Being Hawaii’s only island with active volcanic eruptions, the Big Island is home to an abundance of black sand beaches. They are a popular attraction for visitors and are definitely worth adding to your Hawaii itinerary!

So, where exactly does this black sand come from? It all starts when lava flows down an erupting volcano into the ocean. Once the lava cools and becomes volcanic rock, it slowly erodes as ocean waves repeatedly crash against it. Over time, the rocks break down into teeny-tiny pieces, creating the black sand we see on the beaches today.

In this article, I’m breaking down 6 of the best black sand beaches on the Big Island, including what makes each one unique and what you can expect when visiting. That way, you can decide which beaches are worth adding to your own itinerary based on what you’re looking for most.

Best Black Sand Beaches on the Big Island Summary

1. Punalu’u Beach	🐢Sea turtles frequently spotted here 🌴Beautiful palm trees ⭐Known as the Big Island’s top black sand beach
2. 49 Black Sand Beach	🤿Amazing place to snorkel 🌊Calm waves 🏖️Very soft sand
3. Kehena Beach	🥾Short, rocky hike to access 👙Clothing optional 🌊Rough waves
4. Kawa’a Beach	👤Lesser known beach 🥾0.5 mile hike to access ⛰️Mountain views
5. Pololu Valley Beach	🥾0.5 mile hike to access ⛰️Incredible mountain & valley views 🚫No swimming allowed
6. Honoli’i Beach Park	🏄Great for surfing 🏢Very close to Hilo 🏊‍♀️Not recommended for swimming

1. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach 

Punalu’u Beach is one of the most well known black sand beaches on the Big Island. It’s located on the east coast in between the small towns of Naalehu and Pahala.

What I remember most about this beach is the massive palm trees lining the shore. They make for the perfect backdrop as you walk along the shore, or a great place to lay under and relax. All around this is just a gorgeous beach, it’s really the postcard black sand beach of the Big Island. If you only have time to visit one on your trip, make it Punalu’u!

View Sea Turtles at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

Something else very special that Punalu’u Beach is known for, is Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles swimming in the shallow waters and resting on the shore.

As amazing as these creatures are, it’s important to keep your distance from them for their health and safety. It’s recommended to keep at least 10 feet away from them.

Most of the time there will be cones placed 10 feet away from the resting turtles to prevent tourists from touching them or getting too close. You’re still easily able to view them and take photos from this distance.

You’re also able to snorkel here and this is another great way to view the turtles. When I was snorkeling, the sea turtles would swim right up next to me. And sometimes the waves would almost push them into me. If you encounter them up close underwater like this, still, try not to touch them.

Something else to know about snorkeling here, is the shallow waters are covered with lava rock. So be careful swimming and wear some kind of water shoe to protect your feet. If you go on a particularly rough day I’d honestly not recommend going in the water for this reason. The waves can easily push you around into the rocks.

2. 49 Black Sand Beach

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

This is a public beach but it’s actually part of the Mauna Lani Beach Resort. Despite being part of a big resort, 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 and have space to yourself.

This is the only public black sand beach that’s located on Kona side, or the west coast of the Big Island. This is because young volcanoes (such as Kilauea and Mauna Loa) are located in the southeastern areas of the island. This is where black sand is actively created.

49 Black Sand Beach is Amazing for Swimming & Snorkeling

49 Black Sand Beach is an underrated snorkeling spot on the Big Island. The waves on the west coast are known for being more tame than the currents coming in from the east. This beach is also protected by lava rock. These factors make 49 Black Sand Beach ideal for snorkeling and swimming.

I was honestly so impressed with what you can see underwater here. The water is pretty deep, but it’s so clear that you can see all the way to the ocean floor. I was in awe at all the multi-colored reefs and fish that I saw. I even saw an eel for the first time! One of my friends spotted 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 49 Black Sand Beach.

Snorkeling here was such an incredible experience, and most people don’t even know it’s there!

In addition to the beautiful underwater world you can view here, the sand is incredibly soft. Especially for being black sand. It’s not like that rocky, grainy sand like most of the other black sand beaches on the Big Island.

You also get amazing views of the rocky coastline with Mauna Kea off in the distance.

49 Black Sand Beach- Know Before You Go

3. Kehena Beach

Kehena Beach is truly a one of a kind place on the Big Island. Most tourists don’t know about it. It’s more popular with the locals of Pahoa and the surrounding neighborhoods. It has it’s own unique hippie vibe and a strong community feel which I really loved being a part of in my time on the island.

The Big Island’s Only Clothing-Optional Beach

Kehena is known for being the island’s only clothing-optional beach. So keep that in mind before you decide to go. This is not the best beach for a family vacation. The people who go to this beach are mostly locals and it’s a much different crowd from what you’ll see at the other beaches on this list.

The beach itself is hidden down in a little cove that you can’t see from the main road. It feels like a magical secret spot that only the locals know to visit.

