Best Places to See Sea Turtles on the Big Island, Hawaii

Last Update: September 2026

If you’ve read some of our previous posts, you’ll realise that I have a rather large addiction to sea turtles. It’s a weird addiction to have I must admit. Of course, it’s not my only one, travel and chillies are two more; but don’t worry, in this post I’m only going to talk about sea turtles!

The first time I swam with sea turtles was in Akumal in Mexico and I was hooked straight away! Swimming with those beautiful and peaceful creatures was both magical and incredibly relaxing. I could have spent hours watching them munching on sea grass, gliding slowly through the water on their way to the next rock; and occasionally popping up for air. Swimming with turtles really is an experience to be treasured and although I’ve done it many more times since then, I’ve never tired of it.

Hawaii is a great place to spot Honus (that’s the Hawaiian name for the Green sea turtle); in fact, it’s one of the best places in the world. You’ll encounter them not only on the Big Island but all over the state. But this post is about where to find them on the Big Island, based on our experiences during our visit there.

Best Places to See Sea Turtles on the Big Island at a Glance

Place	Area	Best for	Our experience
Kahaluʻu Beach Park	Kona	Snorkelling + turtles	Turtles every visit
Carlsmith Beach Park	Hilo	Calm lagoons + turtles	Several huge turtles
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach	Kaʻū	Turtles from shore	Several turtles
ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay	Waikoloa	Easy turtle spotting	Several close to shore
Hōnaunau Bay / Two Step	South Kona	Snorkelling + marine life	1 turtle + lots of fish
Kīholo Bay	Kohala Coast	Quieter turtle spotting	Turtles spotted

Best Places to See Sea Turtles on the Big Island

1 – Kahalu’u Beach Park

This was our favourite beach. The beach itself is nothing special, especially compared to some we have in Australia. But that’s not the reason we went there. We wanted to see sea turtles, and we saw a plenty. Lots and lots of them. You could even easily see them frolicking in the water as you stood on the shore!

We stayed in apartment in Kona Magic Sands which was just a five-minute drive from this beach, so we went there every day while in Kona. Every day we saw turtles and not just one but three, four or five of them.

This beach is also good for beginner snorkelers as the water is quite calm if you stick to the southern side. There is a rock wall there that protects the beach from any large swells. The northern side has some stronger surf, so if you’re not a turtle addict like me and you tire of snorkelling, you can head over there to learn to surf!

Location: 15 minutes south of Kona on Alii Drive.

2 – Carlsmith Beach Park

This place is more like a park than a beach. Instead of sand, there is a beautiful grassy area. To enter the water you either climb down from the rocks or use one of the ladders.

The best place to see the turtles is on the right-hand side of the park. There you’ll find a small sheltered inlet where you’ll feel like you’re swimming in an extra large swimming pool. Bear in mind that two of the sea turtles that live in this park are huge; yes really huge. But don’t be scared, they are super friendly and are so used to people that they almost follow you around. Remember even if they come up to you, don’t touch them!

You can also see them while standing on the shore. In fact, as we exited the water, one of these huge turtles appeared from under a rock ledge and did a little show just for us for several minutes.

The water at this beach park was colder than in any other place we swam at in Hawaii. If like us you are there in winter, you may prefer to wear a rash vest to keep you warm while you swim.

Location: 10 minutes from Hilo going towards the airport on Kalanianaole Avenue. It is located right behind the airport.

3 – Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

This beach is not only the most beautiful black, sandy beach on the Big Island, but it is home to lots of sea turtles. Sometimes, you may even see them basking in the sun. Sadly we didn’t see any out of the water on our visit, but standing on the rocks we could see many swimming out in the surf. The waves were too rough for us to go snorkelling, so we just enjoyed them from the shore.

Location: This beach is on the South-East shore of the island. It is about forty minutes from the Volcanoes National Park and an hour and a half from Kailua-Kona.

4 – Anaeho’omalu Bay

After a long and relaxing lunch at the Lava Lava Beach Club (located on this beach) I decided to go for a walk along the beach. Needless to say, I didn’t have to walk more than a few metres before being distracted by sea turtles swimming right next to shore!

There was at least four sea turtles on the right-hand side of the restaurant. They seemed to attract a bit of a crowd as everyone decided to enjoy their show. Next I went for a walk further to the left of the restaurant. Again I didn’t have to go far, as more turtles had gathered to feed in the rocks close to shore! We were told they are also sometimes seen basking in the sun around that area.

This is a great place to head to combine turtle watching, a long, lazy lunch and a Coconut Mai Tai or two!

Location: 30 minutes north of Kona, off highway 19.

5 – Honaunau Bay (Two-Steps)

This rocky bay right next door to an ancient Hawaiian place of refuge is one of the best snorkelling spots on the Big Island. Here you’ll find many different species of fish congregating in the extremely clear water close to shore. Sea turtles also like to hang out in the bay and might come and join you as you snorkel. We had the pleasure of seeing one while there, along with two Moray Eels and thousands of fish.

