Experience Endless Natural Beauty At Honomanu Bay, One Of Hawaii's Prettiest Black Sand Beaches
By Megan Shute|Published February 05, 2020
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Hawaii is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in the country — and perhaps even the world. With approximately 750 miles of coastline, the Hawaiian Islands are home to countless incredible beaches in a variety of captivating colors — including black. Stark black sand contrasting with the crystalline waters of the Pacific Ocean make Hawaii’s black sand beaches some of the most beautiful in the world, and if you’ve yet to visit this gem, it should be added to your bucket list immediately.
When most people think of Maui beaches, Honomanu isn’t exactly what comes to mind. Instead of fine, white sand, you’ll find a rocky stretch of black pebbles and sand.
Tucked along Maui’s famous Hana Highway between mile markers 13 and 14 is the stunning Honomanu Bay. Surrounded by lush greenery, this black sand beach is best accessible on foot but worth the trek if you have the time.
While you’ll find a few pull-offs from which to admire Honomanu from afar, there’s only one way to access it for yourself: approximately a half-mile past mile marker 13, there is a steep, often muddy dirt road that leads to the beach. It’s only a five-minute walk, and your jaw will surely drop once you arrive.
The beach itself is rocky and the black sand beach contrasts beautifully against the crystalline water of the Pacific Ocean and the lush, emerald surroundings.
Honomanu Beach isn’t made for swimming: there are no facilities here, and the swimming conditions are poor due to the rocky ocean bottom and dangerous offshore surf and rip currents, but we don’t mind.
Though not found in most guidebooks that detail the islands' many black sand beaches, Honomanu is an off-the-beaten-path gem worthy of a little adventure.
Have you ever experienced the beauty of Honomanu Bay for yourself? What about one of Maui’s other breathtaking colored beaches nestled along the Hana Highway, Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach? Share your experiences with us in the comments below.
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