Kapoho Tide Pools
Kapoho Tide Pools
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
777 reviews
Excellent
537
Very good
167
Average
46
Poor
15
Terrible
12
Jim K
Riverside, CA159 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
We were fortunate to see the Kapoho Tide Pools last month and now it appears that they are completely gone. We can only hope that nature will replace them with something equally as lovely.
Written 5 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NJ_Jason
New Jersey272 contributions
Jun 2018
Sad to see the flowing lava claimed this aquatic gem. We visited in 2010, and were super impressed by the variety of marine life on display.
Written 4 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaliFornia94110
sf bay area34 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
This is a NOT Disneyland attraction or even a State park. It is a rugged, marine preserve located in a private residential area = the homeowners themselves bear the burden of having to pay for maintaining the surrounding roads, cleaning up trash, etc. CONSULT TIDE CHARTS and go close to HIGH tide for optimal snorkeling and ease of getting in/out of the pools. Wear old sneakers or water shoes, not flip flops, to navigate the lava and plot your course to the pools by studying the terrain. Be grateful that access is still granted to the public and respect people's property by using the designated parking area 5-10 minutes walk from the tide pools. There is one porta pottie with a donation box near the tide pools, so bring change to help keep it available. The "no parking" signs are NOT temporary, so don't ignore them and respect the residents. Signs ALL OVER Hawaii advise you NOT to leave valuables in your car!!! Get a waterproof wallet and put a bit of cash, credit card and car keys in it. The residents of Kapoho suffered a devasting Hurricane in 8/14 and are still in the process of rebuilding and psychologically recovering. Respect their plight and tread lightly, don't trespass, make a small donation and pack out all your trash. The tide pools are also suffering from "bleaching" a whitening disease that is killing them in mass quantities = communities of fish don't thrive. Therefore, wear a surf shirt or other long sleeve top to reduce your need for sunscreen on your skin = more toxins that pollute and kill the already compromised coral. Or, use a reef safe sunscreen.
Written 4 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rafterian
Sacramento, CA40 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
Due to the 2018 eruption, access no longer exists. Tide pools are now under 60 feet of volcanic rock.
If you turn left at the cement blocks, after driving through the gloomy lava fields, you can follow the road through the jungle and find a spot or two to walk to the cliffs and enjoy the ocean view. That road essentially leads right back to Pāhoa.
If you turn left at the cement blocks, after driving through the gloomy lava fields, you can follow the road through the jungle and find a spot or two to walk to the cliffs and enjoy the ocean view. That road essentially leads right back to Pāhoa.
Written 12 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelley B
Coarsegold, CA104 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
The latest 2018 Kiluea covered the tide pools. It’s is very sad how the lava flowed to the sea. If you want to see the lava first hand, then head this direction- even out to Isaac Hale Park.
Written 10 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dano3CA
Fremont, CA1 contribution
I visit Kapoho every year and know a few things about the pollution problem. The place is not a public park so the state and county look the other way. It's not their problem. Most of the houses lining the tidepools have cesspools. You risk an ear infection or worse from the fecal contamination.
Written 16 December 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kermitthefrog007
Anchorage, AK10 contributions
This place is wonderful.
We stayed in a rental near Champagne Pond --huge tide pool with freshwater hot springs, lots of fish, and even a few sea turtles.
The swimming was perfect for our toddler. One heads up for people with little kids: the area is rocky so be sure to bring reef shoes or something else waterproof for the little kids (and yourself) to wear.
We stayed in a rental near Champagne Pond --huge tide pool with freshwater hot springs, lots of fish, and even a few sea turtles.
The swimming was perfect for our toddler. One heads up for people with little kids: the area is rocky so be sure to bring reef shoes or something else waterproof for the little kids (and yourself) to wear.
Written 14 February 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy D
Suzhou, China692 contributions
Dec 2019
We drove there from Hilo. A nice day drive through lava fields and an amazing jungle just after where we were supposed to turn off to the pools; however, the road to the pools doesn’t exist since the recent eruption. They’re apparently 60 feet below the lava now.
Written 26 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tuckers_Kahuna
San Francisco, CA7 contributions
This area is beautiful, quiet, and peaceful. Our rental house was very nice, and we saw a lot of nice ones around here, and a few dumps. I would avoid a rental house right on the tidepools area, because there are a lot of people coming through to use the tidepools, and on weekends it's very busy with locals too.
I have to comment though on the sewage problem. It is real, you can see banks of toilet paper wash up on the rocks after a good rain, and a brown scum where the wind blows. It was very disappointing, because otherwise this area is great for snorkeling and hanging out. But after a few days even our favorite spot for going out had toilet paper and brown scum where you go in. This is really bad, and the neighborhood and the government know about it and say there is no money to deal with it. The Tidepools themselves are a natural conservation area, but not a park or any federal designation. So there is not the policing of the sewage problem there would be if it were managed by Parks or Feds.
