Punaluʻu Beach

It's said that picking up sand from the black beach will bring a curse. Every year, the local tourism bureau receives sand and apology letters mailed back from all over the world. While a bottle of black sand would be beautiful, I forgot! We also saw a green sea turtle—I call it a chrysalis—one of Hawaii's three mythical creatures! I'll introduce the other two later, but we were lucky enough to see all three! Three chrysalis turtles were lying side by side, surrounded by a rock fence. I doubt they were there for a photo op.

It was raining heavily in Volcano Village, but we set off at 8:00 AM and the 40-minute journey turned to sunny weather, making it a perfect trip. There were few people in the morning, so we could quietly watch the turtles move around. Two turtles basked peacefully in the circle drawn by environmentalists. It was a blessing! The black beach looked like cinders at first glance, but the sand was coarser than expected, which was quite unique! Considering we had gone to Green Beach the day before, the black beach experience was much better.

Exit Volcanoes National Park and continue south along Highway 11 to the Big Island's famous black sand beach. The sand on this beach is naturally pure black, a unique phenomenon on the Big Island. That afternoon, we even saw a sea turtle resting its eyes on the beach. Remember, never approach or touch a sea turtle; this is a serious offense. Traveling in a civilized manner is everyone's responsibility.

You can watch turtles up close. The beach here is black due to its proximity to the volcano.

There are parking lots and showers in the park. So prepare your swimsuit and have fun there.

Hawaii has five colored beaches: white sand beach, green sand beach, red sand beach and black sand beach.

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is located in the southern part of Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. As the name suggests, the sand here is black, and it is the frequent volcanic activity that has created the unique black sand here. The most colorful treasures of the black sand beach are these green sea turtles.

Like other sea turtles, the green turtle spends its entire life in the ocean, except when it comes ashore to lay its eggs. It is widely distributed in the warm waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, laying its eggs on sandy beaches with temperatures above 25°C. As a herbivore, it is the only sea turtle species to consume significant amounts of seaweed. It primarily feeds in shallow waters rich in seagrass.

The beach is small, and the sand is pure black. We were lucky to see a turtle lazily basking in the sun after just two steps. Foreigners playing on the beach were gathered around it, taking photos about a meter away. Then a tour group arrived, and the beach staff quickly picked up the warning barrier and made the area three meters away from the turtle a no-go zone, preventing anyone from getting close.

Be sure to apply a thick layer of sunscreen, as it's really hot and the sand burns your feet. The guide said you need to be lucky to see these giant turtles, and I was lucky enough to see three. To protect these giant turtles, the local indigenous people use rocks to enclose them to prevent tourists from touching or feeding them and causing harm. They also cut some aquatic plants to feed them.

I went here just to see turtles! I was very lucky. I saw three turtles lazily basking in the sun on the beach, and I found another one in the water on the other side. Finally, I saw a turtle in the sea that was overturned by the waves.

Black Beach is a popular spot, and I saw many tour buses. It's said you can see baby turtles on this beach. I didn't see any turtles, but I did see a puppy. The waves here are quite strong.

The black sand beach here is very large, much larger than the black sand beach on Maui Island. The sand is fine and soft, and the scenery is beautiful. You can snorkel here and there are many sea turtles.

Attractions along the way, Big Island characteristics, must-see attractions

Punaluu Black Sand Beach Park, located in the southern part of Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, is another unique volcanic landscape. As lava from a volcanic eruption entered the sea, it cooled and hardened its crust. Unable to withstand the tension of the steam within, it broke apart and shattered into lava fragments. These fragments then accumulated along the coast, where they were eroded and polished by waves over the years, eventually transforming into black sand. Walking barefoot on the black sand is completely impervious to scratching. While the waves here are strong and unsuitable for swimming, they are often visited by sunbathers and sea turtles. However, catching a glimpse of a sea turtle sunning itself on the beach requires considerable luck. When we first arrived, we didn't see any, and wondered if we'd be lucky if we waited a little longer. Surprisingly, we actually saw a large turtle slowly making its way ashore.

