My Favorite Places on the Big Island, Hawaii - naked or not

Naked Places on the Big Island of Hawai'i

First of all on my list are the places where you can shed your clothes without too much hassle from the public authorities or other people. While public nudity and naked sunbathing at public beaches is illegal, there are places where this law is not strictly enforced and a few where it is never enforced.



1. Kehena Black Sands Beach (milemaker 19 on Hwy 137, not far from Kalani).  You'll find a crowd here on weekends, but there are just a few sparse people on weekdays.  It's the most gregarious nude beach you have ever seen.  Not everyone who goes there chooses to be naked, but certainly a lot do. On weekends, there is a crowd who enjoys the trance-dance.  Gays congregate there too, and there is sometimes some cruising going on in the far left part of the beach - although it's not really that common.

2. Kalani Honau Oceanside Resort
Even if you are not a guest, you can arrange for a visit for breakfast, lunch or supper (organic buffet style). You may be able to use the clothing optional pool (4:pm- 11pm) by asking or by paying (or by taking tour of the new villas for sale (as a potential owner - you might be offered several amenities).  There are also non-nude activities at the resort like yoga, massage, and volleyball (so that you can squeeze in a swim in the nude at the pool).


3. Steam vents scenic point -- located about 5 miles from Pahoa ( less than 1 mile after turn off to Leilani Estates on Hwy 130 (near milemarker 15) is a scenic point where the road widens for off-curb parking. Here there are natural steam vents that have created enclosed and open air saunas. One of the them is almost a perfect teepee shape and has a small entrance you must climb through, holding 4-5 people. Locals and visitors alike enjoy these usually (but not always) in the nude, and it's great on a cool evening. Sometimes gay cruising occurs, or the straight couple get in a romantic mood and tryst, but straight locals and tourists also mingle too, so be aware and courteous.

4. Beach 67 (near Wailea Bay (sometimes called Waialea) or Beach 69) is located in South Kohala area between Kawaiihae and Waikoloa. Wailea Bay Marine Preserve's two beaches are nicknamed 69 and 67 because of their identifying numbered telephone poles (not milemarkers). Beach 69 is the larger and is great for snorkeling and diving. Beach 67, on the north side of the bay, is smaller and frequented by naturists and gay men. On Hwy. #19 at Mile Marker 71, turn into Puako Village, then right onto old Puako Road.

Beach 69 is much larger and more beautiful, but it is NOT nude. You come to it first. You'll see lots of cars park at the entrance of Wailea Beach 69. To access clothing-optional Beach 67, go about 350 yards more up the roughly paved road to a higher place, then turn right onto the gravel road at telephone pole #67, drive out onward to the bluff, then hiking down to the beach. You can also park under the trees outside the fence around a private house. Nude sunbathing on the small white sand beach hidden by trees, brush.
There is no water but there is a rustic port-a-potty. So take everything you'll need.

[Partly taken from http://www.gayhawaii.com/ ]
NOTE: Never leave valuables in a parked car in a deserted place. Auto break-ins are very common everywhere in the Hawaiian islands. Some people even leave their windows open to say 'see, there's nothing worth stealing here.'

5) Honokohau Harbor and Kaloko-Honokohau Beach is located in the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Kona Coast, north of Honolokohau Harbor off of Highway 19. The north end of this yellow sand beach is a popular gay beach. Privacy is difficult to find here, and Federal Park rangers often patrol to enforce a ban on nude sunbathing. However, with its warm climate and good snorkeling, this remains a very popular nude beach. Go inside the harbor/marina driveway, turn right at first intersection, go 250 yards, park inside the free parking lot, and walk into the Park via the side gate. When you reach the beach, follow to far right. [Taken partly from http://gohawaii.about.com]

You can also get a boat rides for whale and dolphin viewing as well as diving/snorkeling with giant manta rays from this harbor.


NOTE: By the way, you can always get naked at deserted spots almost anywhere on the Big Island - there are plenty of places to hike up lava-coated hills or down the shoreline and find a nice quiet place to get naked - but do so with discretion.
There are a lot of such hiking spots along Hwy 19 between Kailua Kona and North Kohala. In Puna (Pahoa area), you can do so at spots along the coastal highway, Hwy 137 (Kapoho-Kalapana Road or 'red road' as it is still called locally), such as MacKenzie Beach Park.

