ALOHA!
If you are on the Big Island for a volcano vacation, then it is practically a mandatory stop to visit this part of the Puna coast as one of the places on the Big Island to see old lava flows!
You can see the lasting impact of past volcanic activity here.
And you will see these lava flows right by the ocean!
So…
Why visit Kaimu black sand beach?!
1. You can hike on a trail of black sand
2. You are hiking to the ocean where you can see where old lava meets the ocean
3. You can witness the power of the ocean!
4. You can see vast lava fields of old lava flows!
And well, as the name of this place indicates…
5. You can see a black sand beach!
And, the Kaimu black sand beach is a “new” black sand beach at that, also referred to as the New Kaimu black sand beach. It’s said to be created in 1990 from lava flows at that time. Now there’s an even newer one down the road at Pohoiki, that one from lava flows in 2018!
🌋🌴
- Night snorkeling with manta rays
- Mauna Kea summit (highest point in the Hawaiian islands!)
Read more for your Hawaii trip prep:
There are affiliate links on this page.
And now…
More of what you’ll see what a trip to the Kaimu Beach Park!
aka PHOTOS!
I went here in September 2019 and pictures are from that time.
So to get to Kaimu black sand beach, you can have the Kaimu Beach Park as your destination for google maps.
This will eventually take you to a dead end road where you’ll be met with the parking lot for the Kaimu black sand beach trail.
Once here, you’ll see a large expansive area on the coastal side, and you can basically just generally start walking in that direction. You’ll start to see the trail (that starts off as red sand!) and this trail will take you all the way to the coastline! You’ll also start to see more of the lava fields. It will likely take you 10-15 minutes to walk this trail to the ocean.
And once you’re at the shoreline, you can walk all across the lava fields!
And then see the waves crashing against the shore… and the black sand beach!
And then after your hike to see the lava fields and black sand beach…
In normal times, there is a spot where you can grab a bite to eat or drink a smoothie. It’s usually best to have cash for these types of places just in case.
Then you can continue to see more black sand beaches along the Puna coast! And separately, a bit further to the south is the black sand beach that you have a good chance to see turtles!
And for more volcano related activities, be sure to see things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and more places to see old lava flows on the Big Island!
And that’s a bit about a visit to the new Kaimu beach!
If you’re interested in Kaimu Beach, you may also be interested in these Big Island activities:
- Punaluu black sand beach
- Makalawena Beach
- Pololu Valley beach
- How to spend one day hiking to Big Island valley beaches
- Mahana Bay green sand beach
- Big Island lava fields
HAPPY SEEING A BLACK SAND BEACH AND OLD LAVA FLOWS IN KAIMU BEACH PARK!
Here are some ideas for your time on the Big Island!
Among the most popular things to do on the Big Island are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls State Park, and Waipio Valley!
For Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the main road to drive is Chain of Craters Road and it will take you to see the best lava fields in Hawaii! Before that though (or after!) you will want to make a stop for the Thurston lava tube. You can also hike into a former lava lake by doing the Kilauea Iki Trail!
Other Big Island activities you may want to make time for are the best black sand beaches in Hawaii (including Punaluu black sand beach to see turtles maybe!) and the Papakolea green sand beach of Hawaii.
Volcanoes in Hawaii
There was a time in December 2022 that 2 volcanoes were erupting in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
This was a special occasion because even in the past few years, there was a quiet period where there was NO active lava to be seen anywhere in Hawaii.
As the National Park Service says, it was the first time in nearly 40 years that TWO volcanoes were erupting in Hawaii at the same time!
But what seems like nearly just like that, they stopped erupting.
As it goes with volcanoes, things can change in an instant!
So be sure to check National Park Service updates when your Big Island trip gets closer: What's going on with the volcanoes?
Spotted yesterday at #MaunaLoa – a lava boat rides the waves! On Dec 7, a lava boat was spotted floating down channel. Lava boats can form when portions of the cone or lava channel break away & are rafted downstream. Hot lava cools to its surface to create that smooth exterior. pic.twitter.com/D9gdoFolfq
— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) December 9, 2022
👇 Explore the Big Island map on google maps!
See the list:
- Things to do on the Big Island (for VIEWS!)
- Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Things to do in Kona
There are affiliate links on this page. Among other partners, as an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from this.
Top things to pack for your Hawaii vacation!
The ultimate beach towel for travel?!
Turkish towels are considered to be more absorbent and lightweight than your average beach towel. Be sure to check out turkish towels like these!The cheapo way to waterproof your phone
You can take underwater pictures with a simple waterproof phone case like this. Touch screen may not work well underwater - try the volume button to snap the pic instead!Get your suitcase more organized!
Packing cubes can make it so you're spending less time on your vacation looking for things! They are basically a form of drawers in your suitcase. Take a look at these packing cubes.Wear less sunscreen by wearing a UPF swim shirt!
Wearing a swim shirt means less skin that's exposed to the sun which means less sunscreen you need to apply! See about wearing swim shirts with UV protection like these when you're snorkeling.More for your Big Island packing list
- How a cheapo waterproof phone case works
- Why wear water shoes for the beach
- Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean
- Essentials to pack for Hawaii
- Best shoes for Hawaii
Watch the videos to see the Big Island in action!
Find more amazing things to do on the Big Island: Watch my Big Island videos on youtube
If you see an activity you like, look in the description below the youtube video for the individual blog post about that specific activity!ALOHA!
There are affiliate links on this page.