The 7 Best Black Sand Beaches in Hawaiʻi

When it comes to beaches, Hawaiʻi has more than white sand beaches. There are the familiar white sand options, of course, but there are also black, red, and even green sand beaches to discover throughout the islands.

While red and green are rare and harder to reach, black sand beaches are plentiful and easy to visit on Maui and the Big Island. These are our favorites.

1: Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach [Big Island]

We put Punaluʻu first for its location, sand quality, wildlife, and conveniences: lifeguards, restrooms, vendors, water fountains, and ample parking.

Just a short ride from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Punaluʻu has some of the highest quality black sand in the islands. Rows of tall palm trees line the rocky shoreline, with plenty of space to spread out a towel. Green sea turtles rest on the roped-off sand here most days.

People come and go throughout the day, most taking a quick walk and some photos of the turtles. If you want to settle in for longer, we recommend setting up shop on the northern end, away from the main parking lot, where there is less foot traffic.

The best place for swimming it at the protected cove at the north-eastern side of the beach

Read more: in our Punaluʻu Beach visitor guide.

Good to know: Lifeguarded with restrooms and picnic tables,. Bring provisions with you: as of August 2026 the nearby Punaluʻu Bake Shop is closed after storm damage from Hurricane Lala.

Video: You can get a good impression of Punaluʻu from the following video made by the good people of droneandslr.com:

2: Wai’anapanapa Black Sand Beach [Maui]

Whether you’re driving the Road to Hāna or simply looking to beach hop, don’t miss Waiʻanapanapa on Maui’s northeast coast. The state park has dark black sand and a craggy, black volcanic landscape, with large rocks and sea arches backdropped by the lush green jungle. The park also has seabirds, blowholes, and heiau (temples), while you can walk the coastline on small paths.

Waiʻanapanapa still requires reservations to visit, even for the day. The system began during the pandemic and and the state keeps it to limit crowds. Learn more and reserve your spot here. The reservation system is tedious and kills spontaneity.

Waiʻānapanapa State Park on Maui has a black sand beach, tide pools, seabird colonies, lava tubes, blowholes, freshwater caves, and a natural stone arch. Photo by Rich Hay on Unsplash

Read more: in our guide to Maui beaches.

Good to know: Tent camping and cabin rentals are available at Waiʻanapanapa (permit required), and and staying overnight gives you the beach after the day-trippers leave.

3: One’uli Black Sand Beach [Maui]

Oneʻuli has good snorkeling on Maui for a black sand beach.

Quietly tucked away on Maui’s southwest shore, Oneʻuli has mostly calm conditions and a large, healthy reef. The beach is small and quiet, with part of the beach backed by reddish sea cliffs. Bring your own snorkel gear, or rent some in Kīhei. There are no vendors at the beach.

Read more: about Oneʻuli beach here.

Good to know: Just south of Oneʻuli is the more well-known Makena Beach State Park. It has soft white sand,. We recommend visiting both while you are in that area of the island.

Video: Get a first impression and learn how to get to Oneʻuli beach in the following video:

4: Kaimū Black Sand Beach [Big Island]

Though swimming and snorkeling are not recommended at Kaimū, it is a must visit for those interested in volcanic history and the formation of black sand beaches.

Located in Kalapana, Kaimū Bay was filled with lava in a 1990 eruption, destroying property and repaving the coastline. Today, you reach the beach by a short hike across the lava fields,.

Tip: visit this beach as part of one of our favorite scenic drives on the Big Island!

If you look closely you can see that the black sand at the beach consists of many small parts of crushed lava rock.

Read more: Take a look at our complete guide to Kaimū Beach for more information on its history and how to explore it. Wear close toed shoes so you can walk/hike along the coast and explore this “freshly paved” area.

Good to know: How old are you? This beach was formed in 1990, making it younger than many people who visit.

5: Richardson’s Beach [Big Island]

Richardson’s Beach in Hilo is easy to reach and kid-friendly.

