6 Gorgeous Black Sand Beaches to Visit on the Big Island of Hawaii

Black sand beaches are a must-see when visiting the Big Island. Luckily, there are several that are located all around the island.

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii of a black lava rock platform that formed out onto the ocean water. To the left of the water there are palm trees lining the coast with lava rock underneath them where the deep blue waves are crashing onto them.

Black sand beaches are found only on land that has volcanic activity so it makes sense as to why they are in abundance on the Hawaiian islands. 

These beautiful black sand beaches are formed when lava streams down an erupting volcano and into the ocean.

Once the lava cools and becomes lava rock, overtime it erodes due to the ocean waves repeatedly crashing onto the rocks. The rocks eventually break down into teeny-tiny rocks which is the black sand we see today.

In this article I am going to break down the best 6 black sand beaches you can visit on the Big Island.

You’ll then be able to decide which ones to put on your itinerary for your own trip based on what you’re looking for most in a trip to the beach.

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Punalu’u Black Sand Beach 

Best Black Sand Beach & Known for Sea Turtles

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Punalu'u Beach. This photo is showing several palm trees planted in a line along the black sand beach. The trunks are tall and brown. The leaves at the top are glowing green from the sun. The sand looks soft and you can see the ocean water to the right of the photo behind the sand. There are a few picnic tables set up on the other side of the palm trees that the ocean isn't on.

This is probably one of the most well known black sand beaches on the Big Island: Punalu’u Beach. This beach is located on the east coast in between the towns of Naalehu and Pahala.

You’ll find locals and tourists alike hanging out here, as it is such a beautiful spot. It’s free, and there’s a free public parking lot located just a short walk away from the beach. 

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Punalu'u Beach. This photo shows the black sand beach from afar. You can see a line of palm trees lining the coast and the deep blue water in front of the beach. The sky is clear and blue.

This beach is known for having sea turtles resting on the shore and swimming in the waters. It’s important to keep your distance from them for their health and safety. We want to keep wildlife wild!

You are still able to observe the turtles and take photos from at least 10 feet away. Most of the time this beach will have cones placed 10 feet away from the resting turtles on the shore to prevent people from getting too close or touching them. 

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Punalu'u Beach. This photo shows a sea turtle resting his head on a black lava rock. He has his back fins in the water and his shell is hitting the sun rays. The lava rocks make up the coast of the water.

Depending on when you go the waves can be suitable for swimming but this is not the best place to swim. There’s lots of lava rock which can be dangerous if the waves push you into them.

However, there will still likely be people in the shallower waters snorkeling and looking for sea turtles. There is also a lifeguard at this beach so if you choose to swim that should put some worry aside for you. 

Overall, this is such a gorgeous black sand beach and one of the best on the Big Island. If you only have time to visit one, make it this one!

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Punalu'u Beach. This photo is showing the black sand beach from the right side of the beach. You can see the black sand beach on the left side of the photo with the blue ocean water crashing up onto the rocks. There are palm trees lining the beach. There are also some green succulent-like plants in the foreground in front of the beach.

49 Black Sand Beach

Best Black Sand Beach for Snorkeling on the Big Island

49 Black Sand Beach is not very well known on the island, so if you’re looking for more solitude this is the one for you.

There were only a handful of other people there when I visited. It’s pretty small in size too, but you’re still able to spread out on the sand and have space to yourself.

A photo taken at 49 Beach at the Mauna Lani Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. This photo shows a black sand cove surrounded by black lava rock. There are green plants above the rock cove with palm trees growing in the background. The ocean water is breaking on the shore.

This is a public beach but it’s actually part of the Mauna Lani Beach Resort. You are required to get a beach pass from the guard at the entrance gate. This is completely free.

There are a limited number of beach passes per day but since there aren’t a ton of people visiting the beach they aren’t likely to run out. We got there in the evening and had no trouble getting in.

You will park in a free public parking lot where you’ll see a trail that takes you straight to the beach. 

Calm Waves, Perfect for Swimming

Out of all the black sand beaches on this list, this is the only one that is located on the west coast of the island. It’s about a 45 minute drive north of Kona.

The waves on the west coast are known to be more tame than the currents coming in from the east. 49 Black Sand Beach is also protected by lava rock. These factors make this beach ideal for snorkeling and swimming.

So, don’t forget your snorkel and mask! If you decide to snorkel here, you will be in awe at all the multi-colored reefs, plants, and fish you’re able to view. It is a beautiful experience!

I saw an eel for the first time while snorkeling here. One of my friends actually saw a small octopus too but she was much further out in the water than I was. Eels and octopi are both common to see in the waters at this beach.

49 Black Sand Beach to date is one of my favorite snorkeling experiences on the Big Island.

A photo taken at 49 Beach at the Mauna Lani Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. This picture shows a black sand beach in the foreground with the blue ocean water breaking on the shore. There is a small group of 5 people standing in the water. Along the coast of the water there is a black lava rock coastline with palm trees growing up from it. The sky is mostly cloudy and you can almost see Mauna Kea volcano in the background.

In addition to the beautiful underwater world here, the sand is incredibly soft, and you get amazing views of the shoreline with Mauna Kea to your right as a nice backdrop.

