Punaluu Black Sand Beach

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Punalu'u Black Sand Beach (Photo: Kenya Allmond)

A Sea Turtle resting on Punalu'u Black Sand Beach (Photo: Lisa Weber)

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is a beach near Naalehu, Hawaii on the Big Island of Hawaii that has black sand created by volcanic activity. This occurs when the lava flows into the ocean and explodes when it cools as it hits the ocean. The volcanic activity is now in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Punalu'u is frequented by large Green Sea Turtles, which can often be seen basking on the black sand. Visitors must remain 15 feet from the turtles at all times.

Taking black sand is prohibited but, as with volcanic rocks, local tradition says that if any of the black sand from Punalu'u Beach is taken away from Hawaii that the person that took it will be cursed until it is returned. Camping is permitted at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, though in recent years the campground has been patronized by disorderly visitors known for bothering the sea turtles that frequent Punalu'u), making the park difficult to enjoy on the weekends.

The swimming area is very rocky, and it can be dangerous to swim. Also the beach has a large amount of underground fresh water that flows in it. This fresh water is very cold and looks almost like gasoline mixing with the water. Legend has it that in the time of drought, the early Hawaiians living in the area would dive underwater with a jug to get their fresh water.

[edit] Development

There has been recent controversy over the area because of a proposed development by a Beverly Hills devolopment, Sea Mountain V, that is planning a massive luxury resort. The resort would include 1,800 luxury housing units, a luxury hotel, and a major shopping complex. Many of the local residents as well as outsiders do not support this development because it threatens to destroy the rural community by the introduction of rich vacationers, marginalization of the local residents by providing them with menial, low-income employment, and most importantly, building on the longest, untouched and pristine coastline in the state of Hawai'i.