Honokohau Marina and Beach: Sea Turtles on the Big Island

Key Takeaways

• Honokohau Marina provides access to a beach that is a green sea turtle preservation area
• Turtles regularly come up onto the beach to rest, offering close viewing opportunities
• Maintain a respectful distance and never touch the turtles — it is both illegal and harmful
• This is a perfect spot to fill a few hours before heading to the airport
• Small restaurants in the marina area offer casual dining

A Hidden Gem Near the Airport

If you have a few hours to spare before your flight from Kona International Airport, Honokohau Marina offers an unexpectedly wonderful way to spend them. Through the marina, you can access a beach that is part of a state park and serves as a green sea turtle preservation area.

The Sea Turtles

Green sea turtles (honu in Hawaiian) regularly haul themselves out of the ocean onto this beach to rest and warm themselves in the sun. Seeing these ancient creatures up close — some with shells three feet across — is genuinely exciting, even for visitors who have seen plenty of wildlife. The turtles are surprisingly unbothered by human presence, as long as you maintain proper distance.

It is critical to keep your distance and never touch the turtles. Green sea turtles are protected under federal law, and disturbing them can result in significant fines. Stay at least 10 feet away, do not block their path to the ocean, and resist the urge to take a selfie right next to them.

The Beach and Marina

Beyond the turtles, the beach itself is a pleasant place to relax. The dark volcanic sand contrasts beautifully with the turquoise water, and the setting is less crowded than the resort beaches further up the coast. The marina has several small, casual restaurants where you can grab a meal while enjoying the harbor atmosphere.

The area is also part of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, which preserves ancient Hawaiian fishponds, petroglyphs, and settlement sites along the coast.