Hawaii County Loses Lease for Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park, Raising Public Access and Environmental Concerns
Hawaii County's lease for Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park is set to expire, following unsuccessful negotiations between the county and the landowner, Black Sand Beach LLC. The county has leased the 6.8-acre site since 1954, with the current lease, executed in 1998 for $1 million, inherited by Black Sand Beach LLC in 2020. In 2024, the landowner sought new lease terms, leading the county to propose a 10-year lease with annual payments starting at $159,300 and 3% annual increases. The county also offered to purchase the property for $1.46 million through the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) program, but both offers were rejected. As a result, county-managed park services, including facilities like parking, restrooms, and pavilions, will cease, and these improvements will revert to the landowner. The black sand beach and coastline, however, will remain publicly accessible via a road at the northern end. 
