Red Sand Beach
Hana, HI
Red Sand Beach, known locally as Kaihalulu, sits in a small cove below Hana town, its sand a deep rust color ground down from an eroding cinder cone that forms a dramatic wall on one side. The unofficial trail down is steep, narrow, and cut into loose, crumbling cliff, which keeps this one of the more physically demanding beaches on the island to actually reach.
One of the most visually striking small coves in Hawaii, but the unstable cliff trail is a real, ongoing hazard that keeps it from being a beach for everyone.
How we score beachesThe trail is genuinely unstable in places, especially after rain. Wear real shoes, go slow, and turn back if the footing looks worse than expected. This isn't a flip flop beach.
Roadside parking near the Hana Community Center on Uakea Road is the closest option, with a walk of several minutes to the unmarked trailhead.
A steep, narrow, unofficial dirt trail along an eroding cliff edge is the only way in, not accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone with limited mobility.
The trail turns more hazardous after rain, which falls more often in winter, making a dry summer day the safer time to attempt the walk down.
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