Unlike 49 Black Sand Beach, however, the sand is extremely grainy. It almost feels like a bunch of really really tiny rocks.

Hiking to Kehena Beach

Another thing to know about Kehena is that you are going to have to hike to it. There are no labeled trails, but the pathways are pretty easy to follow since so many people make the trek down. And you’ll likely see several other people going down too so you’ll know exactly where to go.

From the main parking area there’s a pretty straightforward hike down that’s easy to spot. It is pretty steep and rocky though. You will have to do some mild rock climbing to get back up from the beach. As long as you use careful foot placement, you’ll be fine.

The hike doesn’t take very long, less than 5 minutes.

4. Kawa’a Beach

Kawa’a Beach is one of the most underrated black sand beaches on the Big Island! It’s a true hidden gem. It’s not visited very often and it’s another mostly local spot. What stood out to me the most was the unique landscapes and scenery you’ll see around the beach. There’s all kinds of volcanic mounds that you can see inland, and the rocky formations on the coastline are so beautiful.

This beach is also unique because most of it is made of lava rock. But as you walk further down there’s a spring that flows into the ocean where you’ll find soft black sand and calm, shallow waters to wade in. Shown above.

I didn’t see many other people hanging out at the beach when I went, but there will probably be a lot of surfers out in the ocean. This seems to be a decently popular spot for the local surfers because the waves can be pretty gnarly. It’s fun to watch the surfers as you lounge on the soft black sand.

Waves may be suitable for swimming if you get a nice day, but most of the time I think it’s a little too intense for the casual swimmer.

Hiking to Kawa’a Beach

There is a small hike required to access the beach. It’s a 1 mile round trip to Kawa’a Beach, but it’s nearly completely flat. It’s an easy walk through a forested area until it opens up to a beautiful view of the ocean and an expansive black rocky beach.

I just loved the contrast of the dark lava rock with the bright green succulents and palm trees scattered across the landscape. It’s insane to me how these plants can grow out of the barren-looking lava rock!

Around the end of the hike once you near the beach, you’ll also find some interesting ruins from ancient Hawaiian structures!

5. Pololu Valley Beach

The Pololu Valley Beach is located way up on the northern tip of the island where the you’ll find landscapes of lush green mountains with dramatic coastlines. It’s unlike anything else you’ll see on the island.

Whether you’re coming from Hilo or Kona to visit this black sand beach, you’ll be treated to some gorgeous scenery on just your drive up. It’s one of my favorite areas on the Big Island.

People come from all over the island just to visit the overlook to view this picturesque landscape. Some don’t even go down to the beach! However, I definitely recommend taking the short trek all the way down to get the full experience.

Hiking to the Pololu Black Sand Beach

To get to Pololu Valley Beach, it does require a short hike that’s about a 1 mile round trip, but with 340 feet of elevation gain. So it may be a challenging climb for a nonfrequent hiker.

The hike starts out on the top of the mountain for a quick descent down. So it’s easy on the way down, but coming back up is the hard part. So make sure you’re prepared with enough water.

The trail itself is mostly a packed dirt path with the occasional tree root or rock to maneuver around. The terrain is pretty easy, it’s the steepness that makes it difficult.

The views along the hike are just breathtaking. Views of the island’s rugged northeastern coastline are not easy to come by. So this is really a special place.

Once you get down to the bottom, you will see the beach. You’re free to walk along the beach and explore the area. Most of it is rocky, but there is a nice area with black sand the further down you walk.

Due to the rocky nature of the beach and harsh waves, there is no swimming allowed at all at Pololu Beach. Unfortunately there have been several drowning deaths reported here so please stay out of the water. Although this isn’t a beach that you can swim in, the views will make up for it.

6. Honoli’i Beach Park

Last but not least, Honoli’i Beach Park is another great black sand beach that’s super close to Hilo. So it’s very convenient for anyone living/staying in the area.

The views from above the beach are gorgeous. All the vibrant green tropical plants frame the ocean for a very picturesque shot.

From the top, it’s an easy walk down to the beach. The pathway down is completely paved and only takes a minute or two to get there.

Honoli’i Beach is Great for Surfing & Views

Honoli’i Beach is another spot on the island that’s great for surfing. Being on the east coast, this beach is no stranger to large waves that draws surfers here from across the island.

This isn’t the best beach for swimming, but it’s not very rocky. So you might be able to get away with safely swimming here or boogie boarding if you’re a strong swimmer and it’s a nice day.

Nonetheless, it’s still a beautiful spot to soak in the sun while watching surfers go by and waves crash on the shore.

There aren’t many nice black sand beaches like this one on the Big Island that are so close to town so Honoli’i Beach Park is definitely worth a stop if you’re in Hilo. The sand is also pretty soft too! Not super grainy, but not quite as powdery as 49 Black Sand Beach.

That completes my list of the best black sand beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii! I hope this gave you some inspiration for more places to visit on your trip, and now you have all the information you need to choose which beaches will suit your interests the best. Thank you for reading!