This problem was apparent at the Tidepools area of Vacationland, but not at Kapoho Beach Lots. We saw no evidence of sewage in that area. Champagne pond is very clean, i think it's very safe.
I have to comment though on the sewage problem. It is real, you can see banks of toilet paper wash up on the rocks after a good rain, and a brown scum where the wind blows. It was very disappointing, because otherwise this area is great for snorkeling and hanging out. But after a few days even our favorite spot for going out had toilet paper and brown scum where you go in. This is really bad, and the neighborhood and the government know about it and say there is no money to deal with it. The Tidepools themselves are a natural conservation area, but not a park or any federal designation. So there is not the policing of the sewage problem there would be if it were managed by Parks or Feds.
This problem was apparent at the Tidepools area of Vacationland, but not at Kapoho Beach Lots. We saw no evidence of sewage in that area. Champagne pond is very clean, i think it's very safe.
Written 13 September 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KapohoCat
Pahoa, HI5 contributions
Apr 2011
Although Ms/Mr Karma is posted horrible things, I live down in Kapoho and find that Karmagonnagetcha is off base.
The parking is usually not full and there is 16 spaces, with additional spaces at the front of the subdivision. The contamination count is one of the lowest on the island for public areas. The residents do a good job of keeping the area clean and safe. Karma's assessment on the cesspools is incorrect. There are very few left as any building permit of any kind triggers a waste water upgrade. The State of Hawaii's Dept of Health has required an upgraded waste water system for more than 14 years in this area.
The parking is usually not full and there is 16 spaces, with additional spaces at the front of the subdivision. The contamination count is one of the lowest on the island for public areas. The residents do a good job of keeping the area clean and safe. Karma's assessment on the cesspools is incorrect. There are very few left as any building permit of any kind triggers a waste water upgrade. The State of Hawaii's Dept of Health has required an upgraded waste water system for more than 14 years in this area.
Written 22 April 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Since there are no more tide pools here, where might one go for another tide pool location on the island? Kids are a big fan of the marine life within the tide pools. TIA!
Written 22 June 2019
I’m not sure. We didn’t encounter any on that side of the island.
Written 23 June 2019
Can you still go to these tide pools with the recent eruptions? It is Sunday, May 20, and our gps says we can still there but I trust folks on TripAdvisor. Thanks.
Written 20 May 2018
Yes I have been there several times so know the geography well. Do not even dream of going there now. Ali access and exit roads have been destroyed. People already evacuated, except idiots who are now trapped.The biggest current lava flow has reached the tide pool area. I do not know specifically which houses have already been destroyed. But they probably all will be since the flow is half mile wide !
Written 3 June 2018
Aloha! I just discovered this place in a guidebook and I would love to visit when I am there. However, the author said it was a gated community that you needed a passcode for to get to the champagne ponds. Is this still true? None of the reviews mention this. If not, is it easy to find this place? I am also wondering if it would have a good view of the sunrise. Mahalo!
Written 19 April 2018
Both Champagne Pond and Kapoho Tidepools are in gated communities. At Champagne Pond, you just need to take the walkway around the gate. Once inside, there aren't good markings on how to get there though. At Kapoho Tidepools, I believe the asphalt is marked showing you the way. You would get the best sunrise at Kapoho. (If you want an easily accessible warm pool, go to Ahalanui Park further up the road.)
Written 20 April 2018
Is this a good place to take little kids to?
Written 4 January 2018
I've seen people there with young ones. You must take care walking over the lava with little ones. if they are old enough to snorkel by all means it is a great place to go
Written 12 February 2018
Check tropical snorkeling.
Slack high tide will keep uou above the reefs and you won't need to put feet or hands down, which damages the coral. Use hard soled warer shoes or reef shoes, not fins.
I felt really weird without fins, as I also dive, but it worked out just fine. There are 2 places to enter. Do both!!
Written 7 May 2017
Where can you get a snorkel and mask for the Kapoho Tide Pools?
Written 3 January 2017
You can rent in Hilo...........
Written 3 January 2017
rjakiel1
Haymarket, Virginia
Can someone give me an update on whether there is still a cesspool problem at the Tide Pools? Is the water tested frequently? How safe is it to swim or snorkel there for someone that is prone to getting sick and ear infections?
Written 28 December 2016
A Tripadvisor member
5 contributions
Most of the nearby offending cesspools were destroyed by hurricane Iselle and were replaced with aerobic septic systems that actively treat the effluent.The water is tested on a regular basis and is some of the cleanest beach water on the island.
Written 2 January 2017
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