Black Sand Beach: Turtles, Lava, and Ocean Breezes

Punalu’u Beach

Punalu’u Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii is an exotically beautiful black sand beach known for its sea turtles and scenic views. It’s located about 2 hours from Hilo. The beach is formed by a volcanic rock known as basalt. Here, giant sea turtles, also known as Honu, which are native and endemic to Hawaii, crawl onto the beach and lay their eggs in nests. They’re the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world and can reach lengths of 4 feet and weight of 400 pounds! They are herbivorous and feed on the algae and seagrass that grow in the shallow waters.

Honu 

The honu are very important to the Hawaiian culture and spirituality as they are symbols of wisdom, longevity, and peace. They are considered to be ‘aumākua, or ancestral guardians, by some families. They are also featured in the Hawaiian creation chant, Kumulipo, as one of the first life forms to emerge from the darkness.

Honu are Endangered Animals 

The honu are endangered animals and are protected by federal and state laws that prohibit harming, harassing, or killing them. Therefore, if you visit the island, please respect their habitat and protect their home. Please don’t touch or attempt or ride or sit on one of them. This is strictly prohibited and the Hawaiian people take this very seriously. Tourists have been prosecuted for harassing and touching these precious, endangered animals. All visitors are required to stay at least 10 feet away from them.

Conservation 

Fortunately, there are also conservation efforts to restore their population and habitat. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service runs an educational loan program that allows some facilities to display juvenile honu for public awareness and then release them into the wild when they are older.

Remember, Bring Aloha and enjoy this beautiful beach and its wildlife!

And Always remember to be respectful of the habitat and its creatures. 

Mahalo nui Loa!