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Definitely a must stop on the big island. There is plenty of parking and facilities. The beach itself is beautiful. I had read the sand was not really black, but gray but it was jet black. There was a long shoreline mixed with volcanic rock and soft sand. There was also 2 large sea turtles sunbathing
Punaluu Beach is the perfect beach for experiencing the Black Sand of the Big Island. While it's not a place for playing in the sand, since it's so rough, getting to see and walk along such black sand was very interesting and unlike anything I've seen on Earth before. Even though we were only there for about 20 minutes, it was my favorite part of our visit to the Big Island!
A far far drive, but well worth every minute! Punalu'u Beach is a gem, wonder of the Earth! The black sand beach is absolutely stunning! I appreciate the the boundaries they have in place to protect the turtles from tourists and keep their environment as sacred and safe as possible. It's truly a spiritual experience and a must visit!
We stopped here for just a bit while we were on our way to volcanoes national Park. We were with a geologist with Hawaiian GEO tours. You can climb the lava rocks and enjoy the amazing waves that are coming in or you can walk over to the black beach. We were told the black beach is formed as the lava from volcanic eruptions hits the water it ends up, exploding somewhat, and creating this black sand beach. It's warm to the touch. The green sea turtles love to come here and lay in the sand as it helps regulate their body temperature so the beach has cordoned off an area for them so they have a safe spot to rest. There are restrooms here as well as a pretty large picnic shelter as this seems to be a stop on many excursions on this island. It's free and everything was fairly clean. We really enjoyed this amazing part of the world.
I am so thankful that my friend brought me here, it was special seeing black sand for the first time! With two parking lots, there's plenty of parking available. Another plus was seeing Lifeguards available. They must have certain hours because towards the end of the day, they announced via bullhorn, that they were leaving and if you needed a lifeguard, call 9-1-1 if no one was around to help. There is a coned off/Restricted area for sea turtles. Please obey federal and state laws that protect our turtles. They were here first and should be allowed to bask in the sun without being harassed! Clean bathroom is also available if needed. Enjoy a lovely day at the beach!
Great scenic drive to this black sand beach. It is located past the volcano crater national park about 35 minute drive. Sand is like no other and you will definitely see green sea turtles on the beach. There are public restrooms that are not so clean but will work. Parking was accessible without fees. Water was cold but your feet will get used to it lol. Definitely need water shoes or similar.
Absolutely worth a stop at this breathtaking black sand beach. The sea turtles are incredible and swim close to the shore. It's picturesque and easy to access. If you want to walk out into the water it is worth wearing good water shoes. The shoreline is very rocky and painful to navigate barefoot.
A black sand beach complete with green turtles? What's not to love? I was so happy to visit this beach that had turtles right at the shore to observe (from at least 20 feet away!). It's very cool to see black sand created by lava flows, too. I didn't go into the water when I was there, but it was still a sweet, short visit.
First and foremost this is the most famous black sand beach on the island where the tours take everyone. The beach is beautiful and you can see lots of turtles in the water and sometimes on the beach. That said, there are less congested beaches on the island. This one has a sketchy run down old village type area by some parking if you drive there you might see. They have bathroom facilities. They have shopping vendors for souvenirs. The beach was packed with people. We came later in the day even around 3pm. But it was during spring break and probably high tour time. It's a must see, but expect a lot of people. We did find some spots away from people to take photos because I didn't want tons of people in my background. Also, toward the time we were leaving people were also starting to clear out in some of the areas. I'd recommend coming early or later. Avoid mid day.
My favorite beach on Big Island! ... because of the sea turtles. I was lucky and saw 15 just chilling. I stayed for two hours just watching them. The black sand is cool too. It's more like pebbles so i would wear shoes or flip flops with a thick sole. There's a little shop that sells turtle related souvenirs and clothing. Plenty of parking. If I'm in Big Island again I'm going to definitely come back.
Punalu'u is a great black sand beach that we stopped out in the afternoon during a driving tour. Our tour guide pointed out the protected area where you can spot green sea turtles but we weren't very lucky that day. The views are beautiful but keep in mind the black sand is also very hot so I don't recommend you walk on it barefoot.
Definitely stop by the hut on the beach to buy merch from the locals! ;) The parking on the sand can be super tight and crowded, but there's parking off the side in the lot if you don't mind a short walk. If you're lucky, you'll see someone selling fresh produce!
