Condo with direct access to a swimmable beach?

Question

We're heading to Hawaii in July and my teenage son really wants a condo or house rental that's right on a swimmable beach.... I am not having much luck fulfilling this request ;)

The closest I've found is a Mauna Lani Terrace condo, but it sounds like the only swimming beach is a 10 minute walk (Mauna Lani beach club).

We've stayed a couple times on Kohala coast, but not in places with direct beach access.

I don't know Kona well, but am not finding much that's right on a nice beach.

Answer

Great question. Short answer: you’re right that it’s pretty hard to find Big Island (Island of Hawaiʻi) vacation rentals that are *directly on a consistently swimmable sandy beach*. Much of the Kona (west) coast is rocky lava, and many “oceanfront” condos have ocean views but not really safe, sandy swimming beaches right out the door. Several people in traveler forums agree: > “I don’t think there are many … really no beach access — just rock.” Still, there *are* some pretty good options, plus some trade-offs to consider. Here are some of the best condo or villa–style places to look, plus caveats and alternatives:

Kōlea at Waikoloa Beach Resort — This is probably the most promising “true beachfront condo” on the Big Island. Kolea is *the only condo community in Waikoloa Beach Resort that fronts a sandy bay (A’Bay, or Anaehoʻomalu Bay)*.
- Direct beach access via the Kolea Beach Club: there is a gated path from the Beach Club down to the sand.
- The beach (Anaehoʻomalu Bay) is relatively calm and good for swimming and snorkeling.
- The villas are quite nice — 2–3 bedroom options, with lanais, gourmet kitchens, and upscale finishes.
- As a guest, you also get access to Hilton Waikoloa’s amenities.
Hualālai Resort Villas — If you don’t mind a resort-style villa, this is a strong candidate. For example, a 3-bedroom “Alaula” villa works great for families.
- It’s not quite “walk out your door to the sandy beach” — it’s within the resort, but they have resort beach access via the Four Seasons/Hualālai amenities (for a guest resort fee).
- The villa is very spacious (~2,754 sq ft), with large lanais, nice indoor-outdoor flow, and high-end finishes.
Big Island / Kailua-Kona Oceanfront Condos — There are some ocean-view or oceanfront condos in Kona, but the “beach” is often rocky or more of a tide-pool than a sandy swim beach. Some options:
- Kahaluu (“Turtle Beach”) Condo — Ground-floor condo right across from Kahaluʻu Beach Park. This is a protected bay, good for snorkeling, swimming, and lots of sea turtles.
- Kona Makai / Aliʻi Drive Condo — Two-bed, two-bath unit that is “steps to beach” according to a VRBO listing. However, note that while the property is oceanfront, accessible sandy swimming might be limited depending on exact tide and waves.

Trade-offs / Things to Watch For:

Because of the Big Island’s geology, *many west-coast coastlines are rocky lava*, so “oceanfront” does *not always* mean “sandy beach right outside your door.” Some condo rentals may have lava rock cliffs, not swimmable sandy shoreline.
When booking, double check the unit description, photos, and reviews for mention of “beach access,” “sandy beach,” “swim-friendly bay,” etc. Some condo complexes have access to beach paths via a club or gated path, but not all units are equally close.
Resort-villa options (like Hualālai) may have “beach access” but might require paying a resort guest fee to use beach and pool amenities.
For Kolea, even though it's “beachfront,” some buildings may be a short walk to the actual sand — but the Beach Club provides a pleasant, gated access.
Vacation rentals on the Big Island can book very early, especially for July. If you find something that sounds good, it's worth locking it in soon.

My Recommendation (for your son and your family):

If having *direct access to a swimmable beach* is your top priority, then Kōlea at Waikoloa Beach Resort is likely your best bet among condo-type rentals. The calm bay (A’Bay) makes it more kid-teen friendly for swimming, snorkeling, and lounging. The villas are luxurious, and the Beach Club gives you easy, gated access to the sand.

If you're okay with a more “resort villa” feel, then staying in a Hualālai villa offers upscale comfort, and you can use the resort beach (though not technically “own” your beach). For a Kona-area vibe, the Kahaluu Bay condo is very appealing for its proximity to a protected, swimmable tide-pool bay.

Finally, when you’re ready to book, talk directly with property managers (or use trusted vacation-rental companies) and ask specifically: *“Is there a sandy, swimmable beach I can walk to from this unit?”* That will help you filter out the less-ideal “rocky oceanfront but not swimmable” places.

Happy planning — I hope you find something that makes your son’s beach dreams come true!