Onomea Bay Beach - Beaches On Big Island Papaikou, Hawaii

Onomea Bay surrounded by the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and those who take the time to find it will be rewarded with a well hidden, secret beach.

Although not difficult for most, there is a short hike involved but first you'll need to park. If you're planning to visit the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden then you'll park in their lot (requires admission to the gardens). Otherwise, you'll find a small roadside pullout just north of the gardens on the makai (ocean) side of the street. The Donkey Trail trailhead to Onomea Beach will be right there as well.

If it's raining or recently rained note that this trail will be very muddy and slippery so it's best to make sure things are dry out. The hike down is around 1/8 of a mile and does have some steep bits to it so go slow and be careful. Also note that there is a real danger of a Flash Flood in this area so that's another reason to only visit Onomea Bay when the weather is cooperating. For more on the trails that lead here, read Onomea Trail & Donkey Trail.

If you make it down you'll be rewarded with a beautiful, tropical area that you may even have all to yourself for a while. While this is a great area to explore, this isn't a place where you'll swim or play in the sand. The beach here is rocky, not sandy and the ocean in this area has strong currents and murky water from a stream that empties into the ocean here.

Speaking of that stream, you'll also be able to see a small waterfall as you hike in this area which only adds to the beauty and tropical feeling that this place provides.