New fee to park at Mauna Kea Beach (Big Island)

[lynne]

Access to Kaunaoa Beach through the Mauna Kea Resort
Kaunaoa Beach is located within the Mauna Kea Beach Resort, so you’ll need to arrive early and ask the gate attendant for entry. As of March 2022 there is also a parking fee of $21 being charged by the resort for non Hawaii residents. It is a public beach, and if you’re not staying at the hotel, you’ll just need to get a beach access pass or be waved through the resort entrance gate. As you pull up to the gate, you may see a sign letting you know that the beach parking is full. When you reach the parking area, there is another gate where you must pay for parking.

 

[SmithOp]

So are you saying the $21 fee is for hotel parking when the public access is full, or it's all the time for non residents? ouch!

I don't use this beach, we prefer Mauna Lani or Hualalai, hope this doesn't spread.



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[klpca]

Bummer. That is my favorite beach there.

 

[lynne]

So are you saying the $21 fee is for hotel parking when the public access is full, or it's all the time for non residents? ouch!

I don't use this beach, we prefer Mauna Lani or Hualalai, hope this doesn't spread.



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The fee is for the beach parking for all non residents. Mauna Lani only offers valet parking unless you park at the few spots available at the Kalahuipua'a Historical Park. Not sure about Hualalai since the remodel of the Four Seasons.

Hapuna also has a fee $10/vehicle for non residents.

 

[klpca]

I sure wish that California would start charging the big fees to non residents for our state beaches too. It feels like we subsidize the tourist industry especially in the summer. But here it is the same price for everyone to park ($12-$25/day - demand pricing) unless you buy an annual pass.

 

[pedro47]

How did all these hotels, resorts and timeshare resorts survive before all these new added fees and where are of these added revenues going? LOL.

 

[SmithOp]

I sure wish that California would start charging the big fees to non residents for our state beaches too. It feels like we subsidize the tourist industry especially in the summer. But here it is the same price for everyone to park ($12-$25/day - demand pricing) unless you buy an annual pass.

In a way residents can get a discount by buying the annual pass because we can use it more often and get the benefit of lower per visit costs. We buy the Explorer pass at $195 and visit the beaches 3 times a week, even if it's only to stop in to eat a take out lunch or watch the sunset.

Visitors can't leverage that many visits, but I get what you are saying about the weekend crowds with out of state plates.

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[Luanne]

How did all these hotels, resorts and timeshare resorts survive before all these new added fees and where are of these added revenues going? LOL.

I did find that after Hapuna Beach started with fees there were improvements to the parking lot and beach area. This was a few years back and the fee was $5.00.

 

[travelhacker]

That's a bit of a bummer. It was our favorite beach. Still at $21, it won't deter us from making the visit and would probably force us to plan a bit better. When we went to the beach, we'd check if spots were available at Mauna Kea and then head over to Hapuna if it was full.

 

[klpca]

In a way residents can get a discount by buying the annual pass because we can use it more often and get the benefit of lower per visit costs. We buy the Explorer pass at $195 and visit the beaches 3 times a week, even if it's only to stop in to eat a take out lunch or watch the sunset.

Visitors can't leverage that many visits, but I get what you are saying about the weekend crowds with out of state plates.

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I found that the Limited Use Golden Bear pass at $20 looks like the ticket for us.

 

[ScoopKona]

State law stipulates anything "below the highest wave line" is property of the state and generally* open to the public. Charging for beach access is a violation of state law.

If they are restricting de facto access to the beach because the only way to get there is through the resort, and the only way through the resort is to pay -- there might be a way to litigate that away.

Do they charge people who walk up? (For instance, dropped off at the resort?) Someone should test that.

* The federal government has carved out some exceptions for itself.

 

[lynne]

State law stipulates anything "below the highest wave line" is property of the state and generally* open to the public. Charging for beach access is a violation of state law.

If they are restricting de facto access to the beach because the only way to get there is through the resort, and the only way through the resort is to pay -- there might be a way to litigate that away.

Do they charge people who walk up? (For instance, dropped off at the resort?) Someone should test that.

* The federal government has carved out some exceptions for itself.

When our kids/grandkids come to visit, we have no problem dropping them off at Mauna Kea beach and picking them up later in the day. The resort owns and maintains the parking areas, so it is within their right to charge for parking. Homeowners pay a steep premium to have access to facilities. (attached). Those memberships are limited to a certain number/year.

Mauna Lani Auberge closed off their parking and only provides valet at a cost of $40. The Mauna Lani Beach Club which is owned by the properties throughout the development has never allowed access to their parking without having an access card.

It is true, you are able to use any beach in Hawaii, but getting access maybe prohibitive.

 

[klpca]

When our kids/grandkids come to visit, we have no problem dropping them off at Mauna Kea beach and picking them up later in the day. The resort owns and maintains the parking areas, so it is within their right to charge for parking. Homeowners pay a steep premium to have access to facilities. (attached). Those memberships are limited to a certain number/year.

Mauna Lani Auberge closed off their parking and only provides valet at a cost of $40. The Mauna Lani Beach Club which is owned by the properties throughout the development has never allowed access to their parking without having an access card.

It is true, you are able to use any beach in Hawaii, but getting access maybe prohibitive.

I always thought that resorts had to set aside some parking spots for this access? For me it is just the cost that seems out of line. We are usually at the beach for less than two hours - I just can't sit there the whole day so it's usually just a short snorkel, dry off, then leave.

 

[LisaH]

Access to Kaunaoa Beach through the Mauna Kea Resort
Kaunaoa Beach is located within the Mauna Kea Beach Resort, so you’ll need to arrive early and ask the gate attendant for entry. As of March 2022 there is also a parking fee of $21 being charged by the resort for non Hawaii residents. It is a public beach, and if you’re not staying at the hotel, you’ll just need to get a beach access pass or be waved through the resort entrance gate. As you pull up to the gate, you may see a sign letting you know that the beach parking is full. When you reach the parking area, there is another gate where you must pay for parking.

So if you are a Hawaii resident, no matter which island you are from, you are waived such parking fees ?

 

[ScoopKona]

It is true, you are able to use any beach in Hawaii, but getting access maybe prohibitive.

Restricting access goes against the spirit of the law. If you can drop people off and go park elsewhere, I think their parking fees will hold up -- they don't have to provide bathrooms, parking spaces, changing rooms and similar. Only the beach is public.

But if they're using this to restrict access to the beach, I have a feeling a judge would put an end to it -- if someone files a suit.

 

[lynne]

Mauna Kea Beach Parking Fee Stopped

​

In case you missed it, in the Letters to the Editor in Friday's West Hawaii Today there is a letter from State Rep. David Tarnas stating that both his office and the County Planning Dept. had received complaints about Mauna Kea charging people to park. After further investigation it was determined that Mauna Kea was in violation of their SMA (Special Management Area) permit and could not charge the public for beach parking. They were ordered to cease the illegal practice and have done so.

 

[klpca]

Mauna Kea Beach Parking Fee Stopped

​

In case you missed it, in the Letters to the Editor in Friday's West Hawaii Today there is a letter from State Rep. David Tarnas stating that both his office and the County Planning Dept. had received complaints about Mauna Kea charging people to park. After further investigation it was determined that Mauna Kea was in violation of their SMA (Special Management Area) permit and could not charge the public for beach parking. They were ordered to cease the illegal practice and have done so.

Good. The ability to site their hotel where they did had some strings attached. Glad to see that they will have to pay by the same rules as everyone else.

 

[SmithOp]

They owe people refunds also.

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