Wai'anapanapa State Park is home to more than just Maui's famous black sand beach (also called Honokalani). While you're there, you'll find a hike and unique geologic formations like a blowhole, sea arch, and a lava cave. Here we'll share more about what you need to know to plan a visit to this historic spot including: 

• Getting to Maui's Black Sand Beach
• How to Visit & Plan Your Trip Based on Your Reservation Time
• Things to do at Wai'anapanapa State Park
• Legends and folklore of Wai'anapanapa State Park

*Please Note: Parking AND entrance fees are now required to visit Wai'anapanapa State Park. You MUST make an advance reservation to visit the park. NO same-day reservations will be accepted. Scroll down to learn more and to find information to help plan your day based on your reservation time.* Book your reservation here. 

About Wai'anapanapa State Park

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Located inside Wai'anapanapa State Park is Maui's only black sand beach. The sand is formed when hot lava is cooled by the sea resulting in basalt - a dark, fine volcanic rock that shatters to create sand. This one-of-a-kind beach was created by none other than nearby Haleakala.  The word Wai'anapanapa means "glistening waters," and that's what you'll find on a visit here. The clear turquoise shores contrast against the black sand, making it a sight to behold!

Getting to Maui’s Black Sand Beach

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• To find the park, head east out of Kahului.
• After about two hours along the Road to Hana (Hana Highway), you’ll turn left onto Honokalani Road.
• Then, turn left onto Wai'anapanapa Road and follow it until you arrive at the Honokalani parking lot.
• From Hana, head north and turn right onto Honokalani Road.

Wai'anapanapa State Park is a featured stop on all three Shaka Guide Road to Hana tours. The tour will guide you there with turn-by-turn directions and stories along the way! For anyone taking Shaka Guide's Classic and Loop Road to Hana tours, Wai'anapanapa will be your 24th stop. For the Reverse Road to Hana tour, it’s the 13th stop. 

RELATED: Which Shaka Guide Road to Hana Tour is Right for You?

How to Visit Wai'anapanapa State Park, Maui's Black Sand Beach

As of March 1st, 2021, advanced reservations are required to visit the park, including the black sand beach. To book a reservation, visit Go Hawai'i State Parks/Wai'anapanapa. Please note that NO same-day reservations are allowed. However, you can book up to 30 days in advance. To visit the park, it costs $10 per vehicle for parking and $5 per person for entry. Hawaii residents can visit the park for free. 

If you're driving, there are four time slots available for your visit, these are:

• 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
• 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
• 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
• 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

NOTE: Please arrive within the first 30 minutes of your scheduled time slot, or you may be turned away. If you arrive after your time slot, you will be denied entry. Planning your day around the different time slots can get tricky. Here are our recommendations: 

If you have a morning time slot...

1. If you're doing the Road to Hana starting in Pa'ia, it takes about 2 hours to get to Wai'anapanapa. We suggest you skip all the stops and head straight there, then make the stops you missed on the way back.
2. If you're staying in West Maui (Ka'anapali, Kapalua, or Lahaina), remember it takes about 45 minutes to get to Pa'ia (the start of the Road to Hana). Plan to spend three hours getting to Wai'anapanapa from West Maui. Again, we suggest skipping all the stops on the way to Wai'anapanapa and making them on the return trip back to Pa'ia.
3. If you're taking Shaka Guide's Classic tour, again, skip all the stops on the way to Wai'anapanapa -- the app will still guide you with stories and directions -- then, visit the few remaining stops past Wai'anapanapa (Hana Town, Koki Beach, Hamoa Beach, Pipiwai Trail and Seven Sacred Pools). From there, download the Reverse tour for the return trip. It will guide you back, making the stops you missed on the way there! *RECOMMENDED*
4. If you're taking Shaka Guide's Reverse tour, it's about a two-hour drive to Wai'anapanapa without stops, so you'll still have to leave early to get to your reservation on time. You'll want to head straight there, skipping all the stops along the way, and then, backtrack to see the stops you missed.

