who built the anchialine ponds still preserved adjacent to the property. The paved pathways provide wheelchair and stroller accessibility throughout the resort grounds, making this one of the most accessible beach experiences on the Big Island for visitors with mobility challenges. Day visitors should arrive early during peak seasons as the resort may limit non-guest access when hotel occupancy is high.
Dining options at and near Lagoon Beach include several restaurants within the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort, along with nearby options at Waikoloa Beach Resort. The resort features multiple dining venues serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with varying price points and cuisine styles, from casual poolside grills to upscale oceanfront restaurants. Just down the coast at Anaehoomalu Bay, Lava Lava Beach Club provides beachfront dining with outdoor seating directly on the sand, serving fresh fish, burgers, and tropical cocktails during happy hour from 3 to 5 PM with live music beginning at 5 PM on a first-come, first-served basis. A-Bay's Island Grill at Kings' Shops offers casual dining with local and craft beers near Anaehoomalu Beach. Brown's Beach House at the Fairmont Orchid features fresh Hawaii Island-inspired cuisine with live Hawaiian music nightly and spectacular sunset views over the ocean. CanoeHouse serves Japanese-inspired oceanfront cuisine in a historic building operating since 1989, while Hawaii Calls Restaurant at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a resort setting. The cultural significance of Lagoon Beach lies primarily in its contrast with traditional Hawaiian beach experiences - while the artificial lagoon provides safe, accessible swimming, it represents a fundamentally different relationship with the ocean than traditional Hawaiian coastal practices. The adjacent preserved anchialine ponds demonstrate authentic Hawaiian coastal resource management where brackish pools provided fish, shrimp, and fresh water to communities that understood complex hydrological connections between underground aquifers and ocean tides. This beach offers visitors a choice between resort convenience and natural experiences, illustrating ongoing tensions in Hawaii between tourism development and environmental preservation while demonstrating that both approaches can coexist when developers preserve culturally significant features like the anchialine pond system.