The inky black coast is unforgettable and is the best black sand beach in Hawaii. The frequent volcanic activity has created the unique black sand here.

Punalu'u Beach Park, because the black beach has a higher heat absorption capacity, green turtles and hawksbill turtles also come to this warm place to lay eggs.

The beach is famous for its green turtles, who frequent it to feed and sunbathe.

The waves at the beach were so big, one after another, and we had a lot of fun.

It is recommended not to go to the black sand beach at noon, otherwise you will not see turtles.

Black Beach is probably best known for its black sand and the abundance of sea turtles. I went there specifically for the turtles, but unfortunately, I didn't see a single one. I asked the locals, and they seemed to say you don't usually see turtles at noon (lol). Well, looking at the local children playing in the water on the beach, I felt like besides the turtles, this place is still worth exploring.

The black sand beach is so hot that it feels like a foot massage. However, the sand is very fine and not harsh. If you are lucky, you may even see a sea turtle.

Formed by lava from a former volcano, the black sand beach is one of Hawaii's most distinctive beaches. The water is rocky, so swimming is not recommended. Endangered species like hawksbill and green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals can often be found on the beach, so please be mindful to avoid disturbing them.

We walked along the black sand beach (Punalu'u Beach). The sand here is jet black, very fine and soft. Luckily, we saw a big turtle. I approached it quietly and took a picture of it. Hahahaha.

The famous black sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. In fact, there are many black sand beaches on the Big Island, but this one is easily accessible by car.

It's a beautiful black sand beach. There are turtles basking in the sun at noon, but the scenery at dusk is even more charming.

Unique volcanic rock beaches, unique black sand formed by volcanic rocks...

In fact, every beach looks the same and different, depending on your mood.

A black sand beach, mostly rocks, mostly black volcanic rocks formed by the sea. It is worth a visit if you pass by.

I specifically came at noon because sea turtles only gather in groups to bask on the beach when the sun is strong. The sun was blazing, and the black sand beach was a bit hot. The turtles lay on the beach, lazily basking, motionless, only occasionally fluttering their eyelids to show that they were not a specimen. There was a pool of water at the back of the black beach, offering a unique view.

The most accessible of the many black sand beaches on Oshima, the sand is not very fine and there are many sea turtles. On one side is the sea, and on the other side there is a small pond full of flowers, which is also very beautiful.

It takes a while to walk down! You can see traces of lava all over the ground! It's beautiful! A must-see attraction!

It's not far from the volcano, so it's very convenient if you drive. When it's cloudy, the temperature is very comfortable, which is perfect for sitting on the volcanic rocks and daydreaming.

I didn't see any turtles. The season is wrong, so the RP is not good. But the scenery is great. It's worth going.

Watch the hawksbill turtles (Honu'ea) at Punaluu Black Sand Beach Park. To protect them, a special area has been designated for their habitat on the black sand. It's a wonder how the hawksbill turtles knew to come here. In the midday heat, the hawksbill turtles basked in the sun, some using their feet to throw sand over themselves to cool down, while others struggled to burrow into the sand. It was quite an interesting sight.

We landed at 10:00 AM and headed straight to Black Beach. The drive was smooth and easy, so we arrived very quickly. We saw about a dozen sea turtles playing on the beach, and one basking in the sun. Haha. So cute. We sunbathed on the beach until 4:00 AM, then headed to the Volcano Park.

This is the first time I have seen a black sand beach in my life. It is really unique. The black soft sand is so hot under the sun that it burns my feet. No wonder the turtles didn’t come to see me. Maybe it’s because it’s too hot.

It's a well-deserved place. I've seen various beaches before, but seeing a black one for the first time was truly stunning. The scenery is beautiful, with a small bay. The edges are lined with large black rocks, then small pebbles, and then fine stones. Remember to wear beach socks; it hurts barefoot.

Punaluu Beach Park is located between the towns of Pahala and Naalehu in the Ka'u region of the Big Island. Kau is the southernmost point of the Big Island, and Naalehu is the southernmost town on the Big Island and in the United States. It's about a two-hour drive from Kona and relatively close to South Point, so you can combine the two attractions. Just remember to set your navigation to Punaluu Beach Park.