At times, I've been naked at some of my favorite spots below:

-----------------
Other Sightseeing Spots

Of course, 1 - 5 above are some of my favorite places (because I can get naked in nature), but there are tons of other spots too.


6. Kapoho tidal pools (Hwy 132, turn right onto 137, take Kapoho Kai St into residential area, bear left to reach Wai Opai warm tidal ponds, great snorkeling spot, beware of sharp and slippery rocks, however,
There is a hot springs-fed tidal pool in a small park about 1/2 mile further down Hwy 136, Ahalanui Park, if you don't have time to snorkel.




7. Volcanoes National Park - Viewing the Kilauea Crater, walking through lava tubes, and seeing the current lava flows (under the guidance of park rangers)



8. Kalapana lava flow area (where it's possible to hike out near the current point where the lava flows into the ocean - but also highly hazardous). Access it from the near the intersection of Hwy 130 and Hwy 137 (coastal road).

9. Laupahoehoe Point (a county park, site of a tidal wave disaster in 1960s, and very beautiful beach park (with camping - by permit). Descend from mark entrance on the north side of Laupahoehoe Gulch (a couple of miles north of the town) on Hwy 19 about 25 miles north of Hilo.

Of course, you may want to stop at Akaka Falls on your way north out of Hilo.





10. Waipio Valley (great view, fairly strenuous hike back up). I (and I have seen other) people get naked in the far beach once you've descended to the valley floor.)
Honoka'a Town is a quaint little stop with and nice eatery or two (good place to stop on your way back from hiking Waipio)

11. Waimea (Town) - nice stop for refreshments and couple of cool shops

12. Hawi and Kapa'au small towns in North Kohala - Hawi has nice art boutiques and historical sites, I highly recommend Sushi Rock (cafe/restaurant). It's also the birthplace of King Kamekameha and you'll find a statue of him there. There are also nice lookout point at the far north tip of the island.

13. World-Class Beaches along Kona-Kohala coast -- Spencer Beach Park is a good place to stop for a swim or shower (or picnic/bbq),
Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea Beach, and Waikoloa.  In some case, they appear to be private, but just being dominated by the big resorts. Citizens have access right to the public beaches located inside (almost anywhere in Hawaii) - so don't hesitate to drive in and tell them you are going to the beach. They can be crowded and full of tourists but they are worth seeing.   There is a nice public beach at Waialea Bay, but nearby is Beach 67 (named after the numbered telephone pole). Beach 67 is a small nude beach with a diverse set of locals and visitors, many of whom are gay men.

14. Puako, the Big Island's best spot for snorkeling and viewing turtles, tropical fish species, and coral is the Puako coastline. Just stop at any public access point along Puako Road found in between the multi-million dollar homes. Be careful when entering the water, as it can be tricky. You won't have to go far to see sea life, and it's also a great sport for scuba diving, too, from shore.

15. Southern-most point of the USA:  If you have time, then a drive around the southern tip of the Big Island makes a wonderful trip. Some people enjoy visiting Green Sand Beach at Ka Lae, (South Point), the most southern point in the USA. There are great sites along the route. However, traffic can get bad when you reach populated areas in south Kona because it's only a two-lane highway, so plan ahead.

An alternate route is to take the Saddle Back Road from Kona to Hilo via the mountain road that passes over the hump between the two main mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It's great if you traveling at sunset (or sunrise).

Hot Spots to Visit in Hawaii, Oahu and the Big Island

When it gets closer to the time you start actually planning a trip to Hawaii -- let me know and I'll fill you in on more exactly where (at least Oahu and Hawaii -- I don't know Mauai, Kauai very well). Maybe I'll let you stay on my property -- it's nothing but a square acre partly forested land - but someday,

 I'll have built it up more like a outdoor camp or maybe a bungalow. It's not near the ocean -- so you'll probably enjoy more staying at a place like Kalani Resort (not free but has camping at $20 per night for a tent site). Kalani has a large pool with hot tubs and sauna which is clothing optional after 5pm every day. Kalani is within walking distance to Kehena Black Sands beach and that's nude all year long - very mixed set of people who hang out at Kehena -- as well as at Kalani. BTW, you might be able to get a job at Kalani -- they have a program for temporary work-stays (pays your room and board in exchange for some work).

