Hawaii
Wow!
Maui's hidden jewel . . . Red Sand Beach
Hawaii has so many cool things thanks to volcanic activity. And it doesn't get any cooler than the hot color of red sand.
We're talking about a real wowee on Maui . . . Kaihalulu, the Red Sand Beach. This lulu of a beach is outside of Hana.
Although the beach looks terrific, getting there is not for the faint-hearted. The trail to it is steep, narrow and slippery with loose volcanic cinders. If you aren't agile, forgetaboutit. Some folks have gotten hurt. And if it's wet, don't even try.
Also, you have to trespass on private land and walk by a cemetery. Whistling might help with that. That's not all. Some say the water is fine and others say it's treacherous in certain areas.
Because it's so out of the way and tough to get there, some tourists to Red Sand Beach think it's okay to get as nekkid as jaybirds. Hawaii's laws, however, take a dim view of such solar exposure. If you take the kids, your face might be as red as the sand.
Forget about your face. Why is the beach red and not white? Well, the beach backs up to a hill. The hill just happens to be a volcanic cinder cone. And that baby is full of iron, which likes to get orangy-red. Once upon a time one side of the hill collapsed, creating a red beach.
Still want to go there? Follow the crumbs: Hana Highway, Uakea Road, Hana Community Center, open field next to the center, scoot around to find a path, stay on it past the cemetery and you're on your way. If the part that goes down to the beach has eroded, you may have to improvise.
We're talking about a real wowee on Maui . . . Kaihalulu, the Red Sand Beach. This lulu of a beach is outside of Hana.
Although the beach looks terrific, getting there is not for the faint-hearted. The trail to it is steep, narrow and slippery with loose volcanic cinders. If you aren't agile, forgetaboutit. Some folks have gotten hurt. And if it's wet, don't even try.
Also, you have to trespass on private land and walk by a cemetery. Whistling might help with that. That's not all. Some say the water is fine and others say it's treacherous in certain areas.
Because it's so out of the way and tough to get there, some tourists to Red Sand Beach think it's okay to get as nekkid as jaybirds. Hawaii's laws, however, take a dim view of such solar exposure. If you take the kids, your face might be as red as the sand.
Forget about your face. Why is the beach red and not white? Well, the beach backs up to a hill. The hill just happens to be a volcanic cinder cone. And that baby is full of iron, which likes to get orangy-red. Once upon a time one side of the hill collapsed, creating a red beach.
Still want to go there? Follow the crumbs: Hana Highway, Uakea Road, Hana Community Center, open field next to the center, scoot around to find a path, stay on it past the cemetery and you're on your way. If the part that goes down to the beach has eroded, you may have to improvise.
That's black lava separating the gorgeous red sand of Kaihalulu from the raging water. This is one of the few red beaches in the world. - photo by bradleypjohnson
