Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area

Park gates and the entry fee are real; pay both. The lifeguards are on duty during posted hours but cannot watch the whole half mile. North-swell winter days produce strong shorebreak and longshore current that have killed people; if the water looks rough, it is rough. Do not let small kids swim alone. The A-frame shelters in the park are reservable through DLNR — do not occupy one without a permit. The freshwater spring that gives the beach its name still seeps onto the sand at the south end; it is fresh water draining from upslope, not a public faucet.