Wai‘anapanapa State Park is a 120-acre tropical paradise on the Hawaiian island of Maui with a unique and spectacular black sand beach, sea stacks, stone arches, lava caves and blowholes.

The fine black sand was created by thousands of years of powerful surf pounding the volcanic basalt rocks that surround the beach.

The beach is located just outside the town of Hana and is popular for sunbathing, swimming, and long walks across the wide expanse of dark sand.

The rough rock formations around the beach provide shelter for many birds and sea turtles.

There are a number of local legends linked to the Wai‘anapanapa, meaning ‘glistening waters’, which Hawaiians consider sacred.

Wai‘anapanapa, Hana, Maui, Hawaii

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