Punalu'u Black Sand Beach runs about 275m (0.3km) along the Hawaii (Big Island) coast — a short stretch by Hawaiian standards. It faces south-east so it catches the morning sun. There are 3 mapped parking areas nearby, the closest about 32m from the sand. On-beach facilities mapped here include shower, toilets, drinking water.
Getting there & parking
Closest mapped parking is about 32m from the sand, with 3 parking areas within 600m. At least one is marked free.
Distances are to the nearest point of the beach. Only formal, mapped parking areas are counted — informal roadside and verge parking is common in Hawaii and is not recorded in OpenStreetMap, so there may be closer options than shown.
What's there
| Toilets | yes nearest 39m |
| Showers | yes nearest 17m |
| Drinking water | yes nearest 48m |
| Changing rooms | not mapped |
| BBQ | not mapped |
"Not mapped" means OpenStreetMap has no record — it may still exist on the ground.
Where it is
Who it suits
- Families and long days — toilets nearby and parking close to the sand
- Early starts — sunrise is over the water year-round, from 5:44am in June
- Arriving without a car — 2 bus stops are mapped within 500m
Derived from mapped features, not opinion.
When to go
Driest months are June, May, April. Warmest are August, July, September.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79.4 | 65.0 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 79.9 | 64.9 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 79.6 | 65.8 | 4.0 |
| Apr | 80.4 | 67.1 | 1.9 |
| May | 81.6 | 68.2 | 1.4 |
| Jun | 82.5 | 69.7 | 0.8 |
| Jul | 84.0 | 69.9 | 1.9 |
| Aug | 84.5 | 70.6 | 2.9 |
| Sep | 84.0 | 70.3 | 2.8 |
| Oct | 83.9 | 70.1 | 4.1 |
| Nov | 82.0 | 68.8 | 4.0 |
| Dec | 80.5 | 67.1 | 4.0 |
30-year normals (1991–2020) from NOAA NCEI station SEA MTN 12.15, 0.8km away.
Sunrise & sunset at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach
In June the sun is up at 5:44am and down at 7:01pm — 13h 17m of daylight, the longest days of the year here. By December that shrinks to 6:48am–5:47pm, 10h 59m.
This beach looks south-east (137°). The sun sets behind the land from here, not over the water. Sunrise is the one over the water — every month of the year — so this is a morning beach rather than an evening one. The sunrise point itself swings about 50° across the year, from ENE in June to ESE in December.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sun sets toward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6:58am | 6:05pm | 11h 06m | WSW 248° |
| Feb | 6:50am | 6:22pm | 11h 32m | WSW 257° |
| Mar | 6:30am | 6:32pm | 12h 02m | W 268° |
| Apr | 6:04am | 6:40pm | 12h 35m | W 281° |
| May | 5:47am | 6:50pm | 13h 03m | WNW 290° |
| Jun | 5:44am | 7:01pm | 13h 17m | WNW 295° |
| Jul | 5:53am | 7:03pm | 13h 10m | WNW 293° |
| Aug | 6:03am | 6:50pm | 12h 46m | WNW 285° |
| Sep | 6:10am | 6:24pm | 12h 15m | W 273° |
| Oct | 6:16am | 5:59pm | 11h 43m | W 261° |
| Nov | 6:30am | 5:43pm | 11h 14m | WSW 250° |
| Dec | 6:48am | 5:47pm | 10h 59m | WSW 246° |
Times are for the 15th of each month in Hawaii Standard Time. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving, so these hold all year.
Calculated from this beach's coordinates using the NOAA solar position algorithm and checked against US Naval Observatory tables (agreement within a minute). Which direction the sun sets is worked out from the shoreline's orientation, not from the skyline — a headland, an offshore island or high ground behind the beach can hide the last few degrees.
Photos
Where to stay
2 hotels, resorts and rentals are mapped within 1.5km of this beach, the closest about 633m away.
Hotels & resorts nearby2 within 1.5km · nearest 633m
- Sea Mountain · 633m
- Colony One Condominiums · 654m
Mapped lodging from OpenStreetMap — not a complete list of what's bookable.
Booking link is an affiliate link — it costs you nothing extra.
Things to do nearby
Attractions & galleries1 within 1.5km
- Punalu'u Black Sand Beach · 27m
OpenStreetMap rarely records gear rental, so bookable activities are searched via GetYourGuide (affiliate link).
Where Punalu'u Black Sand Beach ranks
- The best-equipped beaches on Hawaii (Big Island) — ranked #2
- Family beaches on Hawaii (Big Island) — ranked #1
- Family beaches in Hawaii — ranked #12
- Hawaii (Big Island) beaches you can park at — ranked #4
- Hawaii beaches you can park at — ranked #20
Positions come from mapped facilities and shoreline orientation, and each list explains exactly how it is ordered.
Other beaches on Hawaii (Big Island)
- Papakōlea Beach · 26.7km · 241m long
- Halapē Beach · 30.2km · 176m long · faces south
- Kapahukapu (Manini Beach) · 57.5km · 48m long · faces south-west
- Magic Sands Beach · 70.8km · 96m long · faces west
- Honl's Beach · 74.7km · 135m long · faces west
Safety
A lifeguard station is mapped at this beach. Staffing and hours vary by season and can change without notice — confirm on arrival and follow posted signs, flags and lifeguard instructions.
Rip currents cause around 100 drownings a year at US beaches and account for over 80% of beach rescues, yet only 44% of beachgoers know it. If caught in one, the National Weather Service advises: flip, float and follow.
Safety guidance from the National Weather Service. Beach Beast is not a safety or rescue service. Conditions change rapidly — always check on arrival, obey posted signs and flags, and follow lifeguard instructions. The absence of a warning here does not mean a beach is safe or patrolled.