Kiholo Bay Kiholo State Park Reserve - Beaches On Big Island Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kiholo Bay / Kiholo State Park Reserve was once a gigantic fishing pond of King Kamehameha. It is now several freshwater ponds due to lava flow from Mauna Loa that traveled here back in 1859 and filled in most of the pond area and created the bay.

Freshwater from springs still fills the bay and because it's often calm here it can be a good place to swim. If it's calm enough, you may even notice a strange effect that some described as a horizontal pane of glass under the water. What is it? It's the line where the freshwater meets the saltwater. Freshwater is lighter than saltwater so it stays on top and creates a very strange line between the two waters much like you get when you mix oil and water.

Although it's usually calm, the snorkeling can be okay but likely won't be anything spectacular. It can, however, be a good place for turtle sightings.

The park is in the planning stages so portable toilets are as good as it gets for a while on the facilities front. Towards the south end of the bay you will find Queen's Bath / Keanalele Waterhole, an open air lava tube with a fresh water pool.