Red Sand Beach, Secluded beach in Hana, Hawaii

Red Sand Beach, also called Kaihalulu Beach, is a pocket cove on Kaihalulu Bay, on the flank of Kaʻuiki Head, a cinder cone south of Hana Bay. Its deep red-black sand, eroded from iron-rich cinder, sits against a black sea wall and green ironwood trees, with an offshore reef sheltering the water.

Kaʻuiki Head, the cinder cone above the beach, was the site of a fortress and a heiau (temple) where battles against invaders from Hawaiʻi island were fought. It was also the birthplace of Queen Kaʻahumanu, a powerful civil leader. The beach itself lies on the side of this hill, south of Hana Bay.

The name Kaihalulu means "roaring sea" in Hawaiian, while the hill above, Kaʻuiki, means "the glimmer." The trail passes an old Japanese cemetery, a trace of Hana's plantation-era immigrant community. Because the cove is isolated and hard to reach, some visitors treat it as clothing optional.

Access requires hiking down a steep and uneven trail, so bring comfortable shoes and plenty of water for the journey. No facilities or services are available at the beach, so plan ahead and carry everything you might need.

The red color comes from concentrated iron minerals in the surrounding volcanic rock, making this one of the world's rare naturally red sand beaches. Few places on Earth share this specific geological characteristic.