A Walk on the Beach

May 11, 2025

Decided I needed a day off.

Went down to the ocean at Hanuapo to watch the waves crashing against the lava shelf.

I could watch this all day.

But I don’t.

Instead, I go exploring to the east side of the “beach”. I check out the small natural bridge of lava and rock at the edge of the ocean.

Looking at the bridge from the west, I wonder about going out there on top of the bridge.

I go around to the other side and look at it from the east.

The waves are fabulous as they crash against the lava shelf and send plumes of water into the air.

Definitely not the most swimable beach

Sometimes, the waves send water under the bridge and up into the air, and I realize that going out onto the bridge would be a recipe for disaster!

If I were to slip off that bridge, there is no way to get back up. The rocks and the lava are all slick and slimy.

The waves would batter me up against the sharp lava until I resembled hamburger wrapped in shredded cargo shorts!

I leave the Hanuapo area and drive down a road that follows the coast. It is a little better than a four wheel drive track, but not much. “I went as far as I could, and when I stopped the car, it was right in front of this . . .” area where it looked like there were some round structures built in years past.

Not sure how many years past – maybe a hundred, maybe only one, but they are all semi-circular with the openings away from the ocean.

Looking around, I can see at least half a dozen of them. They are all about 20 feet in diameter and in a crescent shape.

I wonder is this is meant to be a defensive position – against an attack from the sea.

Then I remember the waves crashing against the lava shelf and realize that landing here would be extremely risky . . . if not impossible!

I wonder if they were ever a full structure with a roof. I can’t imagine staying here very long with the sun beating down on me.

I also wonder if this was at one time a village, and if it were, how did people live among all this rough boulders and rocks. Surely, if people lived here for more than a few hours, there would at least be trails between the structures – maybe the entire area would have been cleared of rocks. Makes me wonder if someone has recently piled these rocks up to make it look like it used to be a village! There is no sign of any type of paths or clearings . . . just lots and lots of stumbling blocks or stones!

One thing is sure – I certainly am not wearing the right shoes to go exploring – So it Goes!

Past these structures in this semi flat/open area, the road heads up over the hillside to the east. I wonder if that is the same road that I have been following, and if it is, just how to get to it. Well, one way is on foot!

After I climb up onto this hill, I look back down onto this area with the semi-circular structures, I see the road going off to the right, with my truck off to the left where the road I came in on kind of died and ended.

The surrounding landscape is certainly not very inviting, what with all the jagged lava sticking up in all directions.

As I look off the “road” that I am following, I cannot imagine trying to pick my way through that jungle of lava!

Someone has definitely put a lot of effort into the road up on top of this hill. There are even tire tracks in the sand/gravel on the road!

After walking down this well maintained section of road, I get to the opposite side of the hill I encountered and things change. There is still a defined roadway, but it is extremely rough, with large boulders and rocks. It would take a very serious, high profile off road vehicle to pass through here. But there is a great view of the coastline as it stretches off to the east.

Once clear of the initial cut in the edge of the hill, the road gets a bit better. Also, right in front of me is a house that I have seen from the highway. As I have traveled past Whittington Beach and Honuapo, on the way to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Pahoa and Hilo beyond, there is a very nice house nestled in the rocks and lava between the highway and the ocean. It was listed for sale a few years ago for around 2 1/2 million. It is all by it’s self out here. Solitude for sale!

Off to the right, the lava is a jumbled mess, but there is a sort of a path meandering through, off towards the shore line.

Following this path where others have trod, I come to this hole that is open to the ocean below. A blow hole!

Looking back to the west, in the direction I came from I see the road as it climbs the hill. From here, it actually looks passable with a vehicle. Looks are definitely decieving!

The terrain here is not for the meek. There are other holes that have ocean water that is pushed up by the waves. This gets the rocks around these holes wet and slippery! Not a good place to be hiking alone – and in sandals!

The shoreline is broken up by long fingers of lava that extend out into the ocean, leaving several jagged, narrow inlets. On top of one of these fingers of lava, there are four or five people. Most likely, they came down from the large house, and may not appreciate my trespassing on their “private” shoreline. I’ll give them a wide berth, and keep moving.

Just beyond, there is a sort of a bay. It seems almost swimable and I wonder why they are not here! They must know of somewhere better back there on that finger of lava!

Not what I would call a sandy beach, but definitely secluded and private! I wished I had brought a swimming suit and a towel – more importantly, I wished I had brought something to drink!

Looking at the terrain inland does not inspire me to want to go venturing there.

It appears to be very rough, and whatever that plant is, it does not look inviting!

The shore line on this side of the hill is lower, and less of an abrupt lava cliff at the water’s edge. But still, wild and untamed!

Past this rocky bay, I saw three coconut palms that looked very out of place. . . almost like they had been planted there on purpose. Made me wonder if there once might have been a village here.

I would have liked to go explore around the location of the palms, but I could not see a way to get there – at least, not safely. I decided that I would have to come back another time, with someone who also was interested in checking it out!