Pine Trees

At a glance

About this spot

Mellow Kona reef break on the Big Island's leeward coast — fun longboard waves on south and west swell.

Location

19.6400, -156.0200

Photos

Trip overview

Pine Trees is the Kona coast's community wave — a string of lava-and-coral reef peaks fronting Kohanaiki Beach Park, a few minutes south of the Kona airport runway. There isn't a pine tree in sight (the shade comes from heliotrope and hau), but the name stuck decades ago and so did the scene: local families under pop-up tents, groms racing each other to the best peak after school, uncles fishing off the rocks. It's the most consistent stretch on this side of the Big Island, picking up wrapping north and west swell in winter and southern-hemisphere energy in summer, with several distinct lefts and rights spread along roughly half a mile of shoreline so the crowd has room to breathe.

The wave itself is honest rather than world-class: peaky, shifty walls over a shallow, urchin-studded reef that go from playful waist-high runners to legitimately serious double-overhead-plus surf when a big northwest swell sneaks down the coast. Mornings are the call — glassy, often offshore-tinged conditions before the Kona sea breeze fills in around midday. The southern peaks are mellower and more visitor-friendly; the better, hollower peaks to the north are where the local pecking order is most established.

Logistics are absurdly easy by surf-travel standards. The county park sits about four road miles from KOA's gate — you can land, grab a rental car, and be checking the surf inside half an hour. The park got a staffed lifeguard tower in mid-2025, has restrooms, showers and drinking water, and even allows tent camping five nights a week with a county permit. Base yourself in Kailua-Kona, ten to fifteen minutes south, for lodging, food and everything else.

Local vibe & lineup etiquette

Pine Trees is known as THE community wave of Kona — local families have surfed it for generations, the after-school grom pack is thick, and the lineup runs on a clear, traditional pecking order, especially at the better northern peaks. Visitors who start at the southern, mellower peaks, wait their turn, don't paddle out in packs, and offer a nod and an 'aloha' generally get waves and friendly conversation. Snaking, shoulder-hopping or dropping in on kids is the fastest way to feel the temperature drop. It's respect-based, not aggressive — earn a little and the place is warm.

In the lineup: Several peaks stretch along the park; the southern ones are softer and more forgiving, the northern peaks faster, hollower and more local. Entry is over rocks and reef almost everywhere — pick a sand/cobble keyhole, time the sets, and consider reef booties. Watch for current running along the shore when a winter swell pulses, and remember the reef gets very shallow inside at low tide. A lifeguard tower (staffed by Hawai'i Fire Department Ocean Safety) has covered the park since June 2025 — check in with the guards if you're unsure where to paddle out.

Kohanaiki itself is just lava fields, kiawe shade and ocean — your town is Kailua-Kona, 15 minutes south: a sunny, low-rise vacation strip along Ali'i Drive with a working pier, souvenir shops, happy-hour bars and an unhurried, older-Hawaii feel underneath the tourism. It's neither hip nor wild; it's comfortable, easy and genuinely friendly, with farmers markets, coffee farms in the hills above, and some of the calmest, clearest water in the state out front. Expect occasional vog haze when the volcano is active.

Getting there

Fly into Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) — about 4 miles from the break, 10–15 minutes. Hilo (ITO) is the Big Island's other airport, but it's on the opposite coast — about 1.5–2 hours' drive over Saddle Road. Only land there if the fare savings are dramatic; KOA is one of the closest major airports to a surf break anywhere.

• rental car$50–90/day10–15 min to the park, 20–25 min to Kailua-Kona

  All the major agencies operate from the consolidated rental facility at KOA. From the airport exit, head south on Queen Ka'ahumanu Hwy (Hwy 19) about 2.5 miles, turn makai (seaward) at Hulikoa Drive across from the Minit Stop, then follow the 1.5-mile paved access road to the shoreline. Most rentals are sedans and SUVs — bring soft racks or fit boards inside.

• rideshare$15–30 to Kailua-Kona20–25 minutes

  Uber and Lyft both operate at KOA with a designated pickup zone. Fine for getting to town with a shortboard in an XL; for board bags, a rental car or taxi van is more realistic.

• taxi$35–50 to Kailua-Kona20–25 minutes

  Metered taxis and pre-bookable shuttle vans (e.g. SpeediShuttle) wait at the terminal. Request a van if you're traveling with a board bag.

