Credited as being the site of the birthplace of boogie boarding, Honl's Beach remains a popular boogie boarding spot with its emerald waters located less than a mile from downtown Kailua-Kona.
It was at this beach that Tom Morey looked through his window across the street, then cut a polyethylene foam board down to size to ride that surf.
Honl's is one of a number of smaller, more intimate sandy beaches set along the coastline in the Kona area. Not large enough to be a beach park, these smaller beaches offer people a spot to throw out a beach chair or wade into the water close enough to walk to but away from the concentration of retail action. Honl's Beach is made up of a park area with plenty of shade-providing trees and palms, a native garden planted by locals with signs displaying the plant names in the Hawaiian language, and waves that boogie boarders still take to daily.
The beach area is sand, though much of the water tends to wash up on rough black rock. Combined with the rough surf, Honl's is not a great spot for a casual wade into the water. Stronger swimmers can head out past the rock to where the waves crash in cascading lines.
Parking is limited to the on-street shoulder, which can fill up quickly. So either hope to get lucky finding a spot, or arrive early or find a nearby spot and walk.
There is a bathroom with showers located across the street. Honl's Beach is open daily from 6am-11pm.
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