Campground · Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
A palm grove at the end of a long, exposed coastal hike.
Overview
The coconut palms are the campsite’s clearest landmark against the dark lava and open water; include some shoreline in a photo to show their setting. Two lava sea arches and an old stone corral are along the approach, before the camp. These beaches are also used by nesting hawksbill turtles and resting green turtles, so leave posted nesting areas clear of tents.
Parkwolf’s verdictA coast worth taking slowlyMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes audio tourRecorded for this place
Puʻuloa: Carvings and Long Life“You're nearing the trailhead for Puʻuloa Petroglyphs, a sacred field of more than twenty-three thousand carvings in lava.”
Plays as you drive up to ʻĀpua Point in the Parkwolf Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
ʻĀpua Point is a backcountry campsite on the park’s south-facing coast, where a small coconut grove stands above a black-lava shoreline. This is an overnight destination, not a quick beach stop; it suits prepared backpackers who want a long walk and a night beside the ocean.
The shorter approach from Puʻuloa Petroglyphs is 6.6 miles one way on the Puna Coast Trail; the route from Mau Loa o Maunaulu is 10.7 miles one way. The final stretch crosses pāhoehoe, a short rough ʻaʻā section, and sandy dunes with naupaka. The coast is exposed to heat and wind, and trail cairns can be hard to follow in rain, mist, or darkness. A backcountry permit is required.
The grove has tent sites, with low stone walls at some spots to break the wind. There’s a composting toilet, but no drinking water: bring at least a gallon per person per day and pack out your trash. Strong, unpredictable currents make the ocean unsafe for swimming.
Wildlife
600 sightingsHawaiian Goose (Nēnē)Most seen around 5 PMSighting map
35 sightingsGreen Sea TurtleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
36 sightingsHawaiian Hawk ('Io)Most seen around 11 AMSighting map
41 sightingsBlack NoddyMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
96 sightingsWhite-tailed TropicbirdMost seen around noonSighting map
24 sightingsHawai'i 'ElepaioMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingNāulu Trail6.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 4.6 mi awayA steady climb over rough lava links Kealakomo with the Nāpau junction.
ChallengingPuna Coast Trail to ʻĀpua Point10.8 mi · 6.5 hr · 4.6 mi awayA long lava coast walk ends beneath ʻĀpua’s coconut grove.
ModeratePuʻuloa Petroglyphs Trail1.4 mi · 1.3 hr · 4.7 mi awayRough lava footing leads to Hawaiʻi’s largest petroglyph field.
Campground · 2.7 mi awayKeauhou Backcountry CampsiteA primitive shelter and rocky bay reward a hard coastal hike.
Sight · 4.1 mi awayAlanui KahikoA short walk reveals road pavement trapped by lava.
Campground · 4.1 mi awayHalapēA remote beach camp for prepared backcountry hikers.
Sight · 4.6 mi awayKealakomo OverlookA coastal overlook above a village buried by lava.
Sight · 4.9 mi awayMuliwai a PeleA three-day lava river left its own channels and levees.Parkwolf’s Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
