SHORE DIVING ALULA BEACH
at Honokohau Bay
DIRECTIONS:
From KCD, this secluded little pocket of white sand is located just outside the entrance of Honokohau Boat Harbor.
The near shore waters are excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving during periods of calm seas (which is most of the time).
During strong south winds(KONA WINDS), this protected area is host to numerous off shore charter diving and snorkel boats. We call this divesite MANTA RAY BAY.
ALULA BEACH is a short walk from the lava parking lot located at the ocean end of Honokohau Harbor Road on the south side of the Harbor. There you will find a trail over the Pahoehoe lava. Be very careful, especially if you are carrying scuba equipment; there is a lot of loose lava from eons of wave actions. As you follow the trail to the beach, there will be an old Hawaiian Fish Pond on your left.
Hawaiian Dictionary:
*Pahoehoe: Is characterized by smooth, billowy, or rope surface lava.
**Alula: Endemic plant to Hawaii, rosette of large oval leaves and racemes of long, white, fragrant flowers.
***Honokohau: Bay of Lowland tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus) tough wood served for outriggers of canoes.
****Noio: Hawaiian noddy TERN
ALULA BEACH
1 - TYPE OF ACTIVITY: Scuba and Snorkeling
2 -HAZARDS TO WATCH FOR:
- A. Surf - the entrance at the beach is shallow, about 2-3 feet.
DON'T TRY diving here if the surf is up! The waves break hard at the entrance; you can get pounded!
- B. Reef and Shoreline - heavy breakers on the lava shoreline southwest
of the beach. Avoid scuba or snorkeling close to the shoreline.
- C. Winds - From the north and west will cause high surf.
- D. Currents - Usually no currents within area shown on the map. (But near Noio
Point a few hundred yards southwest has year round currents). Avoid that area.
- E. Roads - Drive slowly into the parking area as the lava there is quite rough. Always lock your car!
- F. Seasonal Weather - July thru October is the best time of the year.
November through June check condition first.
Caution! Conditions change from day to day. CHECK IT OUT FIRST.
3 - SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate to advanced.
4 - FOR SCUBA AND SNORKELING: enter and exit from left hand side (west) of the sandy beach. (See photo)
5 - WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE SITE: large lava boulders and rock ledges dropping to about 45 feet. Colorful reef fish like the Moorish Idol, Yellow Tang, Eels, Goatfish and Spotted Groupers plus a lot of Sea Urchins. Often you will see a Manta or Spotted Rays swimming near the boat channel entrance.
6 - WATER DEPTHS: Five to sixty feet.
7 - TYPE OF TRANSPORT TO THE SITE: Any automobile will get you there. No public transportation is available other than taxicabs.
8 - SITE FACILITIES: Showers, restrooms, gas, telephone and food are a short distance from parking area at the gas dock. No picnic tables or water at beach.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERSPolice, Ambulance & Fire......... 911
Coast Guard: search/rescue (toll free) ........ 1+800.552.6458; 1+800.331.6176
Hyperbaric Center: bends treatment (Honolulu)..... 1+808.587.3425
DAN (Emergency).....1+919.684.8111Return to costal map
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