Can you drive to the Black Sand Beach in Hawaii?

The easiest way to get to Punalu'u Beach is to drive. To get to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach from Hilo or Kona, take the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) south. Then turn off onto Ninole Loop Road, which is also the entrance for the Sea Mountain Resort. There is a car park right by the beach.



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Getting to Maui's Black Sand Beach To find the park, head east out of Kahului. After about two hours along the Road to Hana (Hana Highway), you'll turn left onto Honokalani Road. Then, turn left onto Waianapanapa Road and follow it until you arrive at the Honokalani parking lot.

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However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. The Road to Hana is about 65 miles long, but don't let this relatively short distance fool you. You'll want to budget your time for slow, careful driving and any stops that you might like to take.

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The roads can get a little dicey, especially if you're starting from the Seven Sacred Pools. The highway can get extremely narrow, bumpy, and turn into a one-lane road. Not to mention the local goats that have free reign. These little guys can surprise you if you're not careful.

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It is a beautiful adventure if you're up for the drive. It's possible to do the Road to Hana in one day but it takes an early wakeup and some prep work to maximize your day of driving.

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The sand is compositionally immature meaning that it is very vulnerable to weathering and breaks down easily. Something to think about- make sure you wear shoes on the black sand beaches because they are considerably hotter than white sand beaches.

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Can You Walk Barefoot on Black Sand Beach? Like any sand on a warm summer day, Black Beach can get very warm as well. Since the sand is more like very fine pebbles, I would recommend wearing shoes or sandals when it's hot or even on a normal day if you have sensitive feet.

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This depends on what type of traveler you are and how much time you have. If you'd rather not drive, and you want a guide you can ask questions to, a Hana van tour is the best option. If you want a little more control over where you go, and you want to do your own research, driving is your best option.

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It's best to be on the road, leaving your resort by at least 7:30 am. If you start late, the Road to Hana can be crowded with other drivers. That can mean that you might find yourself crawling along behind slower drivers at time.

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Tip 2: Take nausea medicine. I have a friend who took medicine before going on the Road to Hana and her group still had to turn back because she got so sick. Getting motion sickness is pretty common along this fairly wind-y road so if you can prepare in advance, that will help immensely.

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On the back road to Hana you'll drive along some dirt roads, over cliffs with rusty guardrails and along narrow coastal roads.

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