This is a nice beach with restrooms, beautiful black sand and cool black lava that goes right to the ocean. If you're lucky you can also see sea turtles on the beach! But make sure to give them space and don't touch them :)
2 months ago
5 days ago
I'll admit that we probably did this one wrong. Trying to do both green and black sand beaches in the same day with the drive to/from Hilo is a lot. Compared to the green sand beach that we had just been to, this one, to be honest, was sort of underwhelming. If you're going counterclockwise around Ninole Loop Road, the first, to me the main, parking lot was full, so we went to the second lot or middle lot. There is probably space for twenty cars if people parked normally or weren't meandering around, but we didn't get that. Instead, we got the last space all the way up front on the left side and most people were parking like douches - sort of diagonal here, there and everywhere. Add in the roaming chickens and the people selling a few different produce items like sugar cane or coconuts while taking up multiple spaces and it was a show. Sadly, no turtles that day but on the plus side, it was windy and overcast so the sand was not blazing hot. Overall, nobody was in the water. Just a lot of walking around and looking at the Temu grade black sand beach merch for sale from the bodega next to the lot. On the off chance that a return trip was ever made, we should probably just focus and spend more time here to give it a fair chance. In the meantime, I'll give it a generous four spot but in reality, it was more like a three. read more
4 months ago
We made a brief stop while on route to Volcanoes National Park. We were able to get one of the vacant parking spots in the lot on a Saturday morning. First thing first, take a photo of the sign. Then a walk onto the black sand. We kept walking until we approached an area that was cordoned off. The first clue to something unexpected. The Hawaiian green turtle, the honu. Whenever I'm on a Hawaiian island one of my check off items is to see a honu on the beach. I was happy to see them early start on my week long vacation. Parking can be challenging, but fortunately we got one of the few empty spots. read more
Definitely a must stop on the big island. There is plenty of parking and facilities. The beach itself is beautiful. I had read the sand was not really black, but gray but it was jet black. There was a long shoreline mixed with volcanic rock and soft sand. There was also 2 large sea turtles sunbathing read more
2 months ago
Punaluu Beach is the perfect beach for experiencing the Black Sand of the Big Island. While it's not a place for playing in the sand, since it's so rough, getting to see and walk along such black sand was very interesting and unlike anything I've seen on Earth before. Even though we were only there for about 20 minutes, it was my favorite part of our visit to the Big Island! read more
11 months ago
A far far drive, but well worth every minute! Punalu'u Beach is a gem, wonder of the Earth! The black sand beach is absolutely stunning! I appreciate the the boundaries they have in place to protect the turtles from tourists and keep their environment as sacred and safe as possible. It's truly a spiritual experience and a must visit! read more
We stopped here for just a bit while we were on our way to volcanoes national Park. We were with a geologist with Hawaiian GEO tours. You can climb the lava rocks and enjoy the amazing waves that are coming in or you can walk over to the black beach. We were told the black beach is formed as the lava from volcanic eruptions hits the water it ends up, exploding somewhat, and creating this black sand beach. It's warm to the touch. The green sea turtles love to come here and lay in the sand as it helps regulate their body temperature so the beach has cordoned off an area for them so they have a safe spot to rest. There are restrooms here as well as a pretty large picnic shelter as this seems to be a stop on many excursions on this island. It's free and everything was fairly clean. We really enjoyed this amazing part of the world. read more
I am so thankful that my friend brought me here, it was special seeing black sand for the first time! With two parking lots, there's plenty of parking available. Another plus was seeing Lifeguards available. They must have certain hours because towards the end of the day, they announced via bullhorn, that they were leaving and if you needed a lifeguard, call 9-1-1 if no one was around to help. There is a coned off/Restricted area for sea turtles. Please obey federal and state laws that protect our turtles. They were here first and should be allowed to bask in the sun without being harassed! Clean bathroom is also available if needed. Enjoy a lovely day at the beach! read more
Great scenic drive to this black sand beach. It is located past the volcano crater national park about 35 minute drive. Sand is like no other and you will definitely see green sea turtles on the beach. There are public restrooms that are not so clean but will work. Parking was accessible without fees. Water was cold but your feet will get used to it lol. Definitely need water shoes or similar. read more
3 months ago
Absolutely worth a stop at this breathtaking black sand beach. The sea turtles are incredible and swim close to the shore. It's picturesque and easy to access. If you want to walk out into the water it is worth wearing good water shoes. The shoreline is very rocky and painful to navigate barefoot. read more
