Champagne Pond

I give them 4 only because the rocks hurt! Lol great place to swim as it’s not crowded at all. Walking distance to our vacation home too! Life is good right now!

Beautiful area, decent snorkeling, awesome warm water. My husband and I snorkeled around here for about an hour. Saw some interesting fish and a couple of eels. Water shoes are a MUST. It was neat swimming through the warm spots (it’s really more luke warm in various spots than a hot jacuzzi temp). Be ready for the ride there, though. My husband and I attempted the lava rock road in our rental Ford Focus and there were times we thought we’d have to turn around. The road is the rockiest most uneven «road» I’ve ever encountered. But after turtling our way there we finally made it. Worth a stop, and a better alternative to the dirty (and closed when we were there) Ahalanui park.

GET 4WD! seriously, next time we visit the Big Island we will rent a big jeep and not a hyundai. we walked along this crushed lava road and while it was okay (really nothing compared to the lava field hike from 2 days prior) it still woulda been nice to have a ride. i can imagine going there with friends, beers, food, setting up for an afternoon. the water was really warm — just walked right in. bring water shoes! def wanna go back better prepared next time.

It’s total BS that you either have to walk through condos and try not to end up on private property, OR rent an expensive 4WD to get to this place. This was the only place I saw turtles at in the winter time because most of the beaches were closed down due to rough surf conditions.
Pleeease gov’t of Hawaii… build a road to the pond so us poor people can drive over there without disturbing private residents.

Places like Champagne Pond are why you rent a four wheel drive when you come to the Big Island. Although you can access the parking area next to the nearby lighthouse, you still have what appears to be up to a thirty minute walk to the Pond (not sure how long it takes to walk since I had a jeep) over uneven aa. It is still worth the walk but so much nicer if you don’t have to.
For a mainlander like me this place is like a dream. The water is so warm, soothing, calm, and beautiful it seems like it was made intentionally for the enjoyment and relaxation of Big Islanders. If you are not a great swimmer or want to take your kids snorkeling the warm calm waters of the Champagne Pond are a better place to do it. There are not as many fish here as there are in the near by Wai’opae Ponds (tidal pools) but there are still a lot of fish and the water is very warm.
(The picture that I am posting is of the beach next to the pond. If I find any pictures of the pond itself I will post them)