Kamilo Beach, Sandy beach in South Point, Hawaii.

Kamilo Beach is a storm beach on a lower lava terrace in the Kaʻū District, about 1,500 feet long. Prevailing winds have piled sand along a narrow, crescent-shaped strip of white sand. At Kamilo Point, waves have cut an indentation with rocky points, ponds and channels that are exposed at low tide and awash at high tide. The backshore holds naupaka, milo and ironwood.

Native Hawaiians collected large logs that drifted across the Pacific from the Pacific Northwest to craft traditional dugout canoes at this location. This practice was central to their maritime traditions and island-to-island travel.

The name Kamilo is Hawaiian for "the twisting or swirling currents," describing the water movement along this coast. In ancient times, Native Hawaiians came here to collect large evergreen logs that drifted ashore from the Pacific Northwest, which they used to build dugout canoes. The beach was also a place where those lost at sea might eventually wash ashore.

Reaching this location requires a four-wheel drive vehicle to navigate unpaved roads filled with lava rocks and deep ruts, accessible from Green Sand Beach or Naalehu. Bring plenty of water and sun protection, as the area offers little natural shade or shelter.

This shore collects marine debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, making it a center for environmental cleanup efforts by volunteer groups. The ongoing accumulation of drifting plastic and other materials serves as a visible reminder of ocean pollution.