This is such a beautiful and relaxing spot to enjoy. Plus, there’s bathrooms and a shower to wash all the sand and salt off of yourself after which is nice plus. 

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Kehena Beach

Local’s Favorite Black Sand Beach

Kehena Beach is located on the east coast of the island near the town of Pahoa.

This beach is pretty popular for the locals of Pahoa and the surrounding neighborhoods. This is definitely not a touristy spot and it has its own unique vibe which I really loved.

I also want to note that this is a clothing optional beach. It is the only one on the Big Island. Keep that in mind before you decide to go, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

This crowd here is different from what you’ll see at the other beaches on this list but I really loved the Kehena experience.

A photo taken at the Kehena Black Sand Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii.

There is no designated parking lot, you must park on the side of Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Rd.

There will most likely be a line of cars parked on the side of the road, so you should be able to easily tell where exactly to park. It is free.

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kehena Beach. This photo shows the road that the beach if off of. There are palm trees lining the small two lane road and several cars parked in a small parking area on the left side of the picture. Our car is parked on the right side of the picture and you can see a girl with a bucket hat closing the driver side door in the picture.

Hiking to Kehena Beach

There also is a little bit of a hike to get down to the beach, and there is no labeled trail.

You kind of just have to follow the pathway and watch what other people are doing. It’s pretty steep in parts, and you may have to do a little rock climbing on your way back up. As long as you use careful foot placement, you’ll be fine. The hike doesn’t take very long, maybe 5 minutes or so.

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kehena Beach. In this picture you can see four girls walking down a steep rocky trail composed of black lava rock. This is the trail to get down to Kehena Beach. There are green plants growing all around us walking and the ocean is way out in the distance which is a deep blue color.

The sand here isn’t like the soft sand you’ll get at Punalu’u or 49 Beach, it’s a little more grainy. It kind of just feels like a bunch of really really small rocks.

However, it is still a wonderful beach to visit. The lava rock on each side of the beach turn it into a hidden little cove.

Depending on the weather, the waves can get pretty gnarly so it is not advised to be swimming here when the waves are big unless you’re a proficient swimmer.

There is no lifeguard at this beach so you swim at your own risk. But there are almost always people swimming and even boogie boarding here.

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kehena Beach. This picture shows the black sand which makes up the shore of this beach with the deep blue water crashing up onto the shore creating white water.

There are bigger rocks underwater which can really hurt when you try coming out of the water if the ocean pushes you into them. It can definitely be a dangerous spot in bigger waves. 

Kawa’a Beach

Lesser Known Black Sand Beach

Kawa’a Beach is one of the more hidden black sand beaches on the Big Island. It’s located on the south eastern shore less than 10 minutes from Naalehu.

This little black sand beach has a very unique landscape with lots of cool lava rock formations.

Although it seems to be a decently popular spot for surfers, there will probably only be a few other people on the beach and exploring the area. 

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kawa'a Beach. In this photo you can see black sand form on the right side of this photo and calm water meeting the sand in the middle of the photo. There are black lava rocks sitting in the sand. You can see green leafed palm trees in the background and small hills filled with greenery.

There is a small parking area which will fit about 7 cars. It’s basically just a pull off on the side of the road but it’s free. It’s pretty easy to miss while you’re driving so you will have to keep an eye out for it and have a GPS handy. 

You have to hike about a half mile to get there but it’s completely flat and an easy walk. You’ll be treated to beautiful scenery on your way.

The contrast of the black sand and rock mixed with the green succulents and tropical plants makes for a gorgeous setting to have a relaxing beach day. 

A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kawa'a Beach. This picture shows an area covered with black lava rocks in front of the ocean. There are waves breaking onto the shore. There is a green succulent-like bush growing out of the rock on the left side of the photo. The sky is overcast with grey clouds.
A photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii at Kawa'a Beach. This photo shows the scenery on the other side of the ocean towards the land. There are a few small hills in the landscape and in the distance. There is black lava rock in the foreground with green plants growing out from it. There are more green bushy plants behind the rocks where a narrow trail is formed through the thick green plants on the left side of the picture. There are also green palm trees growing up all over the landscape. The clouds look overcast and grey.

The waves can get intense which is why this is a popular spot for surfing, but this is not a beach you can swim in. The shoreline is almost all composed of lava rock. I do not recommend getting in the water here unless you are confident in your swimming abilities.  

Pololu Valley Beach

Best Black Sand Beach for Scenic Views on the Big Island

The Pololu Valley beach is located up on the northern east coast of the island. North of Waimea, this area of the island is so gorgeous and scenic, you will even enjoy the drive there. 

To get to this beach you must complete a short hike that’s just a 1 mile round trip.

When you pull up to the trailhead you’ll be greeted with a jaw-dropping overlook of Pololu Valley.

Visitors come from all over the island just to view this picturesque landscape and some don’t even go down to the beach! However, I definitely recommend taking the half mile trip down to the beach to get the entire experience. Especially since it’s all free!

