Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

[jayasimha78]

*Animated Cover photo created by @jayasimha78 *

Punalu’u Black San Beach is located in big island Hawaii. Around 17 Miles south west of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I visited this beach on my recent trip to Hawaii, on my way to the National Park from Kona.

This is my first time visiting any kind of black sand beach, so it was very interesting and exciting.

Beach has several palm trees, just like what you find in other beaches of islands of Hawaii. Another interesting thing about this beach is you will find Hawaiian Green Turtles on the beach, in fact sunbathing on the beach!

Collage of the Gift shop and Beach

Beach has a little snack and gift shop, from where you can purchase some Souvenirs like T Shirts, caps etc.

Collage of Restroom/Changing Room, Wave hitting the Rocks

There is a restroom/changing room right next to parking lot. There is also a picnic area here. Apart from black sand you will also find lava rocks through out the beach. The beach has black sand made of basalt and created by lava flowing into the ocean.

Collage of Hawaiian green Turtle

Hawaiian green turtles frequently visit this beach, we were fortunate to find one of them sun bathing on the beach!

Collage of various shots of the beach

Here are more shots of the beach from various angles.

Shot of Punalu’u pond with water plants and flowers

Right next to the beach there is pond called Punalu’u Pond, which is surrounded by palm and other trees. Pond was full of water plants with flowers. It was looking very pretty.

Various shots at the beach

Shot of the beach

Another beautiful view of black sand beach!

Onlooker on the lava rocks at the beach!

A great place watch ocean waves crashing in to black lava rocks!

[system]

Hi @jayasimha78

Nice contrast between the black sand, blue ocean, and sky. It seems so far from Honolulu, but I am guessing one or two hours?

[jayasimha78]

@user_not_found It’s 35-40 Mins flight from Honolulu to Hilo or Kona, Around one hour drive from these airports.

[system]

Thank you @jayasimha78

The last time I was in Honolulu a few buddies and I rented a mustang convertible and drove to North Shore. For me, driving a convertible sports coupe is one of the best ways to see Hawaii, so I wanted to ask about the distance to Punalu’u. If and when I visit Hawaii again, I will be renting a convertible to drive to this beach.

Thank you for sharing.

[jayasimha78]

@user_not_found I did rent a convertible too this time. This beach is around 75 miles from Kona International airport and 58 miles from Hilo International airport. This is on Big island (Hawaii), so you have to fly in to this island from Honolulu.

[GailD]

Last time what I was here I got the rental car stuck in the black sand. Lol! It really is a beautiful place and the big island is my favorite place to go in Hawaii.

[Velvel]

Wow… Black sand beach is another cool thing to see @jayasimha78

I haven’t been to any black sand beach yet. When I visited Kaohsiung in Taiwan, they have black sand beach as well, but unfortunately I didn’t go down to the beach

And you were so lucky to meet the cute turtle

What is the different between the white and black sand despite the color?

@KarenVChin Have you and your family visited this beach?

[jayasimha78]

@Velvel Great question.

Here is the answer for your question, I learnt one more thing about white sand beaches in Hawaii too…

“Punalu’u Black Sand Beach The island of Hawaii was built up from the ocean floor by mostly basaltic lava flows. Basalt is a dark black rock, which is weathered and deposited as black sand beaches. Basalt has low silica content, so there are no white silica sand beaches in Hawaii (like most of those you’d find on the coast of the continent). Instead, white sand in Hawaii is derived from bits of coral reefs.”

Here is another interesting fact about white sand beached in Hawaii…

“The famous white-sand beaches of Hawaii, for example, actually come from the poop of parrotfish. The fish bite and scrape algae off of rocks and dead corals with their parrot-like beaks, grind up the inedible calcium-carbonate reef material (made mostly of coral skeletons) in their guts, and then excrete it as sand.”

[NareshDarji]

Black sand beach! Sounds interesting for me because I’ve never seen it before in my state @jayasimha78

These pictures are really awesome. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Velvel]

Thanks for the explanation @jayasimha78

Now I know that black sand comes from the basalt. That’s a unique phenomenon indeed!

And the fact about white sand is so fun as well.

Since the sand color is black, does it feel hotter during summer when you touch it?

[jayasimha78]

@NareshDarji Thank You! I have not seen one in india too. In fact this is the first time I have experienced a black sand beach!

[AL_Rahat]

the pictures are really beautiful. The natural beauty of the beach pleasures me much. Thanks for your well description @jayasimha78

[Pratik_89]

Hi @jayasimha78 I been to many beaches but never saw a black sand beach…how the colour is black I mean is there a volcanic eruption nearby or inside the sea. Or its natural ?

15K SKYDIVE

[jayasimha78]

@AL_Rahat Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the post.

[jayasimha78]

@Pratik_89 This is pretty much a volcanic island, you can see lava flow from different eras through out the island. In fact till 2018 there was an active volcano on the island.

[LaniKelii]

Miss this place. Grew up in Hilo when my family decided to move to the mainland. Thank you so much for sharing.

[KarenVChin]

@Velvel – does driving by it count? My family and I are not sunbathers. We like to walk in the early morning before 8:30 am or after 5 pm to watch the sunset when walking on any beach, especially in Hawaii. Here are two more reasons – we don’t like to be with crowds (this is even before Covid-19) and don’t like the tropical sun/heat beating on us.

The last time we were in Hawaii, last week of February 2020, before the world changed as we know it. We were at Kauai. It was the first time we saw a Hawaiian green sea turtle up close like @jayasimha78 on Poipu Beach. I have been to Hawaii at least a dozen times, visited multiple islands and snorkeled too, and have never seen a green sea turtle (Hawaiian: Honu) in person. To Hawaiians, they represent good luck. They are magical to see and becoming rarer to see because of us humans.

The Honu is like the other famous things to see, do, and eat when you are on The Islands: gecko, pineapple, hibiscus, hula and luau, plumeria, outdoor activities (hike, snorkel, surf, paddleboard, etc.), etc.

Cheers,

Karen

[GasparKaren]

Simply perfect post, and what a dream of a place.
One of the places on my list to see as soon as possible is Hawaii.

I’ve already put the place in my favorites so that my family can get to know me.

[Velvel]

Yes, it counts @KarenVChin

Oh this is a new fact for me that you and your family don’t like the tropical sun.

Does your skin get red easily when you are under the sun for longer time?

I just knew that we could see gecko there. Actually, my brother pet a gecko at home It is 2 or 3 years old I guess.

[KarenVChin]

@Velvel – too much sun ages you. And if you are not used to subtropical weather, the sun can be very intense on your skin.

I love going to Hawaii and Asia, but I stay away from the sun - using suntan lotion, wearing a hat with UV50 protection. I actually don’t burn. As a family, we try to do all of our outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon.

Cheers,

Karen