Dyed only after being splashed with ink? Hawaii’s ultra-pure “Black Sand Beach”

Reported and photographed by Reporter You Ru / Hawaii

Beaches around the world come in all kinds of shapes and forms, but Hawaii is home to a uniquely distinctive “black sand beach.” Here, the sand isn’t just pitch black—when you hold it in your hand, you can see the gleaming luster of the black grains shining under the sunlight, as if black ink had been splashed across the shore, creating an otherworldly and mysterious atmosphere.


▲A pure black beach that looks as if it has been splashed with ink.

Among the islands of Hawaii, there are world-rare green, red, and black sand beaches. One of the most famous “black sand beaches” is located on the Big Island of Hawaii (KONA), about a half-hour flight from Honolulu. The Punaluu Black Sand Beach, situated on the southeast coast of the Kau region, is home to this renowned black sand beach. Due to ongoing volcanic activity, high-temperature lava flows into the seawater. Over time, the impact of the waves breaks down the magnesium and iron minerals in the lava, which then deposit along the shoreline, forming the rare black sand. This is also one of the distinctive features of volcanic islands.


▲%It is said that the process is not a one-time event, but occurs repeatedly, allowing you to see black sand glistening under the sunlight even while strolling along the shore.

The Punaluu Black Sand Beach is located between the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the small town of Naalehu. In addition to the abundance of the commonly seen coconut trees, giant Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) are also frequently spotted here. When the reporter visited the black sand beach, they even witnessed green sea turtles laying eggs. Visitors walking on the black sand beach must be cautious to avoid disturbing the natural ecosystem. It’s particularly important to note that due to the terrain, swimming is not suitable here, and the black sand grains should never be taken away, in order to preserve the area’s pristine and beautiful environment.


▲%Beware that the area is home to a large number of the aforementioned giant turtles, which are often seen along the shore.