La’aloa means “very sacred” in Hawaiian. Often called “White Sands,” “Magic Sands,” or “Disappearing Sands,” this small, fun beach on the main drag in Kona is one of our favorites. So-named for the fact that the beach’s sand comes and goes seemingly overnight when big storms come, when the sand is in, it is a great place to relax and play in the shore break.
La’aloa was an ahupua’a–an historic land division–which still has some retained Hawaiian rights today. You can find the remains of Haukalua Heiau near the parking lot. The Haukalua Heiau is around 800 years old. Much of the temple was taken apart to build the parking lot and then placed into the current stone platform. No one is certain for sure how the heiau was used and what its particular origins were, but locals and ancestors of the land have strong opinions. The heiau is open, so please be respectful of what is left of this sacred place.
An interesting tidbit: St. Peter’s Church, currently sitting on Kahalu’u Beach next to the Ku’emanu Heiau was originally here. It was decided to move the blue church from La’aloa to Kahalu’u in 1912. How’d the do it? The church was placed on poles and carried/dragged by hand (with donkeys also)…and this was before pavement.
When the waves are down, we enjoy snorkeling a few hundred yards out and to the right. There are nice corals, a bit deeper waters, and a few larger fish. When the waves are up, boogie boarding is killer–just be careful.
Because of the amount of activity at this beach, its archaeological importance, and the often powerful shore break, this is one of the few beaches on the Big Island that posts a full-time lifeguard station.
You can find La’aloa immediately off Ali’i Drive just north (toward town) of mile marker 4.
Photo by W Nowicki.