Punalu'u Beach is a beautiful sight: a beach with a lovely curve and a thick row of palms on one end. Best of all, white foamy waves crash and roll up on black sand. Much of the beach is rocky at the shore but there are some parts with coarse black sand that is lovely to hold in your hands and let drop through your fingers. The day we were there it was wildly windy and the ocean was a fantastic blend of greens, blues, and creamy whites. The water looked like a painter's palette. The road to this beach from Kona is lush and tropical, though winding.

Please don't take any sand home, because besides the possible curse you may obtain from the goddess Pele, you would also be depleting the beach of sand that is finite and does not replenish itself.
This beach has recently become quite crowded with tour bus travelers. It has made it less enjoyable to visit, and the bathrooms are absolutely packed.
It is a twenty minute drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where you can hike and learn about lava flows.

Directions

Between the 55 and 56 Mile marker on Hwy 11.
There are restrooms and there's a faucet to rinse off your feet.

Click on map for interactive view