Big Island, Hawaii
Hawaiian naturist Park
Hawaiian Naturist Park is a small, clothing-optional resort on the Big Island near Pāhoa in the Puna district.
- Motel
- Lodging
About this place
Hawaiian Naturist Park is a small, clothing-optional resort on the Big Island near Pāhoa in the Puna district. This is owner-operated property with simple motel-style rooms and day-use facilities — think rustic Hawaii, not luxury resort. The setup includes a pool, hot tub, and common areas surrounded by tropical vegetation. The vibe is low-key and beginner-friendly, which is notable since Hawaii's naturist scene is quite limited compared to the mainland. Most US naturist resorts cluster in Florida, California, and the Southwest; having any dedicated clothing-optional lodging in Hawaii makes this a rare option for visitors who want to combine island tourism with social nudity. Pāhoa sits about 20 miles southeast of Hilo in a rural, volcanic landscape. The area is humid and lush, with spotty cell service. Many guests use this as a base for exploring nearby attractions like Volcanoes National Park, black sand beaches, and lava fields. Day passes are available if you're just passing through. The property is basic but functional — you're here for the tropical setting and the freedom to be clothes-free, not for resort amenities. Given Hawaii's generally conservative approach to public nudity, this kind of private, dedicated space fills an important niche for naturists visiting the islands.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Visitor demographics aren't well-documented publicly. Likely draws a mix of mainland naturist travelers combining a Hawaii vacation with clothing-optional time, plus occasional local or expat regulars from the Big Island. The beginner-friendly reputation suggests couples and first-timers feel comfortable here, but specific age ranges and family presence aren't reliably reported.
How to find it
The property is located in Pāhoa, a small town in the Puna district on the Big Island's southeast side. From Hilo, head southeast on Highway 130 for about 20 miles. Pāhoa is the main reference point. The exact property location isn't prominently marked online — you'll likely need to contact the owners directly for specific directions and access instructions once you've booked.
Things to watch out for
This is Puna — one of the rainiest, most humid parts of Hawaii. Expect mosquitoes and frequent rain showers. Cell service is notoriously unreliable in this area. The 2018 Kilauea eruption reshaped parts of lower Puna, so roads and access may have changed. Confirm the property is currently operating before making the drive.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
Towels are required on shared seating. Photography is strictly prohibited without explicit consent. The pool and hot tub are clothing-optional — ask before assuming. Respect other guests' privacy and personal space. This is a small property, so noise carries — keep voices down after dark. If you're day-visiting, check in at the office first. The owners appreciate courtesy and common sense. Basic naturist etiquette applies: no overt sexual behavior, no staring, and don't make assumptions about anyone's reasons for being there.
Know this spot?
Report an update
Beach closed? Parking price changed? Section moved? Send a short note and we'll check it.
Also in Hawaii
More places nearby
Hawaii, USA
Kehena Black Sand Beach (Dolphin Beach)
Kehena Black Sand Beach — also called Dolphin Beach because of the spinner dolphins that frequently appear offshore — is the Big Island's iconic clothing-optional beach, tucked into a coastal cove in the Puna District. It's a long, narrow strip of fine black sand at the base of low cliffs, backed by ironwood and coconut palms, with a small reef offshore that creates the protected swimming pool inside it and the deeper channels where the dolphins move. The clothing-optional convention dates to the 1970s, when the Puna Coast became a haven for the bohemian alternative-lifestyle community that shaped the district's character. Kehena emerged as the Big Island's naturist beach and has held that role for half a century — through lava-flow threats to the broader Puna area, the 2018 Kīlauea eruption that closed nearby roads, and the slow recovery since. Sunday afternoons are the beach's social signature — a long-running drum-circle gathering draws a mixed crowd of Puna residents, longer-term visitors who rent in the area, the occasional tourist who heard about it, and the resident naturist community. The vibe is distinctly Hawaiian and distinctly Puna: low-key, communal, with people swimming and reading and playing music. Off-season weekdays the beach is mostly empty. Access is via a steep, rocky, root-tangled trail down a low cliff — about five minutes of careful descent from the small parking area along Highway 137. The trail is short but unforgiving; sturdy footwear is essential. The beach has no facilities, no lifeguards, and ocean conditions that demand real caution: the protected swimming area inside the reef is fine in calm weather, but the currents outside the reef are strong and the surf can build quickly. Drownings have happened.
Hawaii, USA
Larsen's Beach (Lepeuli)
Larsen's Beach — also known as Lepeuli or Ka'aka'aniu — is a long, lightly-trafficked stretch of brown sand and black rock on Kauai's northeastern coast, between Kīlauea and Anahola. The beach runs roughly two miles, backed by ironwood trees and shrub, with a fringing reef offshore. The eastern end is the traditional clothing-optional area, far enough from the trail access that you'll likely have a stretch of sand to yourself outside peak season. Getting here filters most casual beachgoers out. The access is via an unpaved road off Ko'olau Road, then a foot trail across grazing land owned by Waioli Corp. and leased to Paradise Ranch — the easement is real but the path crosses private property, so visitors are expected to stay on the trail and pack out what they pack in. The vibe at Larsen's is quiet. Mostly Kauai regulars, a few in-the-know visitors, and long stretches of empty beach. Hawaii state law technically prohibits public nudity, but enforcement at Larsen's has been minimal for decades and locals have established a tolerated convention at the far eastern end. Swimming is genuinely dangerous: the Pakala Channel cuts through the reef at the east end and has been responsible for multiple drownings over the years. Stay out of the channel and stick to shore wading unless you're a strong swimmer with local knowledge.
Hawaii, USA
Little Beach (Pu'u Olai)
Little Beach — Pu'u Ola'i Beach — is Maui's most famous clothing-optional beach, tucked into a hidden cove inside Mākena State Park on the south coast. The beach sits in the shadow of the Pu'u Ola'i cinder cone, separated from the larger Big Beach next door by a lava-rock outcrop that you scramble over to reach the sand. Once you're around the rocks, the beach opens onto a quarter-mile of soft sand and turquoise water. Little Beach has a complicated history. The state-park designation in the 1980s and '90s came out of a grass-roots movement (SPAM — State Parks At Mākena) that fought to preserve the area; clothing-optional use predated the park and continued through it. Sunday afternoon drum circles became a tradition that drew hundreds of people. After a 2021 incident where an estimated 400 people gathered without masks during COVID, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources temporarily closed the beach and began actively enforcing Hawaii's anti-nudity statute under State Park Rules. Enforcement has continued since, including regular 4 PM closures and citations. What this means practically: Little Beach is still used as a clothing-optional beach, and the cultural identity hasn't disappeared, but visitors should expect possible enforcement and citations. The Sunday drum circle tradition has been formally discouraged. Check current Hawaii State Parks announcements before visiting. The beach itself remains stunning — bodysurfing is legendary here on south-swell days, and the cove is one of the most photogenic on Maui.