Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach Maui

Waianapanapa State Park - Maui

Honokalani Black Sand Beach is located in the Waianapanapa State Park. This large beach is set among lava cliffs and the sand is actually small, smooth, lava pebbles. A small sea arch, sea caves, and seaside lava tubes are located in the beach area.

 

This was the most beautiful place that I have ever seen....it is probably the closest thing I can imagine to heaven!

Honokalani Beach with the naturally curving sea arch.

Mini-hike away from the beach....follow stone steps down through a cut-out in an otherwise impenetrable thicket of hau and come to an open cave area.

Anchialine Pool Caves

The water here is crystal-clear...it is also freezing cold.  Like pulling off a band-aid....the best way is to just jump on in.  There was a great ledge for jumping off and I took the plunge.  It was FREEZING!  Their were hidden caves just under what appear to be the main caves walls.....we went back pretty far but without a flashlight it go super dark, super fast and we had to turn around. 

 

The legand of the caves

"Once upon a time, a Hawaiian princess named Popoalaea fled from her cruel husband, the chief Kakae. She hid on the ledge just inside the underwater entrance to this cave. A faithful serving maid sat across from her fanning the princess with a feather kahili, a symbol of royalty. Noticing the reflection of the kahili in the water, the chief Kakae discovered Popoalaea’s hiding place and killed her. At certain times of the year, tiny red shrimp appear in the pool, turning the water red. Some say it is a reminder of the blood of the slain princess.”

The water is pretty cold and we did not venture in...the current was really strong and the waves made me nervous crashing into lava cliffs

 

The black sand beach is composed of small, water-rounded pebbles

Hearing/Seeing the waves crash was stunning!  These photos have not been edited...this is truly what it looks like there.

This blowhole is not a regular, and only delivers sound and small sprays most of the time. But when the surf and tide is right this blowhole can become impressive.  We didn't see any massive sprays but the sound coming from the Blow Hole was really cool.  Kind of like Thunder!

Back in the car to finish the Road to Hana and head back to Wailea!

Windsurfers on the north-eastern coast