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is Hawaii's best black sand beach, lined with coconut palms and often home to giant Hawaiian green sea turtles basking in the sun. The beach is equipped with picnic areas and restrooms.

Black sand beaches are formed when volcanic eruptions cause hot lava flows to surge into the ocean. The cooling water quickly hardens the lava's crust, which in turn heats the water into a massive mass of superheated steam. Unable to withstand the tension of the steam within, the lava's crust breaks apart, shattering into lava fragments. These fragments are primarily composed of iron-rich mafic minerals like magnetite (Fe3O4) and gabbro, giving them their black color. Subsequently, the lava fragments accumulate along the coast, where they are eroded and polished by waves over the years, ultimately transforming into black sand. The Big Island's once-famous black sand beach has long been swallowed by lava, and now the only place to experience its unique charm is at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. Perhaps due to its recent formation, the volcanic sand has larger grains.

There are many turtles basking in the sun on the beach, as well as some other animals, ducks, dogs and so on.

Aside from the black sand, there's nothing special about it. The scenery is nice, and if you have the equipment, you can go snorkeling; there's a good chance you'll see sea turtles! However, Black Beach isn't close to either Hilo or Kona; it's about an hour's drive from Hilo.

I'm no stranger to black sand beaches; I've even had one in Macau, but Hawaii's black sand beaches are natural! The result of volcanic eruptions and the subsequent deposition of volcanic rock, the beach's distinctive black (it's truly stunningly black) is a must-see on the Big Island. Simple bathing facilities are available for rinsing off after a swim. There's a stone enclosure on the beach for sea turtles to rest, undisturbed by tourists. If you're lucky, you might spot a large turtle. We saw three this time.

I had read many travellers' introductions to the Black Sand Beach before, but it didn't give me too many surprises. The sea turtles we saw there were not as big as the ones we had encountered on Maui before, and there were not as many of them.

I met the cute Mr. Turtle on the black sand beach. There were huge waves on the cliff and a wedding was being held. Although it was raining near the volcano, there was not a single dark cloud in the sky above the black sand beach.

Not many people choose to go to the Big Island, probably because the Big Island is sparsely populated, the attractions are scattered, the weather is unstable, and the business is the worst.

The black sand beach is warm and soft, not prickly at all, and super comfortable.

The so-called black sand beach is where the magma that once erupted from the volcano spread all the way to the coastline and gradually solidified into a black beach with minerals.

There are so many sea turtles in this sea, and there are many of them lying on the black sand beach. They are very big, lying lazily, in a large group.

We arrived early, so there weren't many people and the scenery was nice. The sand was black, and the sun made it very hot. Walking barefoot for a while felt like you were getting burned. We were unlucky today; we didn't see a single sea turtle.

Unique black sand beach.

People, animals and nature live in harmony.

The most unique feature is the black sand beach. The sand here is completely black, yet incredibly fine. Wild sea turtles can be found crawling on the beach. The day we arrived at the beach, it was about to rain, and the clouds were thick, also black. It seems that to complement the spectacular sight of the various beaches, Hawaii also has a variety of colored skies.

The drive from Volcano Village to the Black Beach took about half an hour. Our stay on the Big Island was mostly rainy, with thick clouds obscuring the sun. The temperature was perfectly suitable, but the photos were all gray and dark. Yanyan loved the black beach and started playing in the sand. I didn't rush her, wanting her to have as much fun as possible, even sacrificing the rest of the program. On sunny days, sea turtles often appear at the Black Beach, lazily basking on the sand. Yanyan was very interested in the display board about sea turtle protection and asked me to explain it to her. We were enjoying the gentle sea breeze when we suddenly noticed a small pond behind the black beach. It was filled with water lilies, and a few fearless wild ducks were playing on the shore. If it hadn't been for a light rain, we wouldn't have left.