A black sand beach complete with green turtles? What's not to love? I was so happy to visit this beach that had turtles right at the shore to observe (from at least 20 feet away!). It's very cool to see black sand created by lava flows, too. I didn't go into the water when I was there, but it was still a sweet, short visit. read more
First and foremost this is the most famous black sand beach on the island where the tours take everyone. The beach is beautiful and you can see lots of turtles in the water and sometimes on the beach. That said, there are less congested beaches on the island. This one has a sketchy run down old village type area by some parking if you drive there you might see. They have bathroom facilities. They have shopping vendors for souvenirs. The beach was packed with people. We came later in the day even around 3pm. But it was during spring break and probably high tour time. It's a must see, but expect a lot of people. We did find some spots away from people to take photos because I didn't want tons of people in my background. Also, toward the time we were leaving people were also starting to clear out in some of the areas. I'd recommend coming early or later. Avoid mid day. read more
2 years ago
My favorite beach on Big Island! ... because of the sea turtles. I was lucky and saw 15 just chilling. I stayed for two hours just watching them. The black sand is cool too. It's more like pebbles so i would wear shoes or flip flops with a thick sole. There's a little shop that sells turtle related souvenirs and clothing. Plenty of parking. If I'm in Big Island again I'm going to definitely come back. read more
Punalu'u is a great black sand beach that we stopped out in the afternoon during a driving tour. Our tour guide pointed out the protected area where you can spot green sea turtles but we weren't very lucky that day. The views are beautiful but keep in mind the black sand is also very hot so I don't recommend you walk on it barefoot. read more
Definitely stop by the hut on the beach to buy merch from the locals! ;) The parking on the sand can be super tight and crowded, but there's parking off the side in the lot if you don't mind a short walk. If you're lucky, you'll see someone selling fresh produce! read more
This is a nice beach with restrooms, beautiful black sand and cool black lava that goes right to the ocean. If you're lucky you can also see sea turtles on the beach! But make sure to give them space and don't touch them :) read more
2 years ago
DAY 5 of Vacation - We came here to cool off after a three hour volcanic hike at the Kilauea Iki Crater. We wanted to visit a Black Sand Beach, and Punalu'u beach was about 40 min away. Parking: There is no actual parking lot, so we just followed an area where a bunch of other cars parked. Most likely you'll park on the sand or dirt road. This beach was absolutely beautiful and none like any other beaches I've visited. It had true black sand! Of course it is not recommended to swim in this ocean, but I saw some people snorkeling. There are many things to see near the shore. Careful because the shore is rocky, but the sand was soft. Highly recommend visiting this Black Sand Beach! read more
2 years ago
I have heard about the Black Sand Beach for many years. I was so fortunate to finally make the visit while vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii. Families come out to spend a leisure day, bring towels, chairs, ice chest, snacks and a canopy if you can. There was one food truck and another trailer/shop for buying souvenirs. An important thing to note is that the Sand is thick and made of small rocky pebbles, wear sandals, NOT flip-flops with a thin sole. The beach is located about 90 minutes away from the Kona Coast where we were staying. I loved the drive there to see the beautiful sights and small cities along the way. This is a must-see destination, enjoy what nature has to offer. Don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary and Mother Nature sent ya! read more
10 months ago
10 months ago
We were fortunate enough to see the sea turtles. Parking was limited. There is a paid parking spot a short walk away. The sand was black. There are restrooms in a structure near too. read more
If you want to see black sand and turtles, make the drive (2 hours in my case), to Punalu'u Beach. Although I saw kids playing in the choppy water, it's not good for snorkeling. However, there are tide pools where you can see baby eels and turtles on the beach eating and sleeping amongst the rocky shore. In order to protect the turtles, there is a short wall on the beach with a sign that reads, Keep Out and a lifeguard to keep on eye out on guests getting too close to the turtles. Thus, there are many guests taking photos of the turtles from the turtles' protected barrier. In addition to turtles, the beach has bathrooms and an outdoor rinse shower. Interestingly, the sand doesn't really stick to your skin and you can easily shake it off. When we went on a Saturday, there was plenty of parking in the lot and a covered area with picnic tables. read more
Likes: Lots of parking spots, shower, restrooms, food vendors, lifeguard, shaded resting area Dislikes: Very wavy and rocky not good to swim, black sands so hard to see, not good for snorkeling, people say there're lots sea turtles but didn't see any read more
2 years ago
