About

Located four miles north of Downtown Hilo on the windward coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, Honolii Beach Park is the most popular surfing beach in East Hawaii.

Honolii.org is an unofficial website operated by a local amateur photographer.

Location

The Break

Honolii is a left-hand point break that works year-round. The main wave breaks over a boulder-strewn bottom directly offshore. Three distinct sections define the break:

• Point: The northern end, best for point break aficionados seeking longer, peeling walls
• Mids: The central beach area with mixed conditions and forgiving waves
• Privates: The southern section, more technical and less crowded

During large winter swells, waves break further out from Point on Second Reef and the main bay is closed out. During those large swells, experienced surfers can paddle south from Honolii past Lau Hue Point to Tombstones, a powerful break that demands expert technique and local knowledge.

Conditions

Winter (November–March): larger waves, strong rip currents, cold freshwater from Honolii Stream creates variable conditions. Swell from North Pacific systems delivers frequent overhead+ waves. Water temps around 75°F.

Summer (May–September): Calmer, beginner-to-intermediate friendly conditions. Smaller waves and warmer water (80°F+) make summer ideal for learning or paddling out without heavy commitment. South swells occasionally bring workable waves mid-summer.

Year-Round: Honolii works consistently thanks to its exposed northeast-facing orientation. Watch the forecast.

Hazards & Safety

The stream mouth generates strong currents and rip conditions, especially during heavy rain or winter swells. Heavy rain upslope turns the water brown and produces high bacteria concentrations. The boulder-strewn floor creates hazards for wipeouts. Cold freshwater creates variable temperatures. Rarely, the beach is closed due to shark activity (last closure: 2026-09-23).

For official closure notices, visit the Hawaii County Hazards Map, click “Facilities”, and look for “Honolii” under “Public Facilities Closures”.

Access & Amenities

Honolii Beach Park is open to the public with no entrance fee. Parking is on the road above the beach park–it can be busy, so please drive with aloha. Hawaii County lifeguards staff the beach daily 9:30am–4:45pm. Facilities include restrooms, a rocky black sand beach, swimming in the mouth of the stream, and a grassy picnic area. The beach remains one of the few in Hawaiʻi where beach fires are permitted—a practice supported by the local stewardship organization, Honolii Paka.

Local Board Shops

East Hawaii’s surf shops, new and used, listed by driving distance from Honolii:

• Orchidland Surfboards — 3 miles — 262 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo — (808) 935-1533 — Est. 1972 by the legendary Stan Lawrence
• Hulakai Hawaii — 3 miles — 284 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo — (808) 933-4852 — Est. 1997
• Bayfront Boards — 3 miles — 40 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo — (808) 238-8214
• Hawaiian Island Creations — 6 miles — 111 Puainako St #540, Hilo — (808) 959-0442
• Oshima Surf & Skate — 6 miles — 111 E Puainako St, Hilo — (808) 961-1444
• Jeff Hunt Surfboards — 22 miles — 15-2883 Pahoa Village Rd, Pahoa — (808) 965-2322 — Est. 2005

Surf Competitions

Honolii regularly hosts surf and bodyboard competitions, usually held once or more a year by their respective organizers, conditions permitting.

Big Island Pro Am Surfing Trials (“BIPA”)

The Big Island Pro Am Surfing Trials is Hawaii Island’s longest-running amateur surf contest, with divisions for Open Men’s and Women’s shortboard, Open Longboard, and Open Bodyboard. Top finishers typically win round-trip airfare to Oahu plus entry into a professional qualifying event on the North Shore. Follow @bipasurfingtrials on Instagram for updates and results. See photos from the September 2026 contest.

Hawaii Surfing Association (“HSA”) Big Island Chapter

The Hawaii Surfing Association, Big Island chapter, runs a season-long series of divisional contests for shortboard, longboard/SUP, and bodyboard, rotating among Honolii, Banyans, and Kohanaiki. Divisions are split by age and gender, including youth, open, and masters (30+) categories. Follow @hsabigisland on Instagram for schedules and results.

Honolii Boogie Fest

The Honolii Boogie Fest, organized by 360Hilo, is a community bodyboarding contest open to all ages, with divisions ranging from keiki to masters, plus novelty divisions like Paepoʻo (traditional wooden paipo boards) and “Da Aunties”/“Da Unkos.” Follow @360hilo on Instagram for schedules, merchandise, and other events. See photos from the August 2026 festival.

Big Island Interscholastic Federation (“BIIF”) Surfing

BIIF Surfing is the high school interscholastic surf league for Hawaii Island, part of the new statewide HHSAA surfing championship structure. Honolii has hosted a regular-season BIIF contest (shortboard, longboard, and bodyboard, boys and girls), with the season’s top finishers advancing to the BIIF championships and then to the HHSAA state championships. Follow @biif_surf on Instagram for schedules and results. See photos from the March 2026 Honolii competition.