The black sand beach is a turtle habitat, and many turtles bask in the sun here. The staff made a simple fence around the turtle habitat with stones. Obviously, everyone should stand outside the stone fence to appreciate the turtles and not disturb them.

This is the place where you're most likely to see sea turtles. They go home at 4 p.m. every day. And the "black" here is literally black! It's so dark, it reminds me of the cinder-paved track in our school playground. I was so nervous it would prick my feet, I really didn't want to take my shoes off.



In fact, this sand is not real sand, but fine particles of lava.

This is a black sand beach. It is said that green turtles often come here to feed and sunbathe, but unfortunately we didn’t see anything. We only saw the most basic scene: beach + sea, yes, black sand beach + sea + surfing enthusiasts!

It is said to be the result of a volcanic eruption. The sand is not comfortable to walk on and has a very granular feel. It is not as good as the black sand beach near Bird Island in New Zealand that I visited before.

It's a very special beach. It is said that you can see big turtles if you go there in the morning.

As the name suggests, this place is covered with large areas of black sand. Although the sky is not blue and white, you can still see the blue sea and big turtles ready to enjoy the sun. There are not many people coming here. Some attractions on the big island are free, and parking is also free. It's really great!

The frequent volcanic activity on the Big Island of Hawaii created the unique black sand beach here. These iron-containing lava fragments were gradually turned into black sand after being continuously washed by the waves.

Walking barefoot on the black sand beach, there is no feeling of pricking your feet at all. The delicate and soft touch can make people relax quickly and start to appreciate and enjoy this unique beach.

The beautiful black sand beach is a favorite habitat for Hawaiian sea turtles, which are said to be endangered! The beach is a long crescent of black sand nestled against low dunes, with rock outcrops on the shoreline and strong currents.

This is not the only black sand beach, but it is a good place to see turtles.

It is not difficult to understand that the black volcanic rocks were washed into sand by the waves.

I saw a lot of people taking photos of big turtles in travelogues before, but I didn’t see any.

Our second stop was Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. It was my first time seeing a black sand beach. The fine black sand shimmered like coal. Behind the beach, a pool of freshwater dotted with water lilies created a tranquil atmosphere. The contrast was striking. I heard there were a lot of sea turtles, but I didn't see any. Punalu'u Black Sand Beach doesn't sell food, but it does have a restroom and fresh water. The nearby golf course is also beautiful.

The beaches here are uniquely black, thanks to volcanic eruptions. If you're looking for a quick tan, this is the place to go. Many locals come here with their families and pets. The beauty of living in a coastal city is that you can always be on vacation.

Black sand beaches are rare in the world. The sand here is formed from volcanic lava fragments, giving the beach a deep, inky black color from afar, with the black sand gleaming in the sun. The scenery itself... the highlight is the black volcanic sand, which is incredibly hot, so wearing shoes is essential to avoid burns. Sea turtles crawl around there, unmoving, unfazed by the burns.

This village was destroyed during the 1990 volcanic eruption, which wiped out over 100 homes. The circular area is where the destruction occurred, so out of respect, it's best not to go inside. The destroyed area is surrounded by stones, forming a ruin. To show respect, place a stone on the pile of stones in front.

The black sand at this beach is formed when hot volcanic lava flows into the cold sea, causing it to burst and form tiny particles. Remember not to pick up any of these rocks, as they are considered ominous and will bring bad luck. Legend has it that they are the hair and tang of the volcano goddess. The beach is quite small, so it's not ideal to swim here, as the sand pricks your feet. However, you can walk on the black rocks to the right, which is quite interesting.

The remnants of the volcanic eruption, eroded over tens of thousands of years, have become the region's unique black sand. Along the beach, there are various reefs and several small ponds. Our tour guide explained that a family of sea turtles resides in these ponds. We walked in and asked a newly emerged tourist if they had seen any turtles. Disappointed, we continued toward the ponds. Our eagle-eyed guide instantly spotted four turtles of varying sizes swimming beneath the surface, their bodies sheltered by the wind and the ripples on the surface. While we were captivated by the still-unclear turtles, I was already captivated by the rocky hillock nearby. I asked the guide if we could go over and take a look. With his and my wife's permission, I climbed up the reef alone. After climbing over the rocks, I was astounded by the view: turquoise water crashing against the rocks, creating white waves. At my urging, all six of us made the climb. Perhaps the guide wasn't thrilled with our adventure; after all, it was a risky endeavor, and he had to consider our safety.