A photo taken at Pololu Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. This picture was taken at the overlook at the parking lot of the valley. You can see a small indention in the coastline which is where the beach is. From up here, the coast and inward land is all green full of green trees. There are two tall palm trees shooting up from the ground and in front of the ocean. There are strong ocean waves crashing onto the shore and all along the coastline.

Hiking to the Black Sand Beach at Pololu Valley

As you make your way to the start of a trail, a park ranger will likely stop you and make sure you have enough water to complete the hike and to tell you a little about the trail.

Once he gives you the go ahead, you can begin heading down. The path isn’t paved but it’s not filled with too many rocks so it’s pretty easy to walk on. However, it is very steep! Going down is easy and quick but coming back up will be a challenge for some.

You will be in awe of the lush green mountains and the jagged rocks along the coastline that you can view from halfway down the trail. 

A photo taken at Pololu Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. This picture was taken about halfway down the trail overlooking the valley. The mountainous cliffs are green and jagged. The ocean water waves are crashing on the shore. The water looks teal and the sky is blue and partly cloudy.

Once you get down to the bottom, you will see the beach and you can go off trail here and explore the area.

The park ranger at the top will tell you not to swim here, and you must take his advice! The waves are big and they are hard to get out of.

Similar to Kehena Beach, there are rocks that line the ocean floor and there is no sand where the waves break so this all makes for a dangerous situation for swimmers.

A photo taken at Pololu Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii. This photo shows the rocky part of the beach which is composed fully of round black lava rocks. The ocean waves are violently crashing onto the rocks. In the background behind the rocks there are tall green cliffs.

Unfortunately there have been several drowning deaths reported at Pololu Valley so please stay out of the water here. There is black sand further up on the beach that you are able to walk on, relax, and take in the gorgeous views. 

Honoli’i Beach Park

Closest Black Sand Beach to Hilo

If you find yourself in Hilo, take a 10 minute drive north and you’ll find Honoli’i Beach Park.

This is a gorgeous black sand beach on the Big Island that’s very convenient for anyone living/staying in the Hilo area.

Parking to get down to this beach can be a little challenging, because there is no parking lot. You will just have to park on the side of Kahoa St. This is a pretty narrow road.

There are a few places on the road that are wide enough to provide small parking spaces where you can park non-parallel to the road facing the ocean. But, for the majority of the parking options you will have to park on the side of the road and may have to parallel park depending on how crowded it is.

Once you find a parking space, it’s an easy walk down to the beach. The pathway down is completely paved. Along the way, take in the beautiful views of the cove where the beach is. This is a very picturesque spot.

A photo taken at Honoli'i Beach Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. This picture was taken at an overlook of the park. There are various green plants in the foreground creating a nice frame to the beautiful ocean backdrop. You can see ocean waves coming into shore behind palm trees that are growing out of the ground below.

Since it’s a popular surf spot, they have showers so you can wash off the salt and sand before heading back.

Best Beach for Surfing, Not Swimming

Since this beach is off the east coast, the waves are known to be more intense so this wouldn’t be the best place to swim. It is recommended that only experienced swimmers and surfers go out into the waves.

Nonetheless, it’s still a beautiful spot to watch the waves break onto the black sand and soak up the sun.

This beach is completely free. Bathrooms are on site as well. There aren’t many nice black sand beaches like this one that are so close to town so Honoli’i Beach Park is definitely worth a stop if you’re in Hilo.

A photo taken at Honoli'i Beach Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. This photo shows a black sand beach in the foreground and several big waves coming into shore in the background. There are just a few people standing out in the water. There are trees growing next to the water on the left side of the photo.

That completes my list of the best black sand beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii!

I hope you were able to learn something about these beaches that help you decide which ones would be best suited for you and your trip to the island. Thank you for reading!

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Hi! I'm Anna, the human behind Soul Summit Travel. My mission is to make travel more accessible so everyone can experience the joys of connecting deeper with our Earth.

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Comments

  1. Agnes Avatar
    Agnes

    The Big Island is still high on my bucket list — I’ve only flown over it on my way to another Hawaiian island, so I’ve never explored it properly. These black sand beaches look absolutely stunning, and I had no idea there were so many unique ones to choose from! Punalu’u has always caught my eye, but now I’m curious about Pololu Valley too. Definitely saving this for when I finally get to visit!

    Reply
  2. Casey Avatar
    Casey

    I love the Big Island, but have not yet had the opportunity to explore the entire island. This post gave me some great insight into the black sand beaches I should include on my next itinerary to the Big Island!

    Reply
  3. Maren Avatar
    Maren

    I love this list of black sand beaches on the Big Island. They all look beautiful in their own way. And I love that you warned us about the clothing optional one lol. I’ve never been to Hawaii but I’m dying to go and will definitely be using this list when I do!

    Reply
  4. Lasma Avatar
    Lasma

    Hawaii has always been one of my dreams! In particular, walking in Waikiki or on a black sand beach, so unique! This is a fantastic guide to finding the best beaches in Hawaii, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. The Best Black Sand Beaches On The Big Island For Sun And Adventure

    […] Tide pools near the shore are home to small fish and other marine life. This makes Richardson Ocean Park a good choice for families with children. For more, see this guide to Richardson Ocean Park. […]

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