The trick with Honaunau Bay is to get there really early before the crowds arrive. Dolphins are also known to occasionally give snorkelers a bit of a show here.

Location: 20 miles south of Kona.

6 – Kiholo Bay

Kiholo Bay is another spot north of Kailua-Kona where you will likely see sea turtles. You may even find them basking on the lava rocks, enjoying the sunshine.

It’s a bit of a hike to get to this rocky lagoon but it’s worth it. Depending on the sea conditions, you may also be able to snorkel with the turtles. However, sometimes the water is too rough and it’s best to stay onshore. But bring your snorkelling gear just in case.

Location: Kiholo Bay is 30 minutes north of Kona on Highway 19 by car. There are two ways to get to it:

• Via a trail (dirt road) leaving the parking lot immediately south of mile marker 81. Bring plenty of water as it’s approximately a 20 minute walk.
• By taking the public access road between mile markers 82 and 83. There you’ll find a narrow gravel road which normally can be driven with a 2WD, except for the last stretch.

Here’s a handy map with all of the spots we’ve mentioned in this article.

What Sea Turtles Can You See on the Big Island?

The Hawaiian green sea turtle (honu) is by far the most common turtle you’ll see on the Big Island and the one we’ve encountered during our visits.

The much rarer Hawaiian hawksbill turtle (honuʻea) can also be found around the island, particularly along the southern coast. Spotting one would be a very lucky encounter!

Best Time to See Sea Turtles on the Big Island

Sea turtles can be seen on the Big Island year-round. Morning is often a great time for snorkelling when the water tends to be calmer, but turtles can be spotted throughout the day, both in the water and resting on beaches.

As always with wildlife, sightings are never guaranteed!

Where do sea turtles nest on the Big Island? 

Sea turtles will only nest on sandy beaches. One such beach where they commonly nest is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. If visit this beach during nesting season, make sure you give them plenty of space. Do not disturb them while they are nesting and do not visit after dark. Be respectful of these beautiful creatures.

When is turtle nesting season in Hawaii? 

Sea turtle nesting season in Hawaii generally begins in spring and continues into autumn, with green sea turtles nesting from around late April through October. Because eggs take roughly two months to hatch, you may see protected nests and hatchling activity later in the year too.

On the Big Island, the much rarer Hawaiian hawksbill turtle also nests along parts of the southern coastline, with nesting activity generally occurring from May to December.

If you come across a nesting turtle, protected nest or hatchlings, always keep your distance and never disturb them.

Can you see sea turtles on the Big Island all year round?

Absolutely! Sea turtles hang around on the Big Island all year. Of course, whether or not you see them on a particular day is often a matter of luck. After all, they are not at our beck and call! But if you visit one or more of the places in this post, you will very likely spot a turtle or two, maybe more! 

Can You Touch Sea Turtles in Hawaii?

No. Sea turtles are protected wild animals and should never be touched, chased or disturbed. NOAA recommends keeping at least 10 feet (3 metres) away from sea turtles both in the water and on land.

Sometimes a turtle may swim towards you — we’ve had this happen ourselves in Hawaii. If it does, stay calm, give it space and let the turtle continue on its way. An incredible close encounter doesn’t need to involve touching!

See our guidelines below for more tips on viewing and swimming near sea turtles responsibly.Are sea turtles protected in Hawaii?

Guidelines for Seeing Sea Turtles Responsibly

• Never touch a sea turtle. They are protected wild animals and should always be observed from a respectful distance.
• Stay at least 10 feet (3 metres) away. Sometimes a turtle may swim towards you — we’ve had this happen ourselves! If it does, stay calm and give it as much space as possible.
• Never feed them. Feeding wildlife can change their natural behaviour and may harm them.
• Don’t chase or follow them. Let the turtle decide where it wants to go and enjoy watching it from a distance.
• Don’t block their path. Whether a turtle is swimming, coming up for air or moving between the ocean and the beach, always make sure it has plenty of room.
• Leave resting turtles alone. Green sea turtles commonly bask on Hawaiian beaches. If you see one resting on the sand, keep your distance and use your camera zoom for photos instead.
• Use Reef Friendly Sunscreen. Regardless of whether you’re swimming with turtles, please use a reef friendly sunscreen to avoid harming the coral and other marine life. These sunscreens exclude chemicals that are known to be damaging to the marine environment.

To make sure you have all the snorkelling gear you need, see our detailed snorkelling packing list.

Accommodation on the Big Island

As most of these spots are on the west side of the island, you may want to stay on that side. Kailua-Kona is a great area to stay in. Here’s some ideas for where to stay.

Best value: Kanaloa at Kona by Castle Resorts & Hotels – well-equipped apartments, most with ocean views.

Best location:  Kona Coast Resorts at Keauhou Gardens or Holualoa Inn

Read More

To read about our week on the Big Island click here.

Find out about our favourite snorkelling spots in the Hawaiian Islands here.

Find out What to Pack For Your Next Snorkelling Adventure click here.