Oneuli Beach

"https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/112349359689348/oneuli-beach/ Highlights The only black sand beach in the area Dirt road leads to the shoreline Rarely crowded Less known than other beaches in the area since it’s not well marked and can’t be seen from the road. Those who do know about it usually call it simply Black Sand Beach. It’s on the north (right) side of that large hill in Makena called Pu‘u Ola‘i, and you access it from the short, bumpy, but usually passable dirt road. (Keep an eye out for deer on this road.) Though the gate is supposed to be open during daylight hours, the state opens the gate most of the time, and you'll have to walk .25 miles if they didn't get around to it on your day. Once you’re at the salt and pepper beach, it’s easy to see how it formed. Pu‘u Ola‘i is essentially a large mound of lava cinders created from an enormous lava fountain. Wave action has bitten into the cinder cone, causing the loose black cinders to fall into the ocean where they are ground into black sand. Over the years shells have been pulverized into sand and coral has been...well, processed by parrotfish, adding salt to the pepper. The water at Black Sand Beach is usually calm, but the sand gives way to a lava shelf at the water’s edge, making the swimming marginal. However, the snorkeling can be great, and turtles are very common on the left side near the hill. Visibility is usually cloudy near the shore, so head out and to the left for lots of coral, turtles and fish. If it’s calm, you can snorkel all the way around Pu‘u Ola‘i, and it gets even better. Beware of any currents by occasionally stopping to see if you are drifting. Kayakers sometimes visit the beach, but it’s rarely crowded. How Crowded Often secluded How's the access Pretty easy access with short walk Parking Plentiful"