Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches we have, with jet black sand and tall, leaning coconut palms. There is a pond with exotic ducks, too, and a natural freshwater wading pool at the far end of the beach that is good for rinsing off after snorkeling with the turtles. The water can be a bit brisk, as this was a popular place for Hawaiians to get fresh water from the many springs that bubble up in the bay. They would swim out with their gourds, slowly turn them upside down over the fresh water to fill them, cover the hole with their finger, and swim back. The word "Punalu'u" actually means "diving spring".

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is located on the southern part of the Big Island of Hawaii about half way between Volcanoes National Park and Na'alehu. It's located right next the Sea Mountain Golf courese. This is a great place to visit where you have a good chance of an encounter with the turtles of Panalu'u Black Sand Beach. A couple of things to keep in mind: Leave the black sand on the beach and don't touch or distress the turtles. These turtles are endangered species and the bacteria transferred to them from our human skin can kill them as they have no immune system for it...

"Honu" - These are the turtles you see during the day.

There is a plaque on the beach telling of the turtle: "The mystical turtle, Kauila, makes her home in the Kau District at Punalu'u Bay. According to Hawaiian mythology, Kauila was empowered with the ability to turn herself from a turtle into human form and would play with the children along the shoreline and keep watch over them. The people of Kau loved Kauila as the guardian of their children and also for her spring, that gave them pure drinking water.

Punalu'u Beach Park is a perfect place for swimming and snorkeling. You can also park yourself under a towering coconut tree for a midday picnic or afternoon nap, or sit for hours watching the action in the park's beautiful freshwater fish pond. The white tips of cresting waves against the deep blue Pacific are beautiful, but it's the astonishing black sand beach that will take your breath away