Two Step, Honaunau Bay

A coral reef full of tropical fish

Like so many great snorkeling areas on the Island of Hawaiʻi, Two Step is not so much a beach as a rocky area with an entry to the ocean. 

That rocky coastline actually means that water visibility tends to stay high. Sand can be stirred around and suspended in the water, so a rocky coastline is actually a good thing. The water here is deep and the reef is well built, rolling colorfully away in every direction. 

Find the entry, blocky “steps” of lava that allow you down into the crystal clear water, just to the north of the little boat ramp. Two Step is adjacent the “City of Refuge”, or Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.

Spinner dolphins rest in the bay and it is important not to disturb them, as they feed at night and need rest in the day.  

Look for the big ALOHA spelled out in cinder blocks out in deep water a sandy patch some distance from the shoreline. 

This bay tends to remain calm most days, but always check conditions before you enter.