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Waiʻānapanapa State Park
MM 32
A state park built around Pa'iloa, Maui's best-known black sand beach, with sea caves, a lava arch, and a coastal trail through native hala. Visitors must book a timed reservation in advance and pay entry fees. The water is striking to look at but often unsafe to swim.
⏱ 45 min – 2 hrs at stop
🚗 123 min from Pāʻia
At a glance
Access & fees: Reservation required — Non-residents must reserve a timed entry online ahead of the trip and pay per-person entry. Hawaiʻi residents enter free with ID. Slots sell out, so book earlier rather than later.
What to expect: Black sand and lava coast — A short path drops to the small black sand beach. Beyond it, a coastal trail along the lava shoreline passes sea caves, a lava arch, and blowholes — rewarding even on a short walk.
In the water: Usually not for swimming — High surf, strong currents, and a rocky shorebreak make swimming risky most days. It is better treated as a place to look and walk than to relax in the water.
Best time: Early in your time slot — The beach is small and photographs best with morning light and fewer people. You can arrive any time within your three-hour window, not only at the start.
About Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Waiʻānapanapa State Park sits near Mile 32, just before Hāna town, and it is the reason many people make the full drive. Its centerpiece is Pa'iloa Beach, a small cove of black sand formed where lava met the sea and shattered into basalt grains.
The most important thing to know is that the park now requires advance reservations. You book a timed entry online, ideally well before your trip, and pay a per-vehicle parking fee plus a small per-person entry fee; Hawaiʻi residents are exempt with ID. The slots are released in advance and regularly sell out, and you can't make same day reservations even if there happen to be openings.
Beyond the beach, the coastline is the real reward. A trail follows the black lava shore past sea caves, a natural lava arch, and blowholes, with the surf working dramatically against the rock. Even a ten-minute walk gives you the best of it, and the path winds through groves of native hala. The beach itself is more for looking than lounging (Hāmoa, further on, is the best beach to relax).
Good to know
Book your timed reservation ahead of time as entry normally sells out about 5 days in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you need a reservation for Waiʻānapanapa State Park?
- Yes. Out-of-state visitors must book a timed entry online in advance and cannot enter without one. Hawaiʻi residents enter free with valid ID and do not need a reservation. Slots are released ahead of time and often sell out, so reserve early.
- How much does Waiʻānapanapa State Park cost?
- For non-residents there is a per-vehicle parking fee and a small per-person entry fee, plus a minor online processing charge. As of 2026 that is roughly $10 to park and $5 per person. Hawaiʻi residents pay nothing with ID.
- Can you swim at the black sand beach?
- Usually it is not advised. The cove is exposed to high surf and strong currents, and the shorebreak is rocky, so swimming is risky most days. It is better to enjoy the beach and coastline and save swimming for a safer beach like Hāmoa.
- Is Waiʻānapanapa worth it if I can only stay a short time?
- Yes. Even within a short visit you can see the black sand beach and walk a stretch of the coastal trail to the sea caves, lava arch, and blowholes. You can arrive any time within your three-hour window rather than at its start.
- What if I can't get a reservation?
- It is not the end of the day. The time frees up for Kahanu Garden, the Pīpīwai Trail, or more time in Hāna.