by the water
big island
1.
Richardson Ocean Park
hilo | black sand beach
This was a quick stop, and our first black sand beach experience!
2.
Waipi'o Black Sand Beach
Waipi'o canyon
At the end of our hike through the Waipi'o Canyon we made it out to the black sand beach for a quick sunset and some silly photos running through the tides reflection.
3.
Kealakekua Bay
kona
A killer snorkel spot I would definitely come back to and map out a bit of a deeper water swim haha we got caught swimming over dangerous corals in a really shallow section with a rough tide. We found a really cool spot out beyond the rocks you can walk to and see little ecosystems living in the tide pools.
4.
Papakolea Green Sand Beach
mahana bay | south point
The adventure alone out to this Green Sand Beach is what makes this beach totally worth the visit. Fun fact- the green sand is created by a mineral called olivine which is a primary component of Earth's upper mantle.
5.
Kehena Black Sand Beach
PUNA
Kehena Black Sand Beach felt a bit like home base. We met up with our friends who were living in Hilo a handful of times here. Every time a new adventure: a wild wave we almost got trampled by just trying to pee in the ocean, or the tide that got just a little too high to climb up this huge rock back to our car, and then the most perfect sunsets and nights with the ocean crashing, and us playing with our LED juggling balls.
6.
Honoli'i Beach Park
HILO
Honoli'i Beach Park was probably the first beach we saw on the Big Island people surfing at! We went for our blowup paddle board and took it up the stream from the beach back into a really cool tour of neighboring homes, and bridges overhead. Before we left, a few of us went climbing up to a hang out spot on this tree and I was oh so lucky enough to sit on a bunch of fire ants that left me with some welts on my legs for a good couple of weeks. haha that was a first for sure.