A gentle, lovely strand of white sand so real its hard to believe its man-made. Waves here are mellower than at next door Hapuna. Brunch at the Mauna Kea Hotel fronting Kaunaoa is a Big Island tradition. With a due West orientation sunsets are mighty fine. Towel? Check. Snorkel? Check. Book? Check. Right on.

Map of Kaunaoa Beach (Some public parking in the lot of the Mauna Kea Hotel).