There are usually some really cool guys and gals -- from young people to seniors are needed for various kinds of work (kitchen, grounds, guest services, etc) and for teaching classes too. You could also look into temp jobs elsewhere around the islands if you wanted to stay longer. Oahu has a very adequate public bus system that can get you almost anywhere on the island you want to go.


The Big Island is a different story -- you'll either have to hitch rides (very doable in Puna (southeast region where I've been describing) or share a rental car - although there may be very limited bus service between major points. It's by picking up hitchers that I kind of stay tuned to the local vibes and also what the 'visitors' are doing - some are homesteading or housesetting, or just making ends meet by doing odd jobs etc. I've almost never been asked for money -- just rides or maybe cigarettes (but I don't smoke).

Some of the people I've picked up are just living for a while on the island because they can and they like the laid-back life. Actually, there are always some people staying/camping on Kehena Beach -- I guess you have to call them 'hippies' - I mean that's exactly what they look like and how they live -- most of the guys seem to let their hair grow long and they braid it and twist into a Rastafarian (sp?) reggae style. They often wear long flowing shirts with or without pants and are obviously anti-underwear - there are women too, but fewer actually live/camp on the beach -- although there are all kinds of people there, especially on the weekends. It's really cool on Sundays when dozens -- even hundreds of people gather on Kehena to dance, play music, and enjoy partying/socializing/smoking. The hippie guys and gals never hesitate to join in and love to get naked and gyrate, cavort to the ethnic beat that the drummers and other amateur musicians have gathered to improvise.



Why that's amusing .. it's more fun to watch for dolphins and whales (not the beached types) and to

look at the cool board-type male and female bodies (many who aren't wearing any at the moment) throw themselves into the crashing waves trying to bodysurf or boogie board. Hey. I've gone on way to long.... Below is a pic of me walking back from Kehena Black Sands Beach, it's in a sheltered lagoon under a cliff face (so it's not public exposure and so too why some people camp out there - discreetly, of course) -- I am freeballing in my see-thru mesh shorts. I can't wait to get back there after Xmas - just after I leave LA from a few days in the Cali desert.


Recently, someone asked me to list the best things I enjoy doing (or taking visitors to do/see) in Hawaii. Since I basically stay on the Big Island or visit Oahu, I wrote down just in a few minutes a long list. (Photos may be added when I have the time).

These are many fun things I recommend for single men and women, gay couples, straights:

On Oahu

This is the same island that Honolulu (Waikiki Beach) is found.)

0) nude swim on Waikiki Beach after midnight
1) climb up to the peak of Diamond Head Crater (closes at 5pm)
2) visit the unofficial nude beach at Diamond Head Beach (below the Lighthouse) - discretion advised
3) take the gay catamaran cruise (Sunday clothing optional) and Saturday gay but textile.
4) Maui Taco (fast food but delicious) - along with Kona Longboard draft beer (local brew) on 2nd floor of Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
or have mai-tai cocktails at the bar where the drink was invented
5) see street performances 9pm - midnight on main street (Kalakaua) in Waikiki
6) Spend time with local gay crowd on Queen's Surf (Waikiki Beach) not far from the Honolulu Aquarium
or play volleyball (Wed afternoons) with gay group across Hula's Bar (Waikiki Grand Hotel - on Kapahulu just near the Zoo).

Hawaii, Big Island
The sightseeing/activity/tourist spot are listed as if you were driving from Kailua-Kona (west side)

north and around the island to Honoka'a, Hilo, Puna District,

0) snorkel (or diving) with giant manta rays (Kona-Kailua)
1)Gay (unofficial nude 'cruising' beach at Honokahau Marina, near Honokohau National Park (Preserve) 5 miles south of airport (3 miles north of Kona (also called Kailua-Kona)
2) Nude/gay Beach 67 (telephone #) on Puako-Hapuna Rd (35 miles north of N of Kailua-Kona)
3) Camp at Spencer Beach - tent spots just to a quiet beach (unless strong winds)

4) Sushi Rock (sushi restaurant at Hawi - 50 miles north of Kailua-Kona), quaint town, live music with good local sushi on Friday night (reservation recommended)
5) spend the afternoon before in Kapa'a - (north of Hawi to visit galleries and local art works stores)
6) Waimea (western-type 'cowboy' town)
7) Waipio Canyon (a few miles from Honoka'a) great (and strenuous hike - up and down) to a wondeful coastal valley
8) Drive up Mauna Kea for great views of the Hamakua Coast (take road from Paauillo up toward Pohakea - 15-20 minutes and back)
9) Laupahoehoe Valley (giant tsunami washed away the village on the lower 'viewpoint' - commerative monuments and great rocky ocean shore with green parks)

