The beach near the Kona airport was Kohanaiki Beach Park.  It is long and if you drive in far enough you will find nice bathrooms and showers to rinse off.  As for getting in the water, there is a lot of volcanic rock and most of the people in the water are surfing.  We drove to Waipi’o Valley lookout for of view of the ocean and Waipi’o Falls.  The town of Waimea on the way to the lookout is at 2,500ft and has nice cool weather and the Big Island Brewhaus Brewery.  On the west side of the island is Spencer Beach (free) and the better Hapuna State Park Beach ($10 to park and $5 per person).  On the East side of the island is Akaka State Park near Hilo, HI.  From there we had a beer at Hilo Brewing Company.  Then we took off for Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station.  It is a like ~9,000 feet, and is the highest you can go on the mountain without 4-wheel drive.

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