UPDATED FEB 2020. Last week on the blog, I posted a guide to the Pololu Valley which has a short hike that leads to a picturesque black sand beach. In today’s post, I am sharing a guide to the Punaluu black sand beach. I call it the black sand beach because this family-friendly black sand beach is one of the most popular spots on the island. It’s Hawaii, but not as you know it and you simply cannot visit the Big Island and not stop in to see the sand and turtles. Here’s my practical guide with everything you need to know to plan your visit.
How To Visit The Punaluu Black Sand Beach On The Big Island
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
FAQ for Punaluu Beach
Where is it located?
Big Island, about 90 minutes drive from Kona or just under 90 minutes drive from Hilo.
Is there a cost?
No, it’s free.
How long do you need to spend?
About 1 hour to walk around and take some photos and more if you want to laze on the beach or have a picnic.
What skill do you need to visit?
Beginner to just visit the beach. It’s not a good spot for swimming.
What should you bring with you?
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle (I use a Hydro Flask
or this big jug) - Lightweight towel
- Waterproof camera (I use a GoPro and this floaty selfie stick for swimming and this selfie stick and tripod combo for land adventures)
or 
)
for swimming and 
for land adventures)
How to get there and where to park
You can use ‘Punalu’u Black Sand Beach’ into Google Maps to get there, but for parking, I recommend driving further down and parking in the lot off Ninole Loop Road.
From there you can walk along the beach as far as you want to find a spot to hang out.
What facilities are at Punaluu Beach Park?
There is a parking lot, tables, picnic areas, restrooms, and easy beach access so this is a family-friendly spot to add to your itinerary.
What to expect
It’s a fairly small beach with the main beach area and a few other inlets away from the main area of the beach.
There’s a lot of rocks at the edge of the water and it’s not the best spot for swimming.
It’s more of a place to go to tick it off your Hawaii bucket list, spend a little time to observe the beauty of the area, and maybe even chill out with a picnic.
It’s very cool to see the black sand as it is, but then you also get to see the rugged volcanic rock and it feels like such a foreign landscape for a beach and it’s easy to walk around taking photos of it all.
Can you see turtles at Punaluu Beach?
One of the great things about this beach is that it’s common to see turtles sleeping on the beach.
There was a resting area fenced off for them so that they had a little space to sleep without being disturbed, while you still get to admire them.
The resident turtles at Punaluu Beach
What to do nearby
I stopped here after visiting the Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes Park was quite a full day so the stop at Punaluu was a quick one.
You could also visit South Point to see the southernmost point of the United States.
This is a beautiful spot for sunset, and if you go earlier there is a cliff jump you could do if you are feeling adventurous.
Be sure to use your best judgment to decide if it is suitable for your skill level and always check the surf conditions before you get in the water.
Alternatively, you could visit Punaluu beach after visiting Papakolea – the green sand beach. If you visit one of the golden beaches on the way back to your hotel then you could’ve seen three different colored sand beaches in one day!
On the way back to Kona (if you are staying there), you could stop in at some beaches like Hayden Cove, Makalwena Beach, or Hapuna Beach.
Here’s my guide on things to do on the Big Island for more ideas.
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Where to stay on the Big Island
I stay with my family during my visits to the Big Island, but if I was going to book a hotel I would stay in Waikoloa Village and stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village or Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
If you stay there you will have a lot of stores in the area and I also recommend going to the Lava Lava Beach Club for a cocktail and meal on the beach.
You can also walk along the beach there and are likely to see turtles sleeping on the beach.
If you’d prefer a guesthouse or different area of the island I recommend checking out Booking.com. I use it to book accommodation when I travel and can always find a good deal on their site.
I hope this post can help you plan a visit to the famous black sand beach on the Big Island of Hawaii.
If you found it useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!
On my bucket list when we go to the Big Island later this year.
Awesome, I hope you have a great time!
I use to swim here all the time when I was younger, I can’t believe I could manage cold of the freshwater that seeps through that beach. I still love coming to visit the place and watch the turtles slumber away, makes me want to take a snooze all the time.
Haha, yes they do look so relaxing don’t they!
You mentioned staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, but as a resident I would not advise it unless you support the imprisonment of dolphins
Did not know they had captive dolphins there – gonna look it up.
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