Mahalo to Kim Wallech-White for sharing this colorful Aloha Friday Photo.
Kim’s photo was taken from the path to Kaihalulu Beach, which is more commonly called the red sand beach. It’s a small, secluded beach in the small Maui town of Hana.
I have hiked the short, but somewhat dangerous trail to the red sand beach when I took a guided tour of the road to Hana. If the local tour guide hadn’t known where the trailhead started, I’m not sure I would have found it on my own. I was told that locals try to hide the trailhead.
Though it was a dry day when I hiked to the beach, I had to be mindful of every step on the slippery path. Another guest in the tour group slipped and fell onto his backside. Thankfully, he didn’t fall off this precarious cliff-side trail onto the jagged lava rocks.
Another aspect of Kaihalulu Beach that’s worth mentioning so that you won’t be caught off guard should you visit it….it’s unofficially designated as a clothing-optional beach. When I was there, I wore my swimsuit, but there were a few folks who were wearing their birthday suits.
As the trail can be a bit risky and visitors and not completely welcome, I recommend other, safer options to see red sand off of Haneo’o Road in the Hana area.
For more recommendations for sightseeing in Hana and beyond, see these two articles:
- Seeing Maui’s Red Sand Beach in Hana with more accessible alternatives
- Advice for touring the road to Hana
Have you seen red sand at a Maui beach?
Happy Aloha Friday!
Sheila Beal
