The beach at Hilton Waikoloa Village on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

One of the pools at Hilton Waikoloa Village on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Kakahi Kai State Park on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Beaches like this are a dime a dozen on the big island of Hawaii.

The magnificently-colored water of Kekaha Kai State Park on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

The nearly-empty beach at Kekaha Kai State Park on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The drive to the beach is excruciating, but well worth the trouble.