There are places on the Big Island that feel less like destinations and more like places of initiation.
Kehena Beach is one of them.
Tucked along the jungle-lined cliffs of Puna, this black sand beach has long been a gathering place for people living a little closer to the edge, in more ways than one.
The energy here is raw, unfiltered, and beautiful in a way that doesn’t try to impress you.
Watch closely around the 14-second mark — someone hurls themself off the jagged lava rocks into the ocean below. It’s a little insane. 😂
And yes, there’s some nudity in this video. Kehena has always been clothing-optional.
🌴 Want the deeper story behind places like this?
This beach, and the people who gather here, are part of a much bigger chapter of my life on the Big Island.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go beyond merely visiting Hawaii… to actually fall into it, to let it change your rhythm, your priorities, even your sense of home, I’m now giving away my acclaimed action-memoir about my experiences there.
It begins as a simple trip. But it gets wild and unforgettable pretty fast.
Start reading Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise for free here →