9+1 (alternate drive from Kona to Hilo goes across the Saddle Back (the high elevation area between Mauna Kea and the slope leading to Mauna Loa - it's perfect at sunset)

10) Hilo - "Old Town"
11) Volcanoes National Park (is nice) but try to see the 'real' lava flows and huge steam cloud at

Kalapana
12) Keheha Black Sands Beach (at milemaker #19 on Kalapana-Kopoho Beach Rd (between Hwy 130 and Hwy 132) -- Family and hippie style clothing optional beach (plenty of gay too)
Early morning - you can swim with dolphins and see whales in season (Dec-Feb (sometimes later).
13 - 2) Steam vents (natural steam sauna in caverns created by rising mineral steam) about 5 miles from Pahoa on Hwy 130
13 - 2 You'll need to stop for food (or supplies) - Be sure to check the quaint little town of Pahao - a few nice restaurant
13 - 3 Kalani Oceanside Resort - a wonderful resort and de facto community center - very gay friendly (http://www.kalani.com ) - great organic buffet meals and gift shop, regular classes (hula, yoga - sometimes 'naked yoga', and also therapeutic and holistic massage of various type. Accommodation from camp sites to nice rooms to elegant vacation villas. Walking distance from Kehena Beach (see #12 above)

14) Kapoho warm ocean ponds (tidal pools)
15) Naalehu (drive around southern point of Big Island)

There are actually too many place to mention.

Enjoy and aloha....
Kelly (Kawika)

My Favorite Places on the Big Island, Hawaii - naked or not

Naked Places on the Big Island of Hawai'i

First of all on my list are the places where you can shed your clothes without too much hassle from the public authorities or other people. While public nudity and naked sunbathing at public beaches is illegal, there are places where this law is not strictly enforced and a few where it is never enforced.



1. Kehena Black Sands Beach (milemaker 19 on Hwy 137, not far from Kalani).

2. Kalani Honau Oceanside Resort
Even if you are not a guest, you can arrange for a visit for breakfast, lunch or supper (organic buffet style). You may be able to use the clothing optional pool (4:pm- 11pm) by asking or by paying (or by taking tour of the new villas for sale (as a potential owner - you might be offered several amenities). There are also non-nude activities at the resort like yoga, massage, and volleyball (so that you can squeeze in a swim in the nude at the pool).


3. Steam vents scenic point -- located about 5 miles from Pahoa ( less than 1 mile after turn off to Leilani Estates on Hwy 130 (near milemarker 15) is a scenic point where the road widens for off-curb parking. Here there are natural steam vents that have created enclosed and open air saunas. One of the them is almost a perfect teepee shape and has a small entrance you must climb through, holding 4-5 people. Locals and visitors alike enjoy these usually (but not always) in the nude, and it's great on a cool evening. Sometimes gay cruising occurs, or the straight couple get in a romantic mood and tryst, but straight locals and tourists also mingle too, so be aware and courteous.


4. Beach 67 (near Wailea Bay (sometimes called Waialea) or Beach 69) is located in South Kohala area between Kawaiihae and Waikoloa. Wailea Bay Marine Preserve's two beaches are nicknamed 69 and 67 because of their identifying numbered telephone poles (not milemarkers). Beach 69 is the larger and is great for snorkeling and diving. Beach 67, on the north side of the bay, is smaller and frequented by naturists and gay men. On Hwy. #19 at Mile Marker 71, turn into Puako Village, then right onto old Puako Road.

Beach 69 is much larger and more beautiful, but it is NOT nude. You come to it first. You'll see lots of cars park at the entrance of Wailea Beach 69. To access clothing-optional Beach 67, go about 350 yards more up the roughly paved road to a higher place, then turn right onto the gravel road at telephone pole #67, drive out onward to the bluff, then hiking down to the beach. You can also park under the trees outside the fence around a private house. Nude sunbathing on the small white sand beach hidden by trees, brush.
There is no water but there is a rustic port-a-potty. So take everything you'll need.

[Partly taken from http://www.gayhawaii.com/ ]
NOTE: Never leave valuables in a parked car in a deserted place. Auto break-ins are very common everywhere in the Hawaiian islands. Some people even leave their windows open to say 'see, there's nothing worth stealing here.'