We had seen Richardson beach in Hilo which is a smaller black sand beach, but we decided to stop here on our way to Kona. There are 2 parking lots when you first arrive, a small one and a medium sized one. Check the second lot if the first one is full. We were glad we stopped here because feeling this black sand was different. It was very shiny and not wet at all. I'm not really sure how to describe it but you'll understand what I mean when you touch it. It was very windy when we visited and no one was in the water because the water was very rough. read more
Casually known as "Black Sand Beach" and it's exactly that. Quite unique. Smaller free parking lot attached but if you walk about 5 minutes, there is a much larger free parking lot. Scenic beach with iconic views. We spotted a couple of very lard turtles hanging out in the water. There is some sandy beach area to hang out. read more
Punalu'u Beach is one of the best black sand beaches to be found. The fine black sand is easy on the feet and the shoreline with the tall palm trees makes for some magnificent photos. The wave activity can make it challenging to swim or snorkel. It was quite windy during my visit. While visiting Punalu'u, I was able to spot three sea turtles. The area was marked off and everyone was respectful to keep their distance. Apparently turtles visit here often. This is a must stop, when visiting the Big Island. read more
Free parking and one of the most beautiful black beaches you will find on the island of Hawaii! I'm normally more wordy than this, but I have some catching up to do here in Yelp from our trip... This beach is also a great spot to see Hawaiin green sea turtles! Speaking of wildlife... Along with the normal goats and chickens we also had a wild hog and two babies run across on the road leading from the beach back the main road. We also saw a couple of mongoose running around the parking lot... While you are in Hawaii please spend some time and learn the history and the true culture of the Hawaiian islands. As long as you are in the area make sure you check out the local shopping and restaurants! read more
A great stop if you want to experience one of Hawaii's famous black sand beaches. Absolutely beautiful beach with wonderful views of the ocean from overlooks. Wasn't quite sure what I was expecting, but this far surpassed it. It was so peaceful and relaxing to just stand and watch the ocean. The rocks and sand are a lot smoother than I expected, but I was wearing shoes the whole time so can't comment on walking barefoot. If you're lucky, you'll see some turtles while you're here. They have a rock turtle enclosure on the beach that turtles will swim onto and lay out on - we were lucky enough to have a turtle laying out during our visit! Waters were rougher while we were here - wouldn't really recommend swimming in it. They have a couple stands on the beach selling souvenirs, snacks, and drinks, but they are cash only so make sure to either bring your own water and food or have some cash on you. They have some clean bathrooms (always a plus!), but they were out of soap during our visit so make sure you carry some hand sanitizer on you. I wouldn't make this a whole day adventure, but definitely worth a stop for an hour or so to enjoy the black sand, the beautiful ocean, and (hopefully) some turtles. read more
2 years ago
This is a must stop when visiting the Big Island, the natural beauty of the Black Sands is so unique, got to see a few Sea Turtles taking a break on the shore, the parking lot is kind of small for such a popular destination so be prepared to wait for an available spot. read more
3 years ago
This place is another great creation of God. Very blessed to have come here. There are restrooms and lifeguard. We were here just as he announced he's about to leave. He cautions the beach goers of high rip tides before leaving. Also a great place to see turtles although there was none ashore while we came. But saw some swimming. read more
I've been fortunate to visit this beach 3 times and it's such a cool spot to go to! Every time I've gone there has been sea turtles. The black sand is definitely impressive. There's a lot of space to park but even on the Thursday we were there, space was limited! They had a lifeguard on duty. Waves were pretty choppy, so we didn't go in the water but several people were visiting the beach this day. read more
A must stop on the Big Island. We went to experience the black sand beach. It is very cool. Locals and tourists are both relaxing on the sand. A lifeguard is watching the snookers in the bay. In a protected space there are sea turtles basking in the sand. There's a covered picnic area as well as restrooms. read more
Like most others, this was a nice pitstop en route to driving to the Volcano from Kailua-Kona. You should definitely make time to stop by as it's worth your while. The black sand is like no other sand (even the black sand beach at Polollu Valley Lookout -- on the north side of the island near Hawi). When wet, it looks like caviar! And, it doesn't stick to your skin after it dries read more
1 year ago
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More info about Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
96-876 Government Road
Pahala, HI 96777
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(808) 961-8311
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14 years ago
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