A Wild Hawaiian Coastal Trail Leads To One Of The State's Best Camping Spots

After Oahu, Maui is the most-visited of all the Hawaiian islands, welcoming an estimated 2,345,289 visitors in 2024. And while Oahu has the state's capital and largest city of Honolulu (plus its main international airport), Maui is arguably the best Hawaiian destination for a truly blissful immersion into the Aloha State's sublime beauty. In addition to its excellent beachside resorts and luxury hotels, Maui is also home to the unforgettable Road to Hana, arguably Hawaii's most scenic drive. 

Despite the island's many modern amenities, Maui's beauty is often best experienced as close to nature as possible. For visitors in search of a more rustic vibe, Maui's many state parks provide some of the best opportunities for natural beauty you're likely to find anywhere in Hawaii. Even better, Maui's sublime island real estate means that many of its parks combine exceptional hiking and camping opportunities with some of the world's best beaches. 

Though you can find countless beautiful spots across Maui, one of the island's state parks stands out from the rest. For fans of the outdoors, Wai'ānapanapa State Park may be Maui's best destination for scenic trails and unforgettable camping experiences. While Wai'ānapanapa's trails are certainly worthwhile in and of themselves, they also happen to lead to one of the most unique and spectacular beaches in all of Hawaii.

Located on the east side of Maui in the community of Hana, Wai'ānapanapa State Park protects a magical blend of emerald-colored tropical rain forests and scintillating ocean views (indeed, the park's name translates to "glistening waters"). The park's 120 acres showcase the epitome of Maui's Pacific beauty. But, while forests and ocean scenes are certainly spectacular, the park's most striking feature is its beach. 

Amazing beaches are not exactly a rare commodity in Hawaii. But what sets Wai'ānapanapa's beach apart is color. You've probably heard of white-sand spots like Hawaii's Kuki'o Beach, teeming with sea life and providing a warm, ocean-side paradise for visitors. But have you ever heard of a beach with black sand? As strange as the prospect sounds, Wai'ānapanapa State Park's beach features deep, onyx-colored black sand that provides an oddly beautiful contrast to the bright greens and blues of the surrounding scenery.

A beach made of black sand may sound like something from an alien planet, but in this case, Wai'ānapanapa's black beach stems from the same thing that most of Hawaii's natural features owe their existence to: volcanoes. The park's unique black sand consists largely of a volcanic rock called "basalt," which tends to form from the kind of low-viscosity lava that Hawaii's many volcanoes are known for producing. Maui's volcanic past and a good bit of geologic luck forged this mesmerizing black sand across a scenic bay along the island's eastern edge. And if black sand wasn't enough, the park also contains other impressive volcanic features, including ocean caves, rock arches, and a natural "blowhole" where the ocean water bursts through the black rocks along the beach. 

Unlike Maui's indulgent five-star resorts, Wai'ānapanapa State Park's hiking trails put you in direct contact with the complex, fragile ecosystem that has existed on the island for thousands of years. Unsurprisingly, Wai'ānapanapa State Park is among Hawaii's top hiking destinations. The park's several miles of picturesque hiking trails provide up-close views of sea caves, distinctive rock formations, and, of course, the iconic black sand. The Wai'ānapanapa Coast Trail covers 2.3 miles of outstanding scenery between the ocean and the rainforest while taking hikers on a once-in-a-lifetime trek across one of the world's most unique beaches. 

The beach has long been an important cultural and religious site for native Hawaiians, so during the hike, you may also come across authentic Hawaiian heiau (religious temples) and other historical sites built centuries ago. Given the cultural significance of these sites, it's important to show proper respect during your hike. With some proper traveler's etiquette, you can enjoy these historical treasures as an additional dimension of beauty alongside the gorgeous natural scenery. And thanks to the park's developed campsites, Wai'ānapanapa's black sands and stunning backdrop create one of the world's best bucket-list camping destinations. 

To limit the effects of excess tourism on Wai'ānapanapa's natural and cultural resources, officials have implemented a reservation system for all visits. Hawaiian residents can access the park for free, but non-residents will need to pay a $5 entrance fee. As pristine as it seems, Wai'ānapanapa is easily accessible from the Hana Highway, just off mile 32. If you want to fly in, the park is just south of Hana Airport, a small regional airport for commuter airlines.