Mauna Kea Beach Resort beach forecast: weather, water & waves
Kohala Coast, HI · Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), United States · 20.007, -155.826
Updated : very low seaweed, beach grade A-, sea 80°F.
Also listed as Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection.
Veabird's call
Thursday pays off: A, little seaweed, calm water, mostly dry and 80°F water.
September and October are top rated, with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park nearby.
Grades from Veabird's beach forecast; wording by AI (Muse Spark), checked against the forecast. Updated Nov 15, 18:00 UTC.
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Questions about Mauna Kea Beach Resort
Does Mauna Kea Beach Resort get sargassum (seaweed)?
No. Atlantic sargassum does not reach Hawaii.
How warm is the water at Mauna Kea Beach 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 Mauna Kea Beach Resort?
For warm water and dry weather, aim for June, July, August, October and November. October is usually the quietest of those, with about 2 rainy days and a sea near 81°F.
When is hurricane season at Mauna Kea Beach Resort, and how often do storms hit?
The central Pacific hurricane season runs June through November. A tropical storm passed within 86 miles of Mauna Kea Beach Resort in 5 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 4%.
What guests say about Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection
Guests like Great beach · Friendly staff
Watch for Limited parking · Construction noise
- Cleanliness
9.4 - Service
9.9 - Location
9.5 - Room Quality
8.9 - Amenities
8.4 - Value for Money
8.4 - Food and Beverage
9.4 - Overall Experience
9.6
Read all 137 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 Mauna Kea Beach Resort
Mauna Kea Beach 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 Mauna Kea Beach Resort
Average highs run from about 79°F in January, February and March to 83°F in August, September and October. The sea is warmest in August and September (about 82°F) and coolest in March (about 77°F). July is usually the driest, with about 1 rainy day; March is the wettest, with about 6 rainy days.
| Month | Avg high | Sea | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F | 78°F | 4 |
| Feb | 79°F | 78°F | 4 |
| Mar | 79°F | 77°F | 6 |
| Apr | 80°F | 78°F | 4 |
| May | 81°F | 79°F | 3 |
| Jun | 81°F | 80°F | 2 |
| Jul | 82°F | 81°F | 1 |
| Aug | 83°F | 82°F | 2 |
| Sep | 83°F | 82°F | 3 |
| Oct | 83°F | 81°F | 2 |
| Nov | 82°F | 80°F | 2 |
| Dec | 80°F | 79°F | 4 |
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 Kohala Coast, 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), ~38 km
- Hilo Intl (ITO), ~87 km
Nearby resorts
- Fairmont Orchid Waikoloa, HI · 7 km
- Mauna Lani Bay Resort Waikoloa, HI · 8 km
- Ocean Club Waikoloa, HI · 11 km
- Hilton Waikoloa Village Waikoloa, HI · 11 km
- Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Waikoloa, HI · 12 km
- Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort Waikoloa, HI · 26 km
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