Big Island · Kaʻū
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
Punaluʻu
Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is the best-known black-sand beach on the Big Island, ~30 mi south of Volcano village on Hwy 11. Hawaiian name "Punaluʻu" = "diving spring" — referring to a freshwater spring that emerges through the basalt at the beach (fresh water rises through the seawater because of density difference; pre-contact Hawaiians filled gourds underwater from the rising freshwater plume). Black sand generated by hot Kīlauea lava entering the ocean and fragmenting on contact, sustained over centuries by multiple historic flows. Green sea turtles (honu, Chelonia mydas) commonly haul out; critically endangered hawksbills (honuʻea, Eretmochelys imbricata) occasionally nest — Punaluʻu is one of the few Big Island hawksbill nesting sites. Hawaiʻi County beach park; lifeguard, restrooms, picnic facilities, tent camping by permit. Federal turtle protection: 10+ ft distance, 15+ ft from nesting individuals.
The sea turtles are federally protected. Stay ten feet back from any green turtle, fifteen feet from any nesting hawksbill — the hawksbills are critically endangered and Punaluʻu is one of the few Big Island beaches where they nest. Do not touch them. Do not photograph with flash. Do not remove black sand; it is illegal under county ordinance and the beach has limited replenishment. The site is sacred — both because of the freshwater spring that gives Punaluʻu its name and because of the surrounding heiau remains. Treat the whole beach as part of an active cultural landscape.