Naalehu, Big Island

Naalehu at a Glance

Located along Highway 11 near the Kau Forest Reserve, the quaint little town of Naalehu makes up the southernmost tip of the Big Island. The community is also a walk away from “Ka-lae” or South Point, which is considered to be the southernmost point of the US. The first Polynesians are also said to have landed on this spot.
The town’s name means “volcanic ashes,” which can be misleading because the town is well-shielded from the lava flows of Mauna Loa. And Naalehu is far from being an unsightly remnant of a volcanic eruption, too! Lush vegetation and majestic ocean views, and black sand beaches surround the small village. The Puu Mahana or Green Sand Beach, which is the only green sand on the Big Island, is also here. Meanwhile, the Kau Forest Reserve is a walk/ride away.

As the center of activity in the Big Island’s Kau region, the town offers numerous amenities. Naalehu has shops, restaurants, historical park and sites, golf courses, tennis courts, a museum, and art galleries. The Shirakawa Hotel, which is the only hotel in the region, stands beside a tree planted by Mark Twain in Naalehu more than a century ago.

Naalehu is also the home of the Labor Day celebration Hawaiian Hula Festival. The town also hosts the Naalehu Rodeo, which features roping and bull riding contests and activities. When in Naalehu, don’t forget to get a taste of the Hawaiian sweetbread made famous by Punalu’u Bakeshop.

An agricultural land with an annual household income of $47,100, Naalehu had a total population of 1,066. Asians (45.4%) Native Hawaiians(13.8%), Caucasians (7.9%), Latinos (5.4%), American Indians (1.5%), and people from two or more races (31.4%) form the community of Naalehu.

Naalehu’s zip code is 96772.

Naalehu in Bullet Points

Naalehu Location

Naalehu Map (top)

Naalehu Weather (top)

Now
63°F
Windchill:
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
Location: Naalehu, HI, US
Wind: 8 mph W
Humidity: 52%
Visibility: 0.07 mi
Pressure: 30.15 in falling
Sunrise: 6:27 am
Sunset: 6:33 pm Fri
Hi: 76°F
Low: 64°F
Mostly Cloudy
Sat
Hi: 78°F
Low: 65°F
Partly Cloudy