Mauna Kea Beach Drive

Mauna Kea Beach Drive is a short Kohala access road from Queen Kaahumanu Highway toward Kaunaoa Beach, Mauumae Beach access, resort landscaping and golf course views.

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Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Big Island

Mauna Kea Beach Drive is a 1.5-mile stretch of road that leads from Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy (Hwy 19), near mile marker 68, down to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Mauna Kea Beach. Right at the beginning of the road, there is a guard house and a gate where beach visitors can get a parking pass (there are only 40 public parking spaces at Mauna Kea Beach, so make sure you arrive early). Alternatively, you can also visit Mau'umae Beach, which you access by driving down Mauna Kea Beach Drive and taking the third right turn.

Key Features

Short access road between Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kaunaoa Beach
About 1.5 miles from the highway to the beach and hotel entrance area
Main beach access leads toward Kaunaoa Beach, also known as Mauna Kea Beach
Mauumae Beach access is reached from a side turn along the drive
Public beach parking near the hotel is limited and often fills early
Gatehouse staff direct visitors when public parking is available
Dry Kohala setting with lava fields, palms and resort landscaping
Golf course views appear along parts of the road
Good morning approach for clearer light and less heat
A simple scenic drive for visitors already heading to the beach

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Kaunaoa Beach also called Mauna Kea Beach?

Kaunaoa is the traditional beach name, while Mauna Kea Beach became widely used because the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened beside the bay. Both names refer to the same white-sand beach reached from this road.

What does kaunaoa mean?

Kaunaoa is the name of a native Hawaiian dodder plant with thin orange strands. It is one of Hawaii's traditional lei plants and is also the official island flower of Lanai.

How is Mauumae Beach different from Kaunaoa Beach?

Mauumae Beach is smaller and usually quieter, with a more tucked-away access route from the same drive. Kaunaoa Beach has the broad crescent of sand and the main hotel setting.

What makes the drive look so different from wetter parts of Hawaii Island?

This part of the island is dry leeward Kohala, where lava fields, golden grasses, kiawe and manicured resort landscaping sit close together. The contrast is part of what makes the approach to the beach memorable.

What are good photo details along Mauna Kea Beach Drive?

Look for the transition from dark lava and dry grasses near the highway to palms, flowering plants, golf course greens and bright sand near the water. Morning light usually gives the clearest view down the road toward the beach.