RELATED: Is The Road To Hana Dangerous?

If you have an afternoon time slot...

1. If you have the early afternoon time slot, be sure to leave Pa'ia by 8 a.m. at the latest.
2. Be mindful of the time as you're exploring. If you have the earlier afternoon time slot, you might have to move quickly through some stops to make it there, but you should be able to make all the stops along the route up until Wai'anapanapa.
3. You can take Shaka Guide's Classic, Loop, or Reverse tours and follow the tours as designed for afternoon time slots.
4. If you've booked the late afternoon time slot, we recommend getting there right at the beginning of your allotted time, especially if you want to avoid the return trip in the dark. You'll also want to leave yourself enough room to get to Seven Sacred Pools (7 stops past Wai'anapanapa on the Classic and Loop tours) before it closes at 5 p.m.
5. If you're taking Shaka Guide's Reverse tour, you'll have time to visit the stops en route to Wai'anapanapa at your leisure. Again, we recommend getting to the park right at the beginning of your allotted time (for late afternoon reservations) to avoid driving the remainder of the trip in the dark and to make some stops along the rest of Hana Highway.

Things to Do in Wai'anapanapa State Park

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So you've made a reservation and you're on your way! Here are some things to do in the park:

1. Check out a lava tube:

Once you're on the beach, you can check out a natural lava tube. You can even walk through this cave from the shore to the ocean when the tide is low. 

2. Go swimming (but be careful):

Take a dip in Honokalani's pristine water when the swimming conditions are safe. Waves can get rough and there are no lifeguards on duty. During the winter months, we recommend you skip swimming and do one of the many other activities this site has to offer. 

3. Check out a blowhole:

Watch as ocean water shoots from volcanic rock in the ground into the air. 

4. Look at the sea arch:

Check out more of Mother Nature's handy work! Can you spot the sea arch in the water? This was formed from years of erosion. 

5. Hike:

After you've looked at all the geologic wonders this beach has to offer, try hiking the three-mile (round trip) Ke Ala Loa o Maui/ Pi'ilani Trail. Also known as Wai'anapanapa Coast Trail North. You'll walk along barren lava fields with views of Maui's Hana Coast and Mount Haleakala. You'll also pass an ancient Hawaiian heiau or temple. 

6. Camp:

If you’re looking to camp, there’s a campground for tents and cabins you can rent. You can book a site via Wiki Permits - Wai'anapanapa State Park. If you’re camping with more than 6 people, there is an additional fee for each person, not including children. There are bathrooms, outdoor showers, and drinking water stations available. Be sure to bring your own tent and camping equipment as well. If you didn’t bring equipment to the Islands, not to worry. You can rent camping gear from Maui Vacation Equipment that delivers to your location.

RELATED: Road to Hana Maps

Legends and Folklore of Wai'anapanapa State Park

Kenny Louie from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wai'anapanapa State Park is also home to freshwater caves (unfortunately the trail to the caves is closed off). These caves house an ancient Hawaiian legend—and a sad one at that.

At certain times throughout the year, the fresh water at one of the caves mysteriously turns red. Legend has it that Princess Popo’ala’ea and her maid hid inside the cave to escape her enraged husband, Chief Ka'akea. He believed the princess had been unfaithful to him, and when he discovered Princess Popo’ala’ea and her maid hiding in the cave, he had them both killed. This turned the water red with blood, and that is why some believe the water still turns red to this day.

Spooky right? Well, there's also a different and more scientific explanation for the color. Scientists say the change of hue occurs because of tiny shrimp that enter the water from the cracks in the rock. We'll let you decide which story to believe.

RELATED: Road To Hana Must Know Tips

In Conclusion...

Wai'anapanapa is a spot of cultural significance to the Hawaiian people. Please be respectful during your visit. 

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RELATED: 10 Ways to Be a Safe and Responsible Traveler in Hawaii

RELATED TOURS: Classic Road to Hana Tour, Reverse Road to Hana Tour, Loop Road to Hana Tour