Kona Reef Resort beach forecast: weather, water & waves
Kailua-Kona, HI · Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), United States · 19.629, -155.989
Updated : very low seaweed, beach grade A, sea 80°F.
Veabird's call
Go Friday for A with little seaweed and 80°F water on the southwest-facing beach.
December and October grade A-, and manta ray night snorkel is nearby in Kona.
Grades from Veabird's beach forecast; wording by AI (Muse Spark), checked against the forecast. Updated Nov 13, 06:00 UTC.
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Questions about Kona Reef Resort
Does Kona Reef Resort get sargassum (seaweed)?
No. Atlantic sargassum does not reach Hawaii.
How warm is the water at Kona Reef Resort?
About 80°F in November. The sea is warmest in August and September (about 82°F) and coolest in March (about 77°F).
When is the best time to visit Kona Reef Resort?
For warm water and dry weather, aim for October through February. October is usually the quietest of those, with about 15 rainy days and a sea near 81°F.
When is hurricane season at Kona Reef Resort, and how often do storms hit?
The central Pacific hurricane season runs June through November. A tropical storm passed within 86 miles of Kona Reef Resort in 4 of the 55 seasons from 1971 to 2025, and a hurricane within 58 miles in 0. The riskiest stretch is around July 30, when the chance of a storm passing in any one week is about 1% or less; across all of August it is about 3%.
What guests say about Kona Reef Resort
Guests like Great location · Nice room
Watch for Hot tub by pool wasn't working · Elevator wasn't working
- Cleanliness
8.1 - Service
8.9 - Location
9.1 - Room Quality
8.6 - Amenities
8.4 - Value for Money
8.5 - Food and Beverage
8.6 - Overall Experience
8.7
Read all 96 reviews · Compare on Expedia
Scores and reviews come from guests who stayed, through LiteAPI (Nuitée). The likes, watch-fors and category scores are an AI summary of those reviews. Partner links: Veabird may earn a commission.
Sargassum season at Kona Reef Resort
Kona Reef Resort sits outside the reach of the Atlantic sargassum belt; seaweed landings are rare in any month.
The Big Island month by month
Typical weather, water temperature, seaweed and crowds for every month: the best time to visit the Big Island.
Weather & water by month at Kona Reef Resort
Average highs run from about 78°F in January and February to 83°F in August. The sea is warmest in August and September (about 82°F) and coolest in March (about 77°F). January and November are usually the driest, with about 11 rainy days each; June is the wettest, with about 23 rainy days.
| Month | Avg high | Sea | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°F | 78°F | 11 |
| Feb | 78°F | 78°F | 12 |
| Mar | 79°F | 77°F | 17 |
| Apr | 79°F | 78°F | 18 |
| May | 80°F | 79°F | 20 |
| Jun | 80°F | 80°F | 23 |
| Jul | 82°F | 81°F | 19 |
| Aug | 83°F | 82°F | 18 |
| Sep | 82°F | 82°F | 17 |
| Oct | 82°F | 81°F | 15 |
| Nov | 81°F | 80°F | 11 |
| Dec | 80°F | 79°F | 12 |
Monthly averages from 6 years of ERA5 reanalysis (Open-Meteo) for this area's 0.5° grid cell; rainy days have at least 1 mm (0.04 in). Any given year can differ.
Cleanup & barriers
- Offshore barriers
- Not needed: Atlantic sargassum does not reach Hawaii.
- Public cleanup
- Volunteer groups (Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund) clear ocean plastic, heaviest on windward shores.
- Resort crews
- Resort crews groom beaches daily.
- Typical clearing time
- n/a
Safety notes
Domestic travel (no State Dept advisory)
- Winter swells (Nov–Mar) make north- and west-facing shores dangerous; summer swells hit south shores.
- Shorebreak and rip currents cause most visitor injuries: swim at lifeguarded beaches.
- Hawaiʻi bans sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate.
- Stay 50 ft from monk seals and 10 ft from sea turtles.
- Vog (volcanic haze) can affect air quality; check the Hawaiʻi Volcano Observatory.
- Hilo side is much wetter than the Kona–Kohala resort coast.
Check official advisories and local flags before swimming. Decomposing sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide; avoid heavy piles.
Things to do near Kailua-Kona, HI
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
- Manta ray night snorkel (Kona)
- Kealakekua Bay
- Maunakea stargazing
- Punaluʻu black sand beach
Fly in for the best beach days
Suggested dates are a week in December. Change them to match the live forecast above.
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Nearest airports
- Kona Intl (KOA), ~14 km
- Hilo Intl (ITO), ~99 km
Nearby resorts
- Royal Kona Resort Kailua-Kona, HI · 0 km
- Kona Islander Inn & Hotel Kailua-Kona, HI · 1 km
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kailua-Kona Kailua-Kona, HI · 1 km
- Royal Sea Cliff Resort by Outrigger Kailua-Kona, HI · 1 km
- PACIFIC 19 Kona Kailua-Kona, HI · 2 km
- Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel Kailua-Kona, HI · 2 km
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