Laʻaloa Bay facts for kids
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Laʻaloa Bay is a super popular spot for fun and relaxation in Kailua-Kona. This town is on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.
This beautiful place is also known as "Magic Sands" or "White Sands Beach." Its official name is "Laʻaloa Beach County Park." When the weather is calm, it's one of the few beaches in the Kailua-Kona area with soft, white sand.
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La'aloa Bay: The Magic Sands Beach
Laʻaloa Bay gets its "Magic Sands" nickname because the sand sometimes disappears! After a big storm, the sand can get washed away, leaving behind lava rocks. But don't worry, the sand usually comes back later. This happens several times a year.
Fun Activities at the Bay
The waves at Laʻaloa Bay can be strong. This makes it a favorite spot for experienced local bodyboarders. Even when the waves are not huge, it's still a great place for them to ride.
Nearby Parks
Just north of Laʻaloa Bay is Pahoehoe Beach County Park. This park has a shoreline made of rocky lava and some coral pebbles. It's a good spot for picnics, with tables, restrooms, and running water available.
A Special Place with History
In the Hawaiian language, la'a loa means "very sacred." This name tells us that the area has a deep history and importance.
Ancient Hawaiian Temple
There are several old archaeological sites around Laʻaloa Bay. One important site is the ruins of haukalua Heiau. A Heiau is an ancient Hawaiian temple. This stone structure is located on a point just south of the beach. It was cleaned up and rebuilt by descendants of the people who lived here for hundreds of years. They also built a small ceremonial platform called a lele.
Scuba Diving Spot
South of the temple ruins, there's a small rocky cove. When the ocean is calm, this cove is a popular place for scuba diving. It's a great spot to explore the underwater world.
Protecting a Sacred Place
In 1994, the local government planned to build a big parking lot at Laʻaloa Bay. But Hawaiian elders, called Kupuna, formed a group called the Laʻaloa Ohana (which means "family"). They worked hard to protect this special place.
Community Efforts to Protect the Bay
The Laʻaloa Ohana made agreements to create a Hawaiian Cultural/Educational center in 1995. They kept fighting for a detailed plan to preserve the area. In 1997, a community-based Preservation Plan was finished. This plan said that only 25 parking spots could be built, instead of the original 80.
The government had promised to protect the historic sites before building anything. However, when they built the parking lot in 2000, some protective measures were not completed. This caused damage to many of the historic sites.
Recent Changes
The Laʻaloa Ohana never gave up. Because of their continuous efforts, in August 2014, the State of Hawaii's historic preservation group stepped in. They told the local government they needed to complete all the protective measures.
Finally, on May 10, 2017, the County of Hawaii announced that the parking lot at Laʻaloa Beach Park would close indefinitely starting May 17, 2017. This was because the parking lot was causing ongoing damage to the sacred site. The Laʻaloa Ohana continues to share information and asks for community support, or kokua.
Where is La'aloa Bay?
Laʻaloa Bay is located on Aliʻi Drive in the Kona District. You can find it at these coordinates: 19°35′38″N 155°58′17″W / 19.59389°N 155.97139°W.
About a mile north of Laʻaloa Bay is Holualoa Bay. About a mile to the south is Kahaluʻu Bay.
