Cape Kumukahi, located on the easternmost point of Hawaii's Big Island, offers a unique blend of solitude and natural beauty. The area is marked by the historic Kumukahi Lighthouse, a 125-foot steel beacon built in 1934, which has withstood several volcanic eruptions, including the 1960 Kapoho Lava Flow and the 2018 Lower Puna Lava Flow. These flows have dramatically altered the landscape, creating a stark yet fascinating environment. Since the 2018 eruption, a new black sand beach has formed, replacing the jagged lava rock shoreline. Visitors must hike about four miles round-trip to access this beach, as the old gravel roads are no longer accessible by vehicle.
The beach itself is about one-third mile long and offers no shade, making it a challenging yet rewarding destination for those seeking solitude and natural beauty. The air is considered some of the freshest in the world, as it travels thousands of miles of ocean before reaching this point.
Cape Kumukahi is a testament to the transformative power of lava flows and offers an exceptional example of how these natural events have shaped the landscape.