I know this is frivolous in the grand scheme of things, and I sure do wish all residents and business owners on Big Island the very best. My reservations are for mid-April, and so far accommodations look ok.
I was wondering if there are any reports on area beaches and any damage they may have suffered. Particularly south of Kona down to Kelakeau Bay (?).
Interested in White Sand Beach and Kahaluu Beach.
We have a rental home for most of the time, but the last two days DW and I will be at the King Kam, which I understand has lobby damage.
Any info on beaches and snorkeling would be welcomed. Mahalo and hope all in Hawaii are ok.

This is a good article about the damage in the area.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/2...nto_focus.html

A thread from a different forum that says King Kamehameha to close for 3 months for repairs (response #5).

I suggest you contact the hotel for either better info or alternative lodging.

Note: The person who started the thread is very knowledgeable.

Forgot to add the thread:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ii_Hawaii.html

Here is info from the hotel:

http://www.konabeachhotel.com/

King Kamehameha is not closed nor do they intend to close. I called the hotel today and was assured that while they still have a bit of a mess, contractors are already at work on the lobby, and reservations are not being cancelled, at least by the hotel.
The public areas are effected. Their famous Luau operated by Island Breeze, will not be there until further notice. My contact did not know if they will hold their luau's elsewhere in the meantime.
So, it will be a month before I go, so maybe repairs will be complete.

I think all the beaches will be open by the time you get to HI. White Sands is open now, Kahalu'u is partly open but the parking lot is closed because of debris but by April it should be ok.

We went to the public access beach at Waikoloa today (aka "A"beach) and it was closed due to extensive damage, the wave overran the fish pond behind the beach, tore out part of the wall around the pond, and opened a channel to the sea, so it is now a lagoon. Also, many trees are down and some are in danger of falling, so who knows when it will be open?