Punaluʻu Beach

Black beach that was formed by volcano debris. Easy to reach by car. We saw two sea turtles here that were protected by boundary. There were a few drink and snack counters. Pretty laid back beach.

Gorgeous black sand- as dark as Oreo dust! We saw five big turtles. This beach is quite rocky but there are a few spots for shallow wading and swimming. Kids had a blast spotting turtles and playing on the rocks. It wasn’t too crowded. A must see if you’re on the big island!

Sparkling black sand beach that usually has green sea turtles, we had the luck to see and endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal on the beach just hanging out. Wear sandals as the sand does get hot 🔥

Beautiful black sand beach. And a beautiful view of the bay. Also saw a couple of green turtles here. Visited this at about 3pm on a weekend, and there were quite a few parking spots available. The beach was also not that crowded at that time. There are restrooms available too.

We really enjoyed this beach! It's beautiful and you can see some sea turtles. There were about 8 turtles huddled together in one area in the beach. And there was a part of the beach with more waves, and a part with fewer waves. Note, if you can't find parking in the main entrance (small parking lot), there is some overflow parking a few minutes of a walk away.

Not black small rocks, not dirty sand, but actual sand in black color, really cool. View is great, wind is strong, and TURTLES!

My favorite beach on the big island. The black sand is so soft on your feet, turtle is laying out, nice breeze, bathrooms nearby, picnic tables. What a great place!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Punalu’u Beach is a stunning, unique spot with its gorgeous black sand and tranquil atmosphere. We were lucky enough to see one sea turtle resting on the shore, which made the visit even more special. The waters here are quite rough, so it’s not ideal for swimming unless you’re an experienced swimmer, and even then, caution is advised. It was great to see a lifeguard on duty and actively watching the beach. I don’t understand the negative reviews – yes, it’s a small beach, but that’s part of its charm! To get here isn’t an easy stretch. If you’re staying in Waikoloa Village (northwest), it’s about a 2:15-2:30 drive each way. But no matter where you go on the Big Island, you’ll be traveling quite a bit to get to these beautiful spots. That said, the journey is well worth it! Highly recommend if you want to experience something special.