Wai'anapanapa state park is a 122 acre park that encompasses a lovely black sand beach, dramatic sea caves, natural stone arches, hiking trails, and campgrounds. The black sand beach of Wai'anapanapa is a dangerous place to swim due to the strong currents and rocky reef. The black sand is the result of lava flowing into the ocean and shattering when it comes into contact with the cool water of the Pacific Ocean. The volcanic pieces are then smashed against each other and the shoreline with each wave, creating the beautiful black sand on the shoreline of Wai'anapanapa. Make sure to bring good shoes because of the sharp volcanic rock on shore is sharp.
 |
| Wai'anapanapa Black sand beach |
 |
| Sea Arch at Wai'anapanapa state park |
The Ahihi cove is located inside the Ahihi-Kinau' natural area reserve, on the southern coast of Maui. It is illegal to capture fish in the reserve. There is no sand at Ahihi cove, this area was the site of a lava flow that took place in 1790. Lava covered everything as it poured down from Haleakala creating a moonscape type surface. There is also seasonal high surf that create a high tide line on the shore of Ahihi-Kinau' cove. The water in the cove is fairly shallow, but there is excellent snorkeling and scuba diving activities that one can do in the cove.
 |
| Ahihi-Kinau' natural reserve |
Kaihalulu known as Red Sand Beach is located on the far side of Ka'uiki Hill south of Hana bay. The red sand beach gets its color from the crumbling of the cindercone hill that surrounds the bay. The path that leads to the beach is slippery due to the pine needles from the Iron Wood trees and the crumbling cinder. Due to seasonal high surf and strong currents, swimming is past the lava sea wall is not recommended. Kaihalulu is also known for its nude sun bathing, it is not easy to get to you have to hike a little way.
 |
| Kaihalulu (Red sand beach) |
The Molikini crater is a sunken volcanic cindercone, that is 2 miles off the shore of southern Maui. This volcano is an erosional land form and the weathering of the volcanic sediment is eroded by wave action. Wave breakers hit the crater and move the eroded sediment on a daily basis. The current in one direction is usually stronger then in the other resulting in a net one way transport of sediment. Long shore drift, long shore currents, and tidal currents in combination determine the net direction of sediment transport and areas of deposit. The result of all this weathering and erosion of the cindercone volcano, has created a fringing coral reef, where some of the best snorkeling can be done.
 |
| Molikini Crater |
 |
| Molikini Crater (snorkeling trip) |
 |
| Snorkeling Molikini Crater |
Black Rock divides the beautiful beaches of Ka'anapali and Kahekili. Ancient Hawaiians believed that their spirits "jumped off" or left this world to join their ancestors. This area is the sight of one of the last volcanic eruptions on Maui. The Black Rock forms a great reef wall, and behind this wall is a cove where the water is extremely calm ( which makes for great snorkeling). The currents and waves are not that strong in the area of Black Rock.
 |
| Black Rock |