It was my first time seeing a black sand beach. It was a very majestic beach, with some wild sand returned from overseas. It was a great experience. Legend has it that if the sand here is secretly brought back, it will bring bad luck...

The volcanic rocks have been washed by the sea, and the beach is completely black, which is a very unique attraction. In addition, this is also a place where sea turtles often appear.

The frequent volcanic activity created the black sand beach. The sea view here is also quite good, but the weather is gloomy and the sea water is pale, which makes people miss the sunny Maui.

It's all volcanic gravel. It's estimated that in a few thousand years, it will turn into fine sand. There are also sea turtles on the beach, which are very cute.

Black sand beach

There are indeed turtles on the black beach, and the surrounding beaches are surrounded by a circle of stones to prevent tourists from entering and disturbing them.

The turtle is taking a nap and occasionally opens its eyes and moves its arms and legs.

The black sand beach is not fine at all, it is grain by grain, very special

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Black Beach is famous not only for its pure black sand but also for the large sea turtles it can spot. The sand is quite coarse and can be a little rough on bare feet.

The Black Beach feels like a volcanic relic. Its unique charm attracts numerous Hawaiian green sea turtles, who come here to bask in the sun and lay their eggs. While encountering a Hawaiian green sea turtle is highly likely, handling is prohibited. We were lucky enough to encounter one, a truly adorable turtle. People gathered around it, taking photos from about a meter away, but it remained unfazed, enjoying a leisurely soak in the seawater.

I stayed at the black sand beach for almost an hour and really liked the scenery. It’s really not suitable to come here at night.

The sand here is truly pure black. Locals were surfing in the bay, and the waves were crashing just outside. I was pleasantly surprised to find many large sea turtles resting here, demonstrating the harmonious coexistence of humans and animals. Taking off my shoes and walking barefoot on the black sand felt incredibly smooth, unlike any other beach.

The black sand beach is made up of sand formed by volcanic ash cooling and solidifying to the ground, and volcanic rocks formed by magma flowing into the sea and cooling down. You can also clearly see the magma flowing. There are often turtles nearby. I was lucky enough to see a turtle foraging in the shallows, but it was a pity that it didn't come ashore. The black sand beach is a bit rough on the feet, so it is recommended to wear long pants and sneakers when going to the Big Island, and to wear sunscreen.

Black Sand Beach: It is about a 15-minute drive from the Volcano Park. It is an easy-to-reach attraction. I have seen the sunrise photos taken by others here, and it is stunningly beautiful.

We set off to the black sand beach, 20 minutes away. There were indeed sea turtles, busy eating algae on the rocks.

Punaluu Black Sand Beach: I personally like this beach, it is very unique! The sand and rocks on the shore are all black, which seems to be due to the effect of volcanic lava at that time.

The black sand beach is a beach made up of black rocks and sand, with a coconut grove behind it. The scenery is nice, but that's all.

That's about it. They say there are sea turtles, but I only saw two, and the beach is fenced off with rocks. It seems like the park did it on purpose, for a photo op. I actually found Arabic numerals on the turtle hill, so it seems the park keeps them there for tourists to see.

As for wild turtles? I didn't see any other than these two.

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach: The inky black coastline is unforgettable. Coconut trees abound along the beach, and giant Hawaiian green sea turtles can be seen sunbathing on the sand year-round.

The so-called beach is actually made of coarse volcanic rocks. Perhaps because few people choose to stay in the south of the island, the black sand beach is unusually quiet in the morning.

The black sand of Punalu'u Black Sand Beach gives people a shocking feeling visually. The closer to the sea, the finer the sand is. Walking barefoot on the black sand beach, there is no feeling of pricking your feet. The delicate and soft touch can make people relax quickly.