The bay is protected by large rocks and is a marine conservation area, , good for beginner snorkeling. Lifeguarded, with many tidepools; families can spend a half day or more here.

When there, pick up a handful of sand and look closely. You’ll see it is mostly made up of black sand, but also green sand as well (olivine crystals).

The black sand at Richardsons is mixed with olivines, making it an “almost green sand beach”.

Read more: For more information, read our guide to Richardson’s Beach.

Good to know: There are several other beach parks in the vicinity, including Lehia Beach Park and Leleiwi Beach Park. Explore them while you’re in the area. For a lunch picnic, pick up some poke to-go from Suisan Fish Market in Hilo.

6: Kehena Beach [Big Island]

To visit Kehena, you’ll have to travel deep into the Puna District along the Big Island’s southeast coast. Kehena sits well off the main tourist trail.

Sunken and butted up against jagged sea cliffs, Kehena Beach is a small cove, with bright green foliage and trees that provide shade. It gets busy on weekends: it is small, clothing-optional, and popular with locals.

Kehena Beach is a narrow black sand beach located on the east shore of the island of Hawaii, in the Puna district. Image by Oleg Chursin on Unsplash.

Good to know: Swimming is typically possible at Kehena, but there is no lifeguard. When in doubt, do not swim.

7: Waipi’o Beach [Big Island]

Some may argue that Waipiʻo Beach’s sand is more grey than black, and we agree; it is certainly not as dark-colored as some of the others on this list. That understood, its surrounding scenery – which include tall cliffs, giant waterfalls, and a lush green valley – so we still include it.

Stop at the Waipiʻo Valley lookout for a photo of the coastline. Since February 2022 a county emergency rule has barred all pedestrians from the road down, and driving it is limited to county residents, permitted tour operators, and Native Hawaiians exercising traditional rights, so so visitors reach the beach on the Waipiʻo Valley Shuttle. Much of the valley floor is private property, so stay on the public roads and access trails.

Turn right once you reach the valley floor to get to this beautiful black sand beach. Image credit: Georgios Tsiminis

Read more: in our guide to Waipiʻo Valley.

Good to know: The steep road that descends down into Waipiʻo Valley and leads to the beach is fragile and is often closed to non-residents. Be sure to check the road’s status before visiting.

What makes black sand beaches, black?

Black sand beaches are formed when eruptions enter the sea and the rapid cooling of the lava causes it to explode into tiny grains of volcanic glass.

All black sand beaches have the obvious in common, but they differ in size, shape, and what you can do there. We rank them in an order here; however, which one is best depends on what you want from a beach. Also, this list is not exhaustive, so keep your eye out for other (mostly smaller) black sand beach coves as you explore the islands.

And where do white sand and green sand come from?

Green and black sand have a common origin: volcanoes. In contrast to most white sand beaches around the world, the white sand beaches on Hawaiʻi is mostly made of shells from marine organisms and coral fragments that is broken down by mechanical erosion (waves) and biological erosion (by fishes that feed on coral). Our guide explains how black, white, and green sand each form.

Roughly 90% of Green Sand Beach’s sand is olivine crystal. You can find it close to South Point on the Big Island

Why are there no black sand beaches on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi?

Since black sand beaches are the remnants of eruptions, the black volcanic glass dissipates over time. Which means the older the island, the less likely you are to find high concentrations of black sand. This is why you find the most black sand beaches on the youngest island, the Big Island.

Both islands do have some “grey” sand beaches (Hauʻula on Oʻahu, Waimea Beach in south Kauaʻi, for example). However, when you compare them to any of the beaches on the list above, you’ll see a stark contrast in both the composition and color. For that reason, we can’t exactly classify them as “black sand beaches.”

Both islands do, however, have spectacular beaches. Our Oʻahu and Kauaʻi beach guides map the best of each:

• 28 wonderful beaches to visit on Oʻahu
• Our favorite Kauaʻi beaches (including map)