Soak It All In: Your Guide to Big Island Hot Springs

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No matter where we’ve been stationed, I’ve left every duty station with a few regrets. There are always items left uncrossed off our bucket list every time we PCS.

We never took the time to visit the hot springs in West Texas while we were stationed at Fort Hood. So, I couldn’t pass up the chance to take a dip in the Big Island hot springs while we’re here in Hawaii.

The Pohoiki Hot Springs are the only hot springs left on the Big Island. The others were destroyed by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Visiting them was one of the highlights of our 4-day trip on the Island of Hawaii. However, they aren’t what I imagined hot springs would be like.

Here’s what you can expect during your visit to the Big Island hot springs:

How to Get There

Isaac Hale Beach Park

13-101 Kalapana-Kapoho Road, Pāhoa

I couldn’t possibly begin to give you driving directions to the Big Island hot springs, but I can tell you that if you put Isaac Hale Beach Park into your phone’s GPS, it will take you right to it.

This park is a 57-minute drive from downtown Hilo and a 1-hour 14-minute drive from Kilauea Military Camp in Volcanoes National Park.

The road to the park is lovely. Although it looks like it was recently widened, it is still pretty narrow, so you should drive it carefully.

The road to the Big Island Hot Springs. — *(The drive there is beautiful!)*

*(I will never get over how lush and beautiful this state is!)*

How to Find the Hot Springs

Pool 1

I read exactly one blog post about the Pohoiki hot springs before adding it to my list of things to do on our Big Island trip. And that post made it seem like the hot springs were hard to find.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

You can see the first pool immediately when you pull into the parking lot. In fact, this hot spring was once the boat ramp leading to the ocean.

However, the 2018 Kilauea eruption covered most of the Lower Puna coastline in solidified lava flows. As a result, ocean currents caused sand and rocks to accumulate along Pohoiki Bay, resulting in a much larger beach and newly created geothermal pools! So, the boat ramp no longer leads to the bay, but instead ends in one of the hot spring pools.

The old boat ramp at Isaac Hale Beach Park. — *(The old boat ramp turned hot spring at Isaac Hale Beach Park.)*

The last Big Islands hot springs left after the 2018 eruption. — *(You can tell that this pool is at least neck-deep in the middle.)*

The first pool at the boat ramp is the deepest. We didn’t go all the way across, but at our furthest entry, it was up to my husband’s neck, standing on his tiptoes.

This pool is also the coolest. It stays about 90 degrees (Fahrenheit) year-round. It was a comfortable temperature; however, we noticed there are ‘hot spots’ that you can feel when you’re moving through the pool.

There are 2 more easy-to-find hot springs next to this one, thanks to a short, well-marked path.

*(The path to the other hot springs is very obvious.)*

(Getting into warm springs was very weird for us who are used to cold Florida springs.)

Pool 2

The second pool is large, like the first one, but shallow. It is only knee-deep all the way across. Perfect for sitting and relaxing.

This pool was a little warmer than the first one, but still comfortable. We spent more time here because we had the whole thing to ourselves.

Big Island hot springs at Isaac Hale Beach Park. — *(View of the second pool from the beach.)*

Pohoiki Hot Springs on the Big Island, Hawaii. — *(This pool is very shallow all the way across.)*

(This pool is perfect for sitting and relaxing.)

Pool 3

The third pool is the smallest and the hottest, as it keeps a constant temperature of 100 degrees year-round. It is in a collapsed lava tube and is probably the one that you’ve seen online.

This Big Island hot spring looks like an actual hot tub because of the way you can sit on rocks along the edge in a circle.

It was full when we got here, but eventually emptied, and we took our turn.

*(Visiting hot springs was a bucket list item for us!)*

*(I bet this pool was stunning before the trees were cut down.)*

Pools 4 & 5

According to Love Big Island, there are 5 hot springs at Isaac Hale Beach Park.

We didn’t take the time to find the other 2 pools while we were there. However, I’m sure if you did, you would have them all to yourself.

According to their picture, we visited pools 2, 3, and 4.

*(This photo is courtesy of Love Big Island.)*

The Beach

The post that I read before our visit mentioned that they got in the water at both the beach and the hot springs. However, the surf was way too rough for swimming while we were there.

There is a lifeguard on duty, and this beach is popular with surfers. However, I don’t recommend swimming, at least not from what I saw during our visit.

The 2018 eruption that destroyed the other hot springs also created this black sand beach. Making it the island’s newest black sand beach! However, it’s more of a black rock beach at this point.

The beach near the Big Island Hot Springs. — *(As you can see, the beach here is very rocky.)*

*(People were fishing here, but no one was in the water.)*

Full Disclosure

Dirty Water

I wish I could tell you that this was a magical experience. That soaking in these volcanically heated warm springs was healing and wonderful.

However, it was not. In fact, the Big Island hot springs are kind of gross.

The water was perfectly clear…until you stepped in it. The bottom of the springs is covered in rocks. And those rocks are covered in algae, which thrives in warm water. Once you touch the rocks, the algae gets stirred up and makes the water dirty and cloudy.

Also, the algae makes the rocks very slippery. So, be very careful getting into and out of each pool.

*(Before you get in the hot springs, the water is so pretty and clear.)*

*(Once you step on the rocks, all of this muck stirs up.)*

In the smallest pool, there was black algae floating around everywhere.

People wearing light-colored swimsuits got out with stains all over their bottoms where they sat on the rocks. People online said that their white swimsuits were permanently stained brown after a visit to the Pohoiki hot springs.

Bacteria Risk

There are warning signs posted at the springs about the risk of bacteria. (This is true of all fresh water in Hawaii – even the waterfalls on Oahu.)

I wouldn’t risk this adventure if I were immunocompromised or had any kind of open wound. Nor would I bring little kids here. We didn’t put our heads under the water at all, either.

Thankfully, didn’t get sick, but there have been reports of bacterial infections (leptospirosis and necrotizing fasciitis) linked to freshwater in Hawaii. So, swim at your own risk!

The water at the Big Island hot springs is dirty once you step on the bottom and stir up the algae. — *(You can tell in this picture how dirty the water gets.)*

Bacteria warning at the Big Island hot springs. — *(There are signs posted warning you of the dangers.)*

A Few More Disclosures

One: There are no bathrooms or showers here. We changed in a port-a-potty.
Two: The rocks are very sharp and uncomfortable to walk on. Bring water shoes!
Three: These are not freshwater thermal springs. The water in these pools is a mix of rainwater that soaks into the ground and runs along volcanic tubes full of magma (which makes the hot springs hot!) and saltwater filtered in from the ocean (the result is brackish water).

Soaking in volcanically heated natural pools is such a unique experience. I’m glad we marked this item off our Hawaii Bucket List.

We will never forget this beautiful day, but I can’t say that I would go back for another turn. It was ‘one and done’ for us.

Would you visit the Pohoiki Hot Springs?