Have you ever wanted to take a walk on an alien planet? What a strange and beautiful landscape. There aren't a lot of tourists here, and getting here means turning off the Google Maps once you're near and using an old fashioned map with a little sense of adventure. I think most people end up in the parking lot wondering "is this the place?" Follow the home drawn signs and keep walking. Don't dress for swimming, this isn't a swimming beach, wear sturdy shoes, workout shoes with good support or even hiking boots. Wear a hat to protect your head and sunscreen before you get out (it takes a few minutes for sunscreen to work). There is no way I can prepare you for what you will see, it's not like anything else I've ever encountered. So bizarre, so uncommonly beautiful. read more

See all

We loved the black sand beach with turtles coming in to rest. Not much sand mostly rocks and the day we went it was windy and I wouldn't swim. read more

Today's Kaimu Black Sand Beach is about 1/2 mile from the original site, which was destroyed by the volcanic eruption and lava flow in 1990. Overall, it's a long drive from Hilo down to Pahoa, but this is totally worth the beautiful views and short hike! Best to park on Pahoa Kalapana Road off the pavement where allowed, and then follow the dirt parking lot to a red sand path that will take you to a number of planted palm trees and eventually the cliff's edge. During the winter months, the waves can get rough.at times. read more

See all

This place is awesome! So beautiful, lots of lava rock, and pretty peaceful. A really cool place just to sit around and listen to the ocean and get lost within yourself. I loved this place....can't wait to be back! read more

Beautiful beach, I have never seen anything like it before. The whole family loved it

The Kaimu Black Sand beach is super new- formed in March 2008. I guess that means most people are not aware of it because it was pretty empty when we went! If you aren't quite sure where to go the beach is right across from the Kalapana Village Café.. that's how we found it. The walk to the beach is about 3/4 of a mile and is absolutely amazing. You follow a path over black lava rock called "pa hoe hoe" and can see where people left 100s of little coconuts to grow palm trees for future shade. The beach itself is stunning. On the higher ground the sand is more coarse while down by the water it is incredibly soft. We absolutely loved it here and could not stop taking pictures. Lots of amazing photo opportunities. There was only one other family when we stopped here. The beach is small and still forming but there was more than enough space for everyone! The kids seemed to be enjoying themselves while building black sandcastles and their dog looked pretty happy as well. I don't know if I'd recommend swimming at this beach.. the water looked rocky and kind of rough. Just sit on a lava rock and enjoy the scenery! read more

See all

Such a somber place but worth the visit if you must. It isn't a soft sand beach, very rocky, but the history and art along the walk to the beach was jaw dropping. Definitely humbling the say the least. read more

See all

We loved this hidden gem because it was cool to learn that this beach was born around the time that we were, in the early 90s. We arrived around 9am and it was pretty empty here, we only ran into a couple of other people during our 2 hours exploring the area. There is a parking lot where you can leave your car and take the short walk to the ocean. It's not a spot where you can lay out and relax like you would at a typical beach. We really enjoyed walking around seeing the breathtaking views and taking photos. Definitely cool walking on the black used to be lava. After we were done, we headed over to the little market that was right by the parking lot and got a smoothie (super refreshing and worth it!) Check out my IG @linhtvo for the pictures we took in Hawaii! read more

See all

Black sand! The sand is so cool. This beach is not so much all that of a swimming beach. It is hard black lava rock all the way out to the water. Its a fairly decent walk to the water as well. This is where the old Red Road use to run thought but now that lava flows of the past stopped the road right here. You can still see remains of the old Red Road. The real great part about this beach is the farmers market. Its pretty big! They also have a little grocery store. Which is great to pick up a few random items. The market has a Nice cream and shaved Ice place that is open quite often and a food shack that has some really great offerings! read more

If you have T-mobile, good luck on using your phone for GPS! My BF and I used a map for the majority of the trip BUT the best way to find the place is following the directions off of Pete H's review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/kaimu-black-sand-beach-pahoa?hrid=KrAMPUggzqgfyW9TpYD0Sw The hike up to the beach is not very strenuous but do wear closed toed shoes to protect your feet from getting stubbed by rocks or other debris. There are coconut plants the closer you get and we spotted someone that was placing them around the beach. It was great to see young sprouted coconuts since I have never seen them. The black sand shines under the sun. So gorgeous! I did not see anyone swimming in the water so I am assuming that this is not the place to do so. It was relaxing to just sight see and take a nap. Since the beach is a bit far from Hilo and Volcanoes National Park, you might as well visit on a Wednesday and then check out Uncle Robert's Farmers Market for food, fun and local arts & crafts: http://www.yelp.com/biz/uncle-roberts-farmers-market-pahoa-13?hrid=hnFOV9WBf9sRfMOEqa5p7w read more

Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #24/365 This beach is truly a show of nature's beauty. The beach used to come up right next to the road before the lava, which added an extra half mile to the Big Island. Although this beach is all the way in Kalapana, a bit of a drive, it really is worth it. It's approximately a 15 minute walk across lava rock to the beautiful black sand beach. While on the lava rock, there's a path made of red rocks that will lead you right to the beach. The lava rock is mainly the pahoehoe type, so it's smooth and easier to walk on than a'a rock. Walking on the path, if you look left, and look right, there is lava rock as far as the eye can see. Amazing, yet terrifying, as you realize the strength of Pele. When you start hitting the black sand on the path, you're close to the beach. There are also a few rows of newly planted palm trees, which are quite a site to behold, as even though the lava can destroy everything in its path, plants are still able to grow in the aftermath. The black sand beach isn't a large beach, but it is something you should see before you die. Waves are a decent size, not too big, not too small, so it's pretty safe to go in the water. If you're planning to take a dip, make sure you bring shoes for the short hike, and slippers for after you swim! You should probably bring water too, so you don't dehydrate, because there is pretty much zero shade, and in the middle of the day, the sun will beam down directly on you. read more

Kaimu Black Sand Beach - Black sand beach at the end of the path - Beaches Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

See all

This is not a swimming beach. This was one of our stops on our cruise ship tour of Hilo. We stopped int the parking lot which is very limited and found the path to walk out to the beach through all the lava flow. The area is covered by lava from the eruption in the late 90's. It is quite a long walk out and it is very hot so bring comfortable walking shoes and water. The beach is georgous and the views are well worth the time as you will see many wonders of nature. There is food and drinks available at the back end of the parking lot. read more

See all

Wow! Little piece of volcano land paradise! Quiet trail. So spacious. Shiny glittery lava rock. Short hike. Incredible history read more

Off 137, when you see the little parking lot...you have arrived and just follow the small steap path down and there you are. The beach is small but very pretty in this nuck so it is kind of cool. I was told and seen it with my own eyes that clothing is optional, It is a nude beach and I went there in the middle of a week so there were few people and two guys that went commando and the older dude asked me if I needed assistance rubbing the sun block on my back....so sweet of him - thanks but no thanks. Waves can get rough so be careful but it is worth the black sand, read more

The black sand at this beach was so neat! It is truly entirely black sand! Definitely worth a few hours sitting and relaxing to the sound of waves crashing into amazing rocks and sand. The beach was not crowded at all and even the rainy day was fine for visiting! Where we were, the outhouses were horrendous, so definitely go before you head over, but You shouldn't miss this if you're in the area!! read more

Kaimu Black Sand Beach - Beaches Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

This beach is not new, but it has changed tremendously due to Tutu Pele reclaiming the area more than once with her lava flow(s). The original beach sits approximately 60 feet below the lava you can now walk on to get out to see the water. The walk out to Kaimu is humbling - especially if you understand what the lava has done to the entire Kalapana area since the early 80s. When you make it to the water's edge, it's pretty obvious that it's not a good idea to swim there as the water is rough and the drop is sheer. A note about Hawaiian beaches to tourists: if you do not see local families swimming at a certain beach, YOU SHOULDN'T EITHER! Surfing or boogie boarding is a different story because that's more about fighting over waves and territory, but seriously folks.... if locals don't swim there, there's a reason for it... Anyway, if you're in the Kalapana area, take a few minutes to walk out to Kaimu Beach - you won't regret it. And if you can, leave a donation to help the family that maintains thet pathway to the beach. read more

This is the newer of the black sand beaches that is surrounding this island. It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot- but beautiful. Hard lava, beautiful green palms peaking through and the ocean in the back makes for such beautiful pictures. The ocean itself is very rough, hard currents. It's not an area to go swimming in, but beautiful walk along the lava surrounding the ocean line. The tide was high when we came, I"m not sure if it's always like that- so you get very little area to run your feet through the water. We found an awesome sea shell here. I'll get a pic posted of it. Just outside this beach is a cool area in the evenings where they play music and there's some light food, smoothie's and snacks to munch on with a tiki hut bar area too. read more

See all

OMG! This beach was absolutely beautiful. It's a hidden gem, a black sand beach that requires a 1/3 of a mile hike from the small parking lot. The directions on both Yelp and google is not accurate, so what you need to do is take the last left turn before the road ends and the make a right turn at the stop sign. Then drive all the way to the end and park next to the honey bucket. You should see the trail directly in front of you, bring some good closed toes shoes because stubbing your toes on the lava rocks would not be fun! Follow the red rocks to identify the trail until you see all the little coconut plants that someone planted. Keep walking past the coconut plants and then you'll see the beach! I truly think this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, not very big but felt like you were back in time when dinosaurs ruled the planet... read more

Stopped here as part of a tour to go to the volcanos national park. As has been mentioned in order to get to the beach you have a short hike through lava rocks so make sure to bring some closed toe shoes. Once you get there the view is beautiful, very interesting to see black sand if you have never seen it before. The rock formations all around is great as well. Fantastic place to just enjoy the view and relax. read more

