Punalu’u Beach on Hawaii Island’s south side is known for its jet black sand, created over the years by surf constantly wearing away at the lava that flowed here centuries ago.
This picture looks at those two pieces–the ocean and the lava rock–undergoing the same process, expanding Punalu’u’s sandy shore of the future. To the other direction, lies the current black sand beach.
The beach is filled with green sea turtles, jet black sand, and loads of visitors. It is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon watching the churning ocean and feeling the breeze. On warmer days when the wind is calm the beach can be difficult to walk because it collects so much heat.