5) Honokohau Harbor and Kaloko-Honokohau Beach is located in the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park on the Kona Coast, north of Honolokohau Harbor off of Highway 19. The north end of this yellow sand beach is a popular gay beach. Privacy is difficult to find here, and Federal Park rangers often patrol to enforce a ban on nude sunbathing. However, with its warm climate and good snorkeling, this remains a very popular nude beach. Go inside the harbor/marina driveway, turn right at first intersection, go 250 yards, park inside the free parking lot, and walk into the Park via the side gate. When you reach the beach, follow to far right. [Taken partly from http://gohawaii.about.com]

You can also get a boat rides for whale and dolphin viewing as well as diving/snorkeling with giant manta rays from this harbor.


NOTE: By the way, you can always get naked at deserted spots almost anywhere on the Big Island - there are plenty of places to hike up lava-coated hills or down the shoreline and find a nice quiet place to get naked - but do so with discretion.
There are a lot of such hiking spots along Hwy 19 between Kailua Kona and North Kohala. In Puna (Pahoa area), you can do so at spots along the coastal highway, Hwy 137 (Kapoho-Kalapana Road or 'red road' as it is still called locally), such as MacKenzie Beach Park.

At times, I've been naked at some of my favorite spots below:

-----------------
Other Sightseeing Spots

Of course, 1 - 5 above are some of my favorite places (because I can get naked in nature), but there are tons of other spots too.

6. Kapoho tidal pools (Hwy 132, turn right onto 137, take Kapoho Kai St into residential area, bear left to reach Wai Opai warm tidal ponds, great snorkeling spot, beware of sharp and slippery rocks, however,
There is a hot springs-fed tidal pool in a small park about 1/2 mile further down Hwy 136, Ahalanui Park, if you don't have time to snorkel.

]

7. Volcanoes National Park - Viewing the Kilauea Crater, walking through lava tubes, and seeing the current lava flows (under the guidance of park rangers)


8. Kalapana lava flow area (where it's possible to hike out near the current point where the lava flows into the ocean - but also highly hazardous). Access it from the near the intersection of Hwy 130 and Hwy 137 (coastal road).

9. Laupahoehoe Point (a county park, site of a tidal wave disaster in 1960s, and very beautiful beach park (with camping - by permit). Descend from mark entrance on the north side of Laupahoehoe Gulch (a couple of miles north of the town) on Hwy 19 about 25 miles north of Hilo.
Of course, you may want to stop at Akaka Falls on your way north out of Hilo.





10. Waipio Valley (great view, fairly strenuous hike back up). I (and I have seen other) people get naked in the far beach once you've descended to the valley floor.)
Honoka'a Town is a quaint little stop with and nice eatery or two (good place to stop on your way back from hiking Waipio)

11. Waimea (Town) - nice stop for refreshments and couple of cool shops

12. Hawi and Kapa'a small towns in North Kohala - Hawi has nice art boutiques and historical sites, I highly recommend Sushi Rock (cafe/restaurant). There are also nice lookout point at the far north tip of the island.

13. World-Class Beaches along Kona-Kohala coast -- Spencer Beach Park is a good place to stop for a swim or shower (or picnic/bbq),
Hapuna Beach, Mauan Kea Beach, Waikolao In some case, they appear to be private, but just being dominated by the big resorts. Citizens have access right to the public beaches ocated inside (almost anywhere in Hawaii) - so don't hesitate to drive in and tell them you are going to the beach. They can be crowded and full of tourists but they are worth seeing.

Puako, the Big Island's best spot for snorkeling and viewing turtles, tropical fish species, and coral is the Puako coastline. Just stop at any public access point along Puako Road found in between the multi-million dollar homes. Be careful when entering the water, as it can be tricky. You won't have to go far to see sea life, and it's also a great sport for scuba diving, too, from shore.

14. If you have time, then a drive around the southern tip of the Big Island makes a wonderful trip. Some people enjoy visiting Green Sand Beach at Ka Lae, (South Point), the most southern point in the USA. There are great sites along the route. However, traffic can get bad when you reach populated areas in south Kona because it's only a two-lane highway, so plan ahead.

An alternate route is to take the Saddle Back Road from Kona to Hilo via the moutain road that passes over the hump between the two main mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. It's great if you traveling at sunset (or sunrise).