Getting around

Rent a car — full stop. Big Island distances are real (it's bigger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined) and the Hele-On county bus is too infrequent to build a surf trip around. Rentals run $50–90/day from KOA; book early for peak winter weeks. Uber and Lyft work reliably within Kailua-Kona but get sparse and pricey beyond town. Parking at Kohanaiki Beach Park is free, right behind the beach, with the gate open 5:30am–9pm.

Boards: Most Kona rentals are sedans and crossovers without racks, so bring soft racks and straps or size your board bag to fit inside with seats down. Shops in Kailua-Kona (Pacific Vibrations, Kona Boys) rent boards if you'd rather fly without one. At the park you can park within yards of the paddle-out spots.

Where to stay

• Kohanaiki Beach Park campingcamping$ budget

  On the spot — tents pitch behind the beach · The only way to sleep at Pine Trees: county tent camping Thursday–Monday nights ($21/night non-resident adult) with restrooms, outdoor showers, drinking water and 24-hour security. Gates lock 9pm–5:30am, no fires or pets. Wake up steps from the lineup. (hawaiicounty.ehawaii.gov/camping (County of Hawai'i permit system))

• My Hawaii Hostelhostel$ budget

  ~12 mi south — 25 min drive · The best-regarded budget bunk on the Kona side, on Ali'i Drive in town. Dorms and privates, communal kitchen, sociable patio — the natural base for solo surfers watching their budget. (Hostelworld, Booking.com, direct)

• Kona Seaside Hotelhotel$ budget

  Downtown Kailua-Kona — ~9 mi / 15–20 min · Older, simple, locally run hotel right at the top of Ali'i Drive. Nothing fancy, but it's one of the cheapest real-hotel beds in town and you can walk to the pier, bars and surf shops. (Direct (seasidehotelshawaii.com), Booking.com)

• Kona Tiki Hotelboutique$ mid-range

  Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona — ~10 mi / 20 min · A 16-room vintage-Hawaiiana favorite where every room has an oceanfront lanai over the rocks — surfers love watching swell march in with morning coffee. No resort fees; books out months ahead. (Direct (konatikihotel.com), Booking.com)

• Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel (formerly King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort)hotel$ mid-range

  Downtown Kailua-Kona — ~9 mi / 15–20 min · The downtown anchor hotel on Kamakahonu Bay next to the pier, on the grounds of Kamehameha's former residence. Walkable to everything in town, with a small swimmable beach out front. (Direct (konabeachresort.com), major OTAs)

• Royal Kona Resortresort$ mid-range

  South end of downtown Kailua-Kona — ~10 mi / 20 min · Iconic 1970s oceanfront resort with a saltwater lagoon, luau and Don the Beachcomber-era bones. Repeatedly voted Hawaii's best-value resort — good for couples mixing surf with a classic Kona vacation. (Direct (royalkona.com), major OTAs)

• Kona Reef condosvacation rental$ mid-range

  Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona — ~10 mi / 20 min · Representative of the dozens of oceanfront condo complexes along Ali'i Drive (Kona Reef, Casa de Emdeko, Kona Makai...) — full kitchens, AC and parking make them the practical pick for groups splitting costs on a week-plus trip. (Airbnb, Vrbo, local agencies)

Eat & drink

• Pine Tree Caferestaurant$ budget

  Spicy garlic chicken plate or loco moco — The post-surf institution — a no-frills local plate-lunch counter on the highway directly across from the Kohanaiki turnoff, next to the Minit Stop. Huge portions, five minutes from the lineup; it's where half the parking lot goes after a session.

• Broke Da Mouth Grindzrestaurant$ budget

  Garlic furikake chicken — Cult-favorite local kitchen in the Old Industrial area between the airport and town. Lines at lunch, portions built for two — the definitive cheap-and-massive Kona feed.

• Da Poke Shackrestaurant$ mid-range

  Ahi poke bowl — pick your marinade at the case — Tiny takeout window on Ali'i Drive with some of the best-reviewed poke in the state. Fish is line-caught Kona ahi; it sells out, so go before mid-afternoon and eat it across the road by the water.

• Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grillrestaurant$ mid-range

  Poke flight and fresh-catch plates — The sit-down poke house locals point visitors to — fish off the Kona boats that morning, generous plates, full bar. Good first-night dinner.

• 808 Grindz Cafecafe$ budget

  Loco moco and sweet-bread French toast breakfast — Cheap, friendly, fast local breakfast in town — the dawn-patrol fuel stop before heading north to the park.

