What is the name of the black sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii?

Punaluʻu Beach is the famous black sand beach on Hawaii’s Big Island.

It lies on the island’s southern coast between the communities of Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu. Its dark sand formed from basaltic lava: when lava reaches the ocean, the sudden cooling and explosive fragmentation can create black volcanic grains that accumulate along the shore. The beach is therefore a product of Hawaii’s active volcanic landscape rather than ordinary darkened coral sand.

Punaluʻu is also known as Black Sand Beach and is valued as habitat for Hawaiian green sea turtles and endangered hawksbill turtles. Visitors may see turtles basking near the shoreline, but they must keep a respectful distance and should not touch or feed them.

A common mix-up is with Waianapanapa State Park on Maui, another well-known black-sand destination. Punaluʻu is on Hawaiʻi Island, commonly called the Big Island, and is associated with the Kaʻū district. Swimming can be hazardous because the nearshore area is rocky and exposed to strong surf, so the beach is better known for its geology and wildlife than for calm bathing.