Richardson Ocean Park Black Sand Beach, Hilo

Richardson Ocean Park, a tiny black sand beach, is one of the few sandy beaches on the Hilo coast- most are rocky. It is a wonderland of grassy knolls and  emerald green ponds fed by natural springs. In one of the ponds is an island with Dr. Suess-like pandanas trees- a place that fairies surely live. There are plenty of palm trees everywhere, providing shade. You can snorkel from Richardson Ocean Park, and sometimes see turtles. Body boarders and bodysurfers love the waves here too! There is one spot where you can enter the water stairs made of rock, which the lifeguard uses in the morning, so I assume it's a good way to get in. This beach has more sea water than the ice ponds nearby that are fed by springs, but the ice ponds are slightly cleaner since there is a sewer plant nearby. Don't swim if you have any cuts. Enter by the stairs not the rocks, so that you don't get cuts while entering.

There are restrooms and a historic house with a plaque describing the history. 
It's wonderful to walk half a mile from Wai'olena Beach Park, past Leleiwi Beach Park, past Richardson Ocean Park, to Lehia Beach Park (which is on a dirt road). All these "beaches" are small rocky areas on the water, except Richardson Ocean Park, which is a black sand beach. There are some fantastic picnic pavilions right on the water at Leleiwi Beach Park, and some more with water views at Wai'olena Beach Park. Be careful of cars if you walk between all four beaches, because in some spots you have to walk close to the road.
For an ocean swimming pool that is protected from waves, an old Hawaiian fishpond, check out Onekahakaha Beach Park, a perfect spot for kids to swim and families to have a picnic under the pavilions.
There are vacation rentals- attractive, newer two-storey beach houses- across the street from the beaches.
If you come on the weekend, arrive early, because the parking lot at Richardson Ocean Park fills up fast!
In 1923, David Malo, his wife, and six children, who lived on this land, became sick with typhoid. His wife Lucy managed to walk to the house of George Richardson, on Reeds Bay, to ask for help. Richardson put her in his boat, picked up the rest of the family, and took them to the hospital in Hilo town. Five of the family managed to survive. To thank Richardson, Malo offered that he could build a home on this land. In 1926, Richardson built the house that still stands today, aided by Malo's design that resists storms and tsunamis.

Directions

Richardson Ocean Park is located at 2349 Kalanianaole Ave, Hilo, HI 96720. Park your car along the road or in the huge parking lot. This lot fills up fast on weekends since this is one of the few sandy beaches in Hilo, so come early. This beach is a nine minute drive east of the hotels on Banyan Drive, along Kalanianaole Ave.

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