Totally worth the drive from Hilo or the crater. It's only a minutes drive from the end of 130 where you park for the hike to see the new lava flow. read more

My family and I drove here and what a sight it was to see. It's a teeny tiny hike from a small parking lot to the beach itself, but the hike itself is sight already. There were amazing formations of the lava that have formed. The trail is really easy to follow - you cannot get lost. Once you get to the actual beach, it's just unreal. Closed toe shoes are ideal, but some of my family members did it in slippahs, so it's still do-able. Don't miss this spot just because you don't have shoes. read more

One of the many places we visited while on the Big Island. This beach provided us a view of beautiful black sand, a great little path to walk on, and a break from our drive. Here we go: The Good: - Beautiful - Easy hike from the parking area to the beach itself - Black sand. The Not So Good: - This beach is not the place to come for "a day at the beach." It is only a spot to view the waves and the sand and the coconut trees they are planting to restore the trees in the area. Strong currents make swimming ill advised. And we saw jellyfish on the shore. - Parking is somewhat limited. NOTE: The beach may not be accessible due to recent volcanic activity along the roads that lead to it. Bottom Line: This is a great beach to view if you are in this area of the island. It certainly is closer if you are staying near Hilo than driving to the west side of the island. The beauty, serenity, and easy hike all make this place a great one to visit while on the Big Island. read more

Amazing place! Spent three hours here and had to tear myself away. Must have taken a hundred photos. So many different kinds of lava rocks. Sprouted coconuts and black sand against the blues of the sky, it is all so beautiful. Locals come here with their dogs to play fetch with empty coconut husks in the surf. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Hawaii. read more

Kaimu Black Sand Beach - View from one of the cliffs - Beaches Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Lovely place, not much of a beach though. Walk through raw lava territory to come to a small black sand beach. Neat novelty and loved hearing the rocks rolling against each other as the tide went out. read more

Roll up to a small parking lot, then hike up the stairs or ramp to the well marked red road. Truly amazing views of old lava floes on the left, and as you crest the slight incline, you can see steam rising from new lava in the distance on the right. All along the path are newly planted vegetation in the harsh landscape. The path then transitions into black coarse sand and you see glimpses of the ocean. Then you end up on a cliff with the powerful waves smashing into the lava rock cliffs below you. A really awe inspiring sight. Cairns mark the path along the cliffs to more viewpoints and to the beach. Little one turned cranky so we took some photos and turned back the way we came. Looking forward to seeing this spot again as the beach continues to form. read more

This is an impressive self guided tour. At the beginning of the trail are a selection of pictures of how the area was before the lava from Tutu Pele wiped it out. From the trailhead to the beach is about 3/4 mile and it is pretty level. The beach is one of the few in the area that has sand and not lava rock. I did see people walking in the water but agree that the water is rough with a extreme drop off not recommended for swimming. read more

A hidden gem! It feels like you are at the end of the earth but amazing how vegetation is now starting to sprout up again. Great photo opp's for you. My little girls said it was the highlight of their road trip. We were able to see the steam of the lava as it was flowing down the mountain side. You might be able to see the glow of it if you go in the evening. read more

Stop in for a drink. People were friendly. Drinks were reasonable. Bartender was great. Worth checking out if you are in the area and want to experience something different. read more

Beautiful beach that was created in 2008. Did I get that right? Leave the island for a few years and there are new beaches ... Got to love Hawaii. Cruzed down here for sunrise after camping at Volcano National Park. Was beautiful but had some people who seemed to be living down there. One asked me for a lighter, when i said that I didn't have one things turned. Got yelled at the leave " dis beach haole." Probably a fluke situation but I would be aware in this place. Especially early morning or a dark. read more

Not a lot of beach yet but cool black sand place to hang out. Waves too rough for me.

What an awesome, interesting beach! So unique! We loved it! It's farther than you think, the 137 rd goes on forever but it's definitely worth the drive! read more

Stunning! It is amazing to cross the expanse of lava flows and see this tiny, comparatively new beach. Go early to have a chance of somewhat safely dipping your toes--it disappears at high tide. Also, read up on your Kalapana history before going. read more

A very wonderful odd experience seeing white foam on a black sand beach. The beach is located at the most southern point of Route 137. Turn right and follow that road until you come to a small parking lot. The sand beach is just a little bit of a walk away. It's a small beach and the sand isn't anything like Kailua Beach quality but it is very interesting to see. Absolutely not a place to swim. Just a very very nice view. read more

Once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the shear wonder and force of nature! Tall walls of black lava deposited 25 years ago, and the beautiful surf is quickly and efficiently turning it into a glittering black sand beach. Well worth coming literally to the end of the road (HI 137) to see this! read more

Take 132 which runs along the coastline and provides a scenic view. We had kids with us so the first option black beach was passed which lead us to where highway 132 ends and the harden black lava begins. We did the hike with a two-year-old and nine-year-old and 15-year-old. I Honestly did not think that they would be interested in looking at black sand but I was wrong, this was a highlight of that days exploration. read more