Today I had the pleasure of visiting Hawaii's newest black sand beach, Pohoiki Black Sand Beach in the Puna District. I was scouting this location for an upcoming wedding ceremony that will take place in a couple of weeks and wanted to have a better understanding of the area.
This beautiful beach is approximately three and a half hours from Kailua-Kona (whew!). Although there are not many places to stop along the way, Hilo and Pahoa are right before before the drop into Kalapana, which leads to the beach. My favorite stop in Pahoa is the Island Naturals, filled with local fruits, veggies and snacks for the road.
Pohoiki Black Sand Beach formed during the most previous lava flow. Lava was dropping rapidly into the ocean, smacking against the sea, and solidifying into rocks and fragments - creating this incredible beach. This area which can be seen here used to be ocean and is now a course black sand and black pebble beach.
There are two lifeguard stations at this beach. There are no restrooms. The ocean is very rough and extreme caution should be used. These conditions are expert-only.
I visited in the middle of the day. There were a few people on the beach; mostly people were coming and going. In my hour-long stay, I saw a couple people enter the shoreline surf (myself included), and some people walked about the overhanging cliffs.
Overall, the area is very beautiful. It is not crowded and is just lovely for a morning beach wedding. Since there is no true sunset it Puna (but a magnificent sunrise), and the heat of the day is very hot, a morning wedding is ideal for this location.
Here at Kona Wedding Officiant, we have a page dedicated to our beautiful recommended Big Island Beach Locations. These spots are tried and true for your big day here in Hawaii. Although we can obtain a permit for many locations, these are the ones that we recommend above all else due to their intimacy, beauty, and character. So, check them out - and please, ask any questions you have! It is our pleasure to help you plan your best day ever here in Hawaii.
Kona Wedding Officiant plans intimate beach weddings along the Kona Coast at many beautiful beach locations. To learn more about planning your perfect wedding day in Hawaii, visit http://www.konaweddingofficiant.com
Aloha for now ~ Deanna, Licensed Minister, Kona Wedding Officiant
Connect with me anytime to plan your dream destination wedding at Kona Wedding Officiant, konaweddingofficiant@gmail.com or 808-209-6275