Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Hawaii Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
AO Edited

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

This black shoreline is made up of exploded lava particles.

Hawaii

Added By
whitney8251
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Black Sand Beach   Wikipedia
Black Sand Beach   Wikipedia
Black Sand Beach   Matt MacGillivray
  jennavee / Atlas Obscura User
Structures   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
Structure   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
Columns   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
Stairs   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
Hallway   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
  jennverd / Atlas Obscura User
Turtles basking in the sun at Punalu’u Beach   Sarah Vanheel CosmopoliClan / Atlas Obscura User
  jennavee / Atlas Obscura User
Black Sand   mikeblan1996 / Atlas Obscura User
Sea turtle!   mikeblan1996 / Atlas Obscura User
  Lauren Levesque / Atlas Obscura User
  Lauren Levesque / Atlas Obscura User
Adorable lagoon near the black sand   notoriousFIG / Atlas Obscura User
  taylasablerose / Atlas Obscura User
Main area   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
  jennverd / Atlas Obscura User
Structure   tbaker394 / Atlas Obscura User
Turtles!   BritsLifeUnscripted / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Thanks to lava streams beneath the water just offshore, the so-called Black Sand Beach in Hawai'i has a unique deep color that is found almost nowhere else in the world.

Known formally as Punalu'u Beach on Hawai'i's Big Island, the volcanic sands create one of nature's most stunning scenes. Unlike other beaches, the black sand of Punaluʻu is made almost exclusively of basalt that has washed up from beneath the waves. As underwater lava vents extrude magma out into the ocean the super-heated rock cools so quickly that it often explodes into the tiny basalt particles that continually feed the unique beach. 

Punalu'u Beach is one of only a handful of sandy black beaches on the Big Island of Hawai'i (others are rockier). Since the currents at Punalu'u Beach are strong enough to crush the volcanic rocks, this also means that the swimming conditions are not optimal here.

The area is also home to a handful of unique species of endangered wildlife such as the Hawksbill turtle and the Hawaiian monk seal which are shockingly common on the jet sands. The Black Sand Beach is yet another of the island state's one-of-a-kind natural wonders.

Related Tags

Sand Nature Beaches Natural Wonders

Know Before You Go

Punalu'u Beach is easily accessible. Just exit Highway 11 between mile markers 56 and 57 and leave your car at the small parking lot. The beach is equipped with picnic tables and restrooms.

Community Contributors

Added By

whitney8251

Edited By

hrnick, nathanlouis1, Sarah Vanheel CosmopoliClan, EricGrundhauser...

  • hrnick
  • nathanlouis1
  • Sarah Vanheel CosmopoliClan
  • EricGrundhauser
  • mikeblan1996
  • notoriousFIG
  • taylasablerose
  • kassiopea30
  • Lauren Levesque
  • jennavee
  • jennverd
  • BritsLifeUnscripted
  • tbaker394

Published

March 10, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punalu'u_Beach
  • http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/kau/punaluu-black-sand-beach
  • https://cosmopoliclan.com/travel-with-kids/inspiration/black-sand-beach-hawaii/
Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
Punalu‘u Beach
Hawaii, 96772
United States
19.135758, -155.504787

Nearby Places

Kamilo Beach

Naalehu, Hawaii

miles away

Papakōlea Beach

Naalehu, Hawaii

miles away

Ka Lae

Naalehu, Hawaii

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hawaii

Hawaii

United States

Places 78
Stories 32

Nearby Places

Kamilo Beach

Naalehu, Hawaii

miles away

Papakōlea Beach

Naalehu, Hawaii

miles away

Ka Lae

Naalehu, Hawaii

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hawaii

Hawaii

United States

Places 78
Stories 32

Related Stories and Lists

18 Beautiful Beaches That Have Secrets

List

By Jonathan Carey

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

List

By The Public Domain Review

Related Places

  • Fish and reefs in La Parguera

    Lajas, Puerto Rico

    La Parguera

    This beachside town is home to a diverse nature reserve, multiple cays, and one of the three bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico.

  • The cliffs of Punta Capo Bianco, Chiaia di Luna

    Ponza, Italy

    Chiaia di Luna

    This crescent-shaped beach is said to glow under the light of a full moon.

  • Furore, Italy

    Fiordo di Furore

    A narrow opening between the mountains of the Amalfi Coast creates a scenic hidden beach.

  • Bonhomme de Bourail

    Bourail, New Caledonia

    Bonhomme de Bourail

    A beachside monolith shaped by years of waves crashing against hard quartz.

  • Rock formations of Hamelin Bay.

    Hamelin Bay, Australia

    Hamelin Bay Beach

    Incredible rock formations jut from the southern end of this spectacular stingray-viewing spot.

  • The ghost forest in the fog.

    Neskowin, Oregon

    Neskowin Ghost Forest

    The eerie remnants of an ancient forest were hidden under the sand for centuries.

  • Cox’s Bazar Beach by the town of Cox’s Bazar.

    Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh

    Cox's Bazar Beach

    One of the longest natural sand beaches in the world.

  • The strange structures are made of oxides of silicon and aluminum.

    Puerto de Mazarrón, Spain

    Erosiones de Bolnuevo

    An enchanting landscape of ancient sandstone structures eroded into otherworldly shapes.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.