Ocean SafeHawaiʻi Island Beach Safety
Kohala (North)

Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea) today: live conditions and our beach score

A perfect crescent fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel — calm and family-friendly in summer.

Live conditions Kohala (North)
Reading today's ocean conditions…

Ocean Safe scores conditions from public NOAA and Open-Meteo data. We don't certify any beach as safe or unsafe, and this is a modeled estimate, not an official forecast. Always check posted signs, county lifeguards, and weather.gov, and decide for yourself. How we score beaches.

Open Kaunaoa in Ocean Safe: live map & beach score →Live conditions, our beach score, lifeguard info and what to do today. Free, no signup

The one thing to know

A perfect crescent fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel — calm and family-friendly in summer. No lifeguard, and the same NW winter swell that hits Hāpuna builds a pounding shorebreak and rip currents here, so judge conditions yourself before entering and stay out when the surf is up.

Beach facts

ShoreKohala (North)
LifeguardNo lifeguard
Best forswim, snorkel, walk
ParkingPublic access through Mauna Kea Beach Hotel — a limited number of free public parking passes issued daily at the gate. Arrive early; they run out.

Questions visitors ask

Is it safe to swim at Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea) today?
Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea) has no lifeguard. On calm days it can be a good swim, but you're responsible for your own safety — check today's live conditions above, watch the water, and never swim alone.
Is there a lifeguard at Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea)?
No. Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea) is not lifeguarded, so conditions are yours to judge. If the surf looks marginal, choose a guarded beach instead.
When is the best time to visit Kaunaʻoa Beach (Mauna Kea)?
Mornings are usually calmest, before the afternoon trade winds build and while water visibility is best. A perfect crescent fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel — calm and family-friendly in summer.
More Kohala (North) beaches today
HapunaSpencerWaialeaMauumae