Beaches With Black Sand In Hawaii

6 Best Beaches With Black Sand In Hawaii [for 2023]

While the sand color of each beach ranges from white to butter yellow, or gold, some are considered special with black sand. Usually, black sand beaches are often found near volcanoes, and their magically dazzling pieces are made of lava when it touches ocean waters.

Today we will talk about six black sand beaches, in the Hawaiian Islands, considered the most common area in the world to uncover the wonder of black sand.

Please it is a good idea to double-check your requirements before your trip and be sure to follow all local guidelines to keep yourself and others safe! Thanks

1. Punaluu Beach, Hawaii

the black sand beaches in hawaii are comprised of ________.

Photo by Morgan Alicia on Unsplash

Punaluu Beach is a lovely and popular beach located off the coast of the Big Island between Pahala and Na’ahu in Hawaii. It is one of the seven large island black-sand beaches that were formed by lava from the Kilauea volcano. If seen, a total of seven black sand beaches were formed due to volcanic eruptions, which is lovely to see.

Punaluu Beach is most popular because of the presence of endangered green turtles and hawksbill tortoises. You can swim, snorkel, hike, camp, or enjoy a picnic there. can take. The beach has lifeguards to oversee the activities of swimmers and snorkelers, which is a good thing considering it is a great place for kids to enjoy.

This beach opens daily at 8:30 am and remains open till 5:00 pm. It also has access to restrooms, and parking spaces, and includes showers, picnic grounds, and boat ramps. One can enjoy watching green and hawksbill turtles swimming along the edge of the beach.

Visitors are prohibited from touching the turtles so you should not touch the turtles as touching them can compromise their immune systems – making them susceptible to infections that could otherwise prove harmful to humans.

You can see them from at least 15 meters away, so please respect that! The special thing about Punaluu Beach is that it is a bit isolated, unlike some other black sand beaches in Hawaii, and is easily accessible. And remember animals are not allowed on the beach.

2. Kaimu Beach, Hawaii

the black sand beaches in hawaii are comprised of ________.

Photo by Naveen Raj Dhanapal on Unsplash

This beach is also one of the large island black sand beaches that were created by the Lower East Side eruption of the Kilauea volcano. Due to the eruption, black sand is believed to have occupied the area where one of the most stunning beaches existed.

It is now covered about 70 feet by lava, which in the 1990s flowed into the beach. Kaimu beach is in the rich and green Puna district. Strong currents make even ankle-deep water dangerous, but locals are planting flowers and planting coconut trees as well.

Which is a good thing in hopes of restoring its natural beauty. Remember that due to the high current, the beach does not allow swimming, snorkeling, and tanning.

There are no facilities available in the vicinity, therefore, it is suitable only for sightseeing and is a quick and easy day trip from Hilo. Ongoing to the beach you will face a 6-foot cliff. From the rock, you can see the shoreline and where the black sand began to form. Due to the constant action of water on the sand, part of it flows into the sea and it is indeed considered one of the most impressive beaches on the Big Island!

3. Pololu Valley Beach, Hawaii

the black sand beaches in hawaii are comprised of ________.

Photo by Rémy Penet on Unsplash

This Hawaiian black sand beach was formed due to a part of the Kohala Volcano which is believed to have erupted into the sea about 100,000 years ago. The Kohala Volcano is the oldest volcano in Hawaii. Polulu Valley Beach is one of the many black-sand beaches on the Big Island that is gorgeous, with a beautiful emerald-green ground cover.

Just eight miles from Domino, Highway 270 ends at an overlook overlooking the Polulu Valley. To reach the beach, you have to descend from the cliff into the canyon. Remember, walking can be dangerous during the rainy season as it becomes slippery. The cliff is about 0.6 miles across and an average hiker can take about 25 minutes to reach the valley floor.

Also, note that the water is not safe to swim in due to the undertow and high tide. And there are no lifeguards or facilities available at this beach. So enjoy the scenery including the view of Kohala Mountain.

4. Pohoiki Beach

The Black Sand Beaches In Hawaii Are Comprised Of ________.

Photo by Norris Niman on Unsplash

Pohoiki Beach is a black sand beach that is part of the Kepukalani Hell Beach Park, an extremely diverse natural area in the beautiful and green Puna District. Beach Park is named after Private Isaac K. In honor of Hale. Fighting during the Korean War, Hale served in the United States Army’s 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.

He was killed in action north of the 38th parallel on 12 July 1951. Pohoiki Beach was created by the Kilauea Volcano. During the eruption, the lava emanating from the volcano froze in the sea. The resulting black sand formation, Pohoiki Bay was nearly filled with lava in 2018. Fortunately, the lava flow stopped just 230 feet from the port.

Many of the popular surf breaks are no more, and part of the park was covered with lava. When molten, hot lava encounters cold ocean water it quickly solidifies and breaks up or erupts into many smaller parts. These small lava cinders are then turned into fine black sand by the waves.

This black sand is distributed along the surrounding coast, forming several new black sand beaches. Swimming on the beach is not advisable as the currents can be quite strong, and restrooms are available on the beach.

Camping, picnics, and other activities are not permitted except for fishing. It opens daily at 9 am and remains open till 6 pm.

5. Kehena Beach

the black sand beaches in hawaii are comprised of ________.

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Located in the Big Island’s Puna District, beautiful Kehena Beach is considered one of the few unofficial “clothing optional” beaches in Hawaii. Which is illegal in Hawaii, but with few police patrols in the area, locals believe in this European tradition.

come here When the water is calm, it is a long, but narrow black-sand beach, local residents say, spinner dolphins are frequently seen in this area, which is why it is also called Dolphin Beach.

This beach is believed to have been formed in 1955 when lava flowed down from the sea cliffs and into the sea. It is also said that in 1979 when a strong earthquake struck the Puna district, Kehena Beach fell about 3 feet (91 cm).

The concrete stairs leading to the beach were also torn down so now hang more than 10 feet (3 m) above sea level. Swimming here is only possible when the sea is calm, as this beach is exposed to the open ocean, and at times of high surf, there can be strong rip currents and vents.

Therefore, there have been incidents of near-drowning in Kehena in the past, so be careful. So when the surf’s up, it’s best to stay out of the water.

6. Waipio Valley Black Sand Beach

The Black Sand Beaches In Hawaii Are Comprised Of ________.

Photo by Benjamin Rascoe on Unsplash

Waipio is a Hawaiian word that means ‘twisting water’ Truly amazing, this Hawaiian black sand beach is located at the end of one of the steepest roads in the United States! Access to Waipio Valley Black Sand Beach is limited as the road is open to 4-wheel drive cars only.

Remember not all rental cars are allowed access to the road, so you should check with your rental car company first to find out if you will be allowed access to the beach. When you finally reach the end of the road, you’ll need to go to the bottom of the valley.

It takes an average passenger around 35 to 45 minutes. This trail is steep and the climb is intense. It is a stream called the Wailoa Stream that divides the beach into two; North and South Beaches.

Due to the high tides and currents, the water is not safe for average swimmers or snorkelers. Be careful, but this beach is considered perfect for sightseeing, or for camping and hiking. Note: There are no facilities available.

 

 

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