There are a couple of ways black sand beaches form. One is the erosion of volcanic rock as the water flows down the side of the volcano which creates eroded fragments of rock to continue to break down as it travels towards the ocean and then sediments are released into the ocean.
Another common way that black sand is formed is when hot lava hits the cold ocean water and then cools quickly, causing it to shatter and break into pieces, including grains of black sand.
In addition to Pa’iloa Beach, there is another beautiful black sand beach on Maui called One’uli Beach. This beach is located much closer to the resort areas near Wailea and Kihei and is lesser known compared to Pa’iloa Beach. One’uli Beach is a fantastic place to go if you enjoy snorkeling and diving. There is a coral reef located close to the shore so you can see a large variety of sea creatures up close here, including gorgeous Green Sea Turtles.
It is easy to see why black sand beaches are so fascinating compared to the usual white colored sands found on most beaches. The white sand beaches you find in Hawaii are different as these are composed of shell and coral fragments. The white sand beaches of Hawaii and California may look alike, but they are very different. Hawaii’s white sand beaches are biological while California’s are physical in origin. In fact, black sand beaches are more commonly found in Hawaii and other volcanic islands around the world.
