Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach
Ok, I know this might look like just another black sand beach to you... but, Waianapanapa beach has a few features that make it more interesting than so many others. These features are the reason this beach made my MUST-SEE list for my next trip to Maui. Firstly, there are seaside lava tubes located near the beach area. As long as you're not claustrophobic, these are always fun to explore! The second thing that would be cool to see here is the sea arch... I sense a great photo opportunity here! There is even a sea cave located under this arch! While I'm on the topic of sea caves - there's more than one at Waianapanapa beach. However, it's been said that the BEST one is located under that sea arch. Why is this the BEST cave? Honestly, I don't know... I guess if I'm ever daring enough to see it for myself, I'll find out! It's supposedly possible to get in there if the tide is low and the ocean is calm, BUT, before you decide to try this, please see my cautions about swimming here below. Are you interested in another enticing tidbit about this beach? An ancient coastal footpath called the "King's Highway" goes right past it. You can even follow this trail all the way from the beach to Hana! It was built eons ago for Maui royalty and their messengers. Imagine what it would be like to follow in the footsteps of the old Hawaiian Kings! Apparently, they used this trail to travel all around the island. Today, all parts of this impressive trail are no longer intact, due to a combination of erosion, development, and neglect. But, you CAN access an intact portion of the trail just off the beach. This would definitely be an interesting hike! If you plan on exploring the King's Highway, make sure you wear sturdy shoes and bring lots of water. As you can see, this beach has a lot to offer if you have a bit of an explorer in you! You'll notice that I haven't mentioned swimming here... well, there's a reason for that. This beach is generally NOT considered suitable for swimming due to a dangerous reef and strong currents. Even if the ocean is calm, there are jellyfish to worry about. I'm a HUGE chicken, so a fear of getting stung by a jellyfish would be more than enough to keep ME out of the water here! But geez.... it would be so tempting to venture into the water and check out that sea cave under the sea arch! If you plan on just hanging out on the beach and enjoying the views, you'll be interested to know that the sand here is not the soft, silky sand you're used to from other beaches. It's actually made up of small lava pebbles, so in comparison, it's a bit rough on the feet. But, I've heard that if you spread out a towel, you can still lie comfortably on the beach and enjoy the scenery! Now for some purely practical information: This beach is located in Waianapanapa State Park, which provides picnic areas and restrooms. How do you get to Waianapanapa black sand beach? It's about a 3 hour drive along the Hana Highway from Kahului airport (the turn off is just past mile marker 32). Here is a Google satellite map of the area. Note: Waianapanapa Road is also known as Honokalani Road. More articles of interest: 1) Read about more things to do and places to stay in the Hana area here. 2) And, since one beach can't possibly be enough on a Maui beach vacation, click here to read about our top beach picks! Go to Homepage from Waianapanapa
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