• Kona Brewing Co.bar$ mid-range

  Longboard Lager and pizza at the source brewpub — The original brewery's pub in the Old Industrial area, garden seating under the trees. The default post-surf beer on this coast, brewed a couple of miles from the wave.

• Big Island Grillrestaurant$ budget

  Plate lunch with kalua pork or chicken katsu — Old-school local diner with honest prices and serious portions. Daytime hours only (closes early afternoon) — a lunch move, not a dinner one.

Cooking for yourself

• KTA Super Stores — Kona Coast Shopping Centersupermarket

  Hawai'i Island's homegrown supermarket chain (Palani Rd, 6am–9pm daily) — full grocery plus a strong poke counter and local produce. Everything you need for self-catering, with better local items than the mainland chains.

• Costco Kailua-Konasupermarket

  Just off the highway between the airport and town. If you're on the island a week-plus with a condo kitchen, one membership run here meaningfully cuts Hawaii grocery sting. Cheapest gas on the coast too.

• Kona Farmers Market (Ali'i Drive)farmers market

  Wednesday–Sunday roughly 7am–4pm at Ali'i Dr and Hualalai Rd — tropical fruit, Kona coffee and souvenirs. Tourist-leaning but handy for papaya-and-banana surf-trip breakfasts.

Surf shops & rentals

• Pacific Vibrationsboard salesboard rentalwaxleashesfinsapparel$25–40/day (24-hour hires)

  Kona's original surf shop — family-run since 1978, across from the Kailua pier on Palani Rd. Real board selection from performance shortboards to longboards, all the hardware, and staff who actually surf Pine Trees. Note the short hours (roughly Tue–Sat 10am–3pm).

• Kona Boys Beach Shackboard rentallessonswaxleashes$39–44/day, ~$99–119 for 3 days

  On Kamakahonu Beach by the pier (plus the original shop in Kealakekua). Big rental quiver from soft-tops to step-ups and noseriders, multi-day rates, plus lessons and kayak/SUP rentals for flat days.

• Kahalu'u Bay Surf & Sealessonsboard rental$20–40/day

  Full-service surf school right on Kahalu'u Bay, the Kona side's gentle learner wave. If anyone in your crew is a first-timer, send them here for a lesson rather than into the Pine Trees lineup.

• Miller's Surf and Sportding repairboard salesboard rentalwaxapparel$25–35/day

  Downtown Kona shop consistently listed among the island's go-tos for surfboard repair — the place to ask first if the reef wins a round.

When you're not surfing

• Manta ray night snorkelwater$110–180 per person (2-tank night dives from ~$210)

  Kona's signature after-dark experience: float over dive lights while reef mantas barrel-roll inches below. Boats run nightly from Honokohau and Keauhou — Sea Quest, Kona Snorkel Trips and a dozen reputable operators. Book a free-recheck operator in case of swell cancellations.

• Kealakekua Bay / Captain Cook Monument snorkel cruisewater$130–190 per person

  Morning cruise (Fair Wind II and others) to the marine sanctuary at Kealakekua Bay — arguably the state's best snorkeling, often with spinner dolphins en route. A perfect small-swell-day move.

• Kona coffee farm toursfood drinkfree–$30

  The Kona coffee belt climbs the slopes 20 minutes from town. Greenwell Farms runs free daily walking tours with generous tastings; smaller estates like Hula Daddy charge for deeper roastery tours.

• Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park day tripday trip$30 per vehicle (7-day pass)

  Roughly 2–2.5 hours each way, and worth a full flat day: Kilauea crater (check eruption status at nps.gov), steam vents, the Thurston lava tube and Chain of Craters Road to the sea cliffs. Pack layers — the summit sits at 4,000 ft.

• Two Step (Honaunau) snorkel + Pu'uhonua o Honaunaunature$20 per vehicle (national park); snorkeling free

  Forty minutes south: shore-entry snorkeling over pristine coral at Two Step, beside the Place of Refuge national historical park — royal grounds, ki'i carvings and a genuinely moving slice of Hawaiian history.

• Hulihe'e Palace and Kailua Villageculture$10–16 admission

  The royal vacation residence on Ali'i Drive, restored by the Daughters of Hawai'i, plus Mokuaikaua Church (Hawai'i's first) across the street. An easy hour of history folded into a sunset stroll through town.

Practical notes

Know before you go — United States

Other passports: entry rules differ — check the official source before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Guide researched and verified 2026-06-17. Details change — confirm bookings and entry requirements before travel.

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