Rock Quarry Beach (Kahili Beach) is a little-talked-about beach near Kilauea that is popular with local families and surfers.
This beautiful crescent-shaped beach has plenty of waves, plenty of sand, plenty of sun, and plenty of shade. On one end of the beach are the remains of the rock quarry. On the other end, beyond a rocky outcropping, is a secluded portion of beach that is the stuff of tropical dreams. In the middle, there’s a wide expanse of sand backed by a nice shaded area. And behind the shade there is a lagoon and a beautiful valley with a few of the island’s best estates.
Families, fishermen, surfers and wanderers can all be seen at this beautiful beach during the day. In the morning hours or late afternoons you might find just a few souls taking in the serenity.
There are two dirt roads to Rock Quarry Beach. Near the town of Kilauea is Kahili Quarry Road. This road takes you to the rock quarry side of the beach (big stones can be found here). (To get to the beach from this side requires crossing the mouth of Kilauea Stream.) Kahili Quarry Road is not recommended as it has fallen into disrepair in the last couple of years. The preferred road to the beach is on the other side, off Wailapa Road. Past the Fehring Family Farm there is a turnoff that leads down to the beach. This is the side most everyone uses and there is a parking area at the end of the road above the beach.
Rock Quarry Beach as seen from the rock quarry side. A bend near the mouth of Kilauea Stream creates a lagoon behind the beach. Rock Quarry Beach is a favorite spot for local surfers. In the late afternoons there are often very few visitors to the beach.
On the right side of the beach, beyond a rocky outcropping, is a more secluded area of the beach. On the left (Kilauea) side of the beach are the remains of the rock quarry.
To the left of the beach is a rocky coastline that takes you towards the Kilauea Lighthouse and the Pools of Mokolea. This area is known as Mokolea Point and there are several rather impressive tide pools (and a small blow hole) along the way. The area should be avoided during rough seas, but during calm seas and low tide there is a variety of sea life to be seen in the rocks and tide pools. Photographers appreciate the area for the dramatic photos that can be captured at sunrise.