Lyman Beach is on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii,on Ali'i Drive in Kailua. It is a small, rocky beach rarely used by visitors. There are no signs--it is acrossed the street from the Royal Kahili condo complex, the only parking is on the roadside, and there is only a small patch of sandy beach. Nonetheless, it is a gem for photographers, beach watchers, ocean observers, and those who help bring down the sun each evening. It may well be no more enchanting than a hundred other Hawaiian beaches, but it will do.

Trees go right up to the water's edge and drop leaves into jumble of coral and lava rocks. Kids play in the tide pools, where tiny fish are trapped between tides.
 

If there is even a little surf, there are likely to be surfers who don't mind the rocky shore. Local boys will surf right up to the rocks, jumping off neatly at the last minute while retrieving the board in the same motion..

Coconuts and seaweed add to the mix of leaves, rocks, and sea foam.

Summer night-to-day temperatures are 65 to 85 F (18 to 29 C). Winter nights go down to 55 (13C), and daytime peaks are a little cooler than summer. There are swimmers year round.

There is nothing like a huge fragrant cigar to go with an idyllic tropical sunset. Some may disagree, but we know what side Mark Twain would take on the issue, "If there are no cigars in heaven, I won't go." In fact, his ghost may well be sitting on the wall beside you when you visit here.