Spencer Beach Practical Guide

A little planning goes a long way in making your visit to Spencer Beach Park effortless and enjoyable. Here are the practical details you need to know.

Getting There & Parking Like a Pro

Spencer Beach Park is located on the South Kohala coast and is easy to find.

A Detailed Look at Park Amenities

The range of facilities is one of the things that makes Spencer Park so convenient. You'll find well-maintained restrooms, outdoor showers for rinsing off sand and salt, drinking water fountains, and numerous BBQ pits perfect for a beachside cookout.

The large, covered pavilion is a fantastic feature, especially for big family gatherings or group events. It provides ample shade and has electrical outlets, which is a rare and welcome convenience. The pavilion can be reserved for day use through the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks & Recreation.

The Food Situation

While Spencer Beach Park does not have a permanent concession stand, you won't go hungry. I always recommend packing a picnic to enjoy at one of the many shaded tables—it's part of the classic local beach day experience. However, you should also keep an eye out for local food trucks that sometimes set up near the park entrance.

The Best Time to Visit

Spencer Beach Park is wonderful year-round, but you can tailor your visit to the experience you're looking for.

Time of Day

For the absolute calmest water and fewest crowds, arrive in the morning between 7 AM and 11 AM. The afternoon is perfect for sunbathing and family fun when the park is at its liveliest. Don't leave too early, though—the sunsets here are spectacular.

Season

Spencer Beach vs. The Neighbors: A Local's Comparison

The Kohala Coast is blessed with some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and visitors are often faced with a tough choice: Spencer, Hāpuna, or Mauna Kea? As a local, I love them all for different reasons. The key is to pick the one that best fits the kind of day you want to have.

Spencer Park vs. Hāpuna Beach

Hāpuna Beach is breathtaking—a magnificent, half-mile-long crescent of white sand that frequently appears on "world's best beaches" lists. It's the Big Island's largest sandy beach and is fantastic for sunbathing and people-watching. However, its grand scale means it's exposed to the open ocean, and the shore break can be powerful, especially in the winter. This is great for boogie boarding but can be intimidating and unsafe for young children or inexperienced swimmers. There is also a fee for non-residents to park and enter.

Spencer, in contrast, offers a more intimate and reliably calm experience. Its protected bay provides a consistently safe swimming environment, making it the superior choice for families with small kids. Plus, access is completely free.

Spencer Park vs. Mauna Kea Beach

Mauna Kea Beach, located at the iconic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, is the picture of perfection. Its sand is like powdered sugar, and the bay is a stunning turquoise crescent. However, public access is intentionally and severely limited. To preserve an exclusive atmosphere for hotel guests, only a small number of public parking passes are given out each day, and they are often gone shortly after sunrise.

Spencer Beach embodies a more welcoming and democratic spirit of aloha. There are no gates trying to keep people out. It offers guaranteed, easy access for everyone, from local families celebrating a birthday to visitors seeking a peaceful afternoon.