Maui Black Sand Beach
The Maui black sand beach (Honokalani beach) is located in Waianapanapa State Park just past the 32 mile marker on the road to Hana.
The park has facilities that are in short supply along the Hana highway - restrooms, showers, trash cans, drinking water, camping and cabins. You even get a great Hana coast view of Pailoa Bay as soon as you get out of your car in the large parking area.
Honokalani Black Sand Beach
The rocks, high surf, and hot black sand combine to make this more of a photo beach than a sunning or swimming beach.
Honokalani beach was formed by a lava flow that went directly into the ocean while hot, which caused the molten lava to quickly solidify.
Don't overlook the entrance to a small cave at the right of the beach. If you can bend down enough to get through the small opening in the lava rock, you will be rewarded with a small lava rock cavern that has a spectacular view of the ocean and crashing surf right to the mouth of the cave.
The deep layer of round pepples make a unique crunching sound as you walk over them - you can listen to this in the video at the bottom of this page. If you are feeling adventurous, climb up the lava rocks to the opening in the roof of the cave.
There is also a group of lava rocks missing in the wall that provide a window to the crashing surf. You can stand here as the incoming waves crash around you (be careful of rogue waves and high tide).
Waianapanapa State ParkWaianapanapa State Park is a remote, wild, low-cliffed volcanic coastline. The park has lodging, camping, picnicking, shore fishing and hiking along an ancient Hawaiian coastal trail which leads to Hana. The park is home to a seabird colony and anchialine pools. The 122 acres include native hala forest, a legendary cave, heiau (religious temple), natural stone arch, sea stacks, blow holes and a black sand beach. Facilities include restrooms, camping and lodging, outdoor showers, trash cans, drinking water, payphone. The park is open daily and has no entrance fee. Waianapanapa State Park CabinsWai’anapanapa State Park offers cabins for overnight stays. Rates are $45 per night for up to 4 persons and $5 per night for each additional person.Each cabin accommodates up to six persons. The cabins include a kitchen-living room, a bathroom, and 1-3 bedrooms. Each cabin is completely furnished with bedroom and kitchen furniture, electric range, refrigerator, hot shower, bathroom, bedding, linen, towels, dishes, and cooking and eating utensils. The above information is from the State of Hawaii's Maui's State Parks.
Hiking the Piilani TrailIf you like hiking Maui, try the Piilani Trail at Waianapanapa State Park. This is also known as the King's Highway Coastal Trail.
The hiking trail offers spectacular views of tbe Hana Coast and Slopes of Haleakala, as well as stands of native hala screwpine trees and small offshore islets. The hiking trail is a three mile round trip of moderate difficulty up and down barren lava with an elevation gain of 200 feet. Piilani Trail - Detailed DirectionsFrom the State Park make your way to the shoreline at Pailoa Bay (cliff shoreline) and head southeast. The trail is obvious in some areas and less so in others, but it is easy to follow the shoreline where it is not well-marked.Be respectful of gravesites within the park area, please stay outside of these areas, indicated by low stone walls and stone platforms. Pass the park cabins and Ohala heiau (temple) inland of the trail. Continue along the rocky shoreline until you reach a boulder beach, indicating the end of the trail From this point, you can retrace your steps, or follow roads leading to the Hana Highway to return to the park. Allow at least 2 hours for the hike. You may also make a full day of it and continue along the beach to Hana Bay, where food is available and swimming is accessible. Piilani Trail Hiking Rules • Hiking Permit is not required • Mountain Biking is not allowed on the trail • Camping is not allowed on the trail • Stay on the trail • Keep dogs on leash • Pack out at least what you pack in • No open fires • Abide by all park signs such as the one in the picture The above information is from the State of Hawaii's Maui's State Park Hiking Trails.
Maui Black Sand Beach VideoClick on the PLAY button in the image below to view my black sand beach video, including the cave at the right hand side of the beach.
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The quick temperature change caused the lava to shatter into small pieces and form the black rock and sand on the beach.
Once you stoop over some to enter the cave, you are in a large cavernous room with pepples of lava rock for a floor and an opening in the roof.
You hike a rugged coastal trail over largely barren lava.
My Road to Hana Pages
Road to Hana Overview
Road to Hana Guide
...Road to Hana Best Stops
...town of Hana
...past Hana at Seven Sacred Pools
...past Pools on Piilani Highway
Road to Hana Beaches
Maui black sand beach
Hana beaches
Planning & Options
Drive the road to Hana?
Or take a road to Hana tour?
Road to Hana Waterfalls
Watch and View
Road to Hana videos
Road to Hana maps
Road to Hana pictures
Road to Hana Tours
If you want someone else to drive on a road to Hana tour, you have several options:
• Temptation Tours includes a breakfast and beachside lunch, road to Hana stops at waterfalls and beaches, then turnaround at Hana and stop at windsurfing Hookipa Beach on you return trip.
• Valley Isle Excursions is a luxury tour - customized high roof large window 12 person vans, large captain's chairs, and a lunch served with silverware and linens.
• Roberts Hawaii includes a box lunch and a trip all around the road to Hana and beyond. Roberts Hawaii is a value priced company and works with several cruise lines.
If you want to talk to someone right now on Maui about a road to Hana tour, call Barefoot Tours toll free 877-489-3054 (they are on Hawaii time). 
Even if you are on Maui or Hawaii now, or soon will be, they can get your tickets to you by email, fax, mail, or even delivered to the Road to Hana tour operator for last minute ticket reservations.
Tell them Randy Willis sent you and recommended that you ask about their low price guarantee.
I have several free Road to Hana Maui maps on these web pages that you can print and take with you to Maui.
If you want a traditional folded Maui map, I recommend purchasing the folded version of the Frankos Maui map ($6) to give you a good orientation of the Road to Hana.
What makes Frankos maps unique? Descriptions and tips are written right on the map.
So you don't have to read about a destination in a Maui book, then locate that destination on a map.
It's like you scribbled your own personal vacation notes all over your own personal map.
Franko also has a laminated Maui map (great to use as a placemat at home or during your Maui vacation), folded and laminated Maui dive and snorkel maps, and a 6"x9" laminated Maui fish ID card.
If you purchase the map in advance of your Maui vacation, you can spread the map out for some trip planning on the long flight to Maui.
So for a few bucks, you can get some Maui specific maps that focus on what you want to see as a vacationer, rather than a focus on advertisements.
You can just print this page and other pages on this site to build yourself a pretty good free Road to Hana Guide to take with you to Maui.
If you would prefer to have a more conventional printed book, or just want a lot more detail than is provided on these pages, try the Road to Hana category at my Maui Vacation Guides page. They include:
General Maui travel guide books such as Maui Revealed, by far the largest selling Maui guide book, that include Road to Hana maps and chapters.
Specialty books such as Hana Highway: Mile by Mile with Hana maps
Traditional Maui folded maps such as Frankos Maui Guide Map that highlight the Road to Hana
