Wai'anapanapa State Park

For folks who have visited Maui, they are familiar with Road to Hana. The Road to Hana is a scenic 64.4-mile stretch of highway on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Likely they have driven the road, and if not, they have heard about it. The road is famous even for people who haven't been there. The journey itself is often considered more important than the destination. It's a slow, winding drive with many one-lane bridges and hairpin turns. Typically it takes all day, and the driver of the car takes a lot of toll if you are not doing is slowly. However, for me it was not that tough, and I didn't stop at every point of interest.

I have been to Maui more times than I care to remember. Last year, we have been there twice, once for Spring Break and last time during New Years. Our kids love to drive to Hana, I have no idea why :) But this time around I took them to a black sand beach which they haven't been to. The beach is in Wai'anapanapa State Park, about 10 min by car, NW of Hana.

that's my daughter in the water

Yeah, my kids are spoiled rotten in terms of travelling. That is my little one. I asked my big one, Lia, do you want to continue public school or go to private school (as if that is an option!), if you do if you have to give up a bit of travelling. Obviously NO dad :) Thankfully our kids were not switched at the hospital, my wife and I chuckle :)

Anyways, it used to be that you can get to Wai'anapanapa State Park anytime you want, but not anymore. Now you need a permit and a prior reservation, and it can't be that day. For that specific reason, and the fact that we always travel during school holidays, I have forgotten to reserve the booking in the past and therefore missed it. However, I remembered it this time. The park website says:

Remote, wild, volcanic coastline offering solitude and respite from urban life. Lodging, camping, picnicking, shore fishing and hardy family hiking along an ancient Hawaiian coastal trail which leads to Hana. Excellent opportunity to view a seabird colony and natural stone arch. Other features include native hala forest, heiau (religious temple), sea stacks, blow holes and small black sand beach.

Every word of that is true. You approach the beach from a bluff above, and then you climb a series of stairs to get down to it. See the storm clouds? Yeah, we got the reservation from 3pm-6pm. Trouble is, on the east side of Maui, it often rains in the afternoon, and it rains a lot there. Although it matters little to my kids, but I was wet as a dog during this beach day!

It is mostly basaltic lava rock all aroud the beach. The sand, if you can call it sand, is patch back, and only present right at the shoreline. Further back it is full of large pebbles.

There was a spell when rain stopped and clouds were lifted, and then it is rather wonderful. Plenty of people showed up to enjoy the small beach.

This is the sea arch. It is formed by a collapsed lava tube as it was partially eroded.

In this view it is easy to see the beach at the lava arch, and also the stairway that leads to the beach. I particularly enjoyed the angry storm clouds. With the lush greens over the black lava rocks, that setting is rather dramatic compared to regular sunny day.

I highly commend visiting this place if you are in Maui.

Until then: happy travels!