Strong prevailing winds and storm surges generate the pounding waves that continually break on the bare rock of old lava flows that form the shoreline of the Keanae Peninsula, east Maui. The wave action also creates narrow black-sand beaches consisting of sharp, coarse grains of black basalt thoroughly mixed with large coral fragments washed in from the numerous patch reefs offshore.
High surf at Keanae Landing, east Maui. It's February and winter storms bring with them the high winds that generate 10- to 12-foot waves.
Beachcombing along Keanae Peninsula's shoreline can be somewhat hazardous. Keanae Village, east Maui.
The beach at the Old Keanae Landing, Keanae Peninsula, east Maui.  Looking northwestward toward Nua'ailua Bay (in the foreground) and Honomanu Bay on the horizon.

As recently as 1,200–1,500 years ago, rejuvenated lava of the Häna Volcanic Series flooded the deep erosional Ke‘anae Valley on the northeast side of Haleakalä, creating a wide, shallow, and jagged lava fan that reaches 1.5 km into the ocean. West of Ke‘anae the sea cliff coastline extends, giving way to only a few narrow stretches of boulder beach backed by deep thickly vegetated valleys like those found within the embayments at Honomanü and Makaïwa.
Coconut Palms growing in thin soil atop the basalt flow that forms the low cliffs of the shoreline at the Old Keanae Landing, Keanae Peninsula, east Maui.
Coconut Palms growing in thin soil atop the basalt flow that forms the low cliffs of the shoreline at the Old Keanae Landing, Keanae Peninsula, east Maui.
No matter what the time of year, the afternoon surf often breaks higher than the low cliffs at Keanae Point, east Maui.
Strong prevailing winds and storm surges generate the pounding waves that continually break on the bare rock of old lava flows that form the shoreline of the Keanae Peninsula, east Maui. The wave action also creates narrow black-sand beaches consisting of sharp, coarse grains of black basalt thoroughly mixed with large coral fragments washed in from the numerous patch reefs offshore.
Strong prevailing winds and storm surges generate the pounding waves that continually break on the bare rock of old lava flows that form the shoreline of the Keanae Peninsula, east Maui. The wave action also creates narrow black-sand beaches consisting of sharp, coarse grains of black basalt thoroughly mixed with large coral fragments washed in from the numerous patch reefs offshore.
Strong prevailing winds and storm surges generate the pounding waves that continually break on the bare rock of old lava flows that form the shoreline of the Keanae Peninsula, east Maui. The wave action also creates narrow black-sand beaches consisting of sharp, coarse grains of black basalt thoroughly mixed with large coral fragments washed in from the numerous patch reefs offshore.
See photo in original gallery.