🌊 The sheer power of the ocean is intense to witness but, even more, it is inspiring to let yourself go and just experience its raw energy. . In this photo, I am standing on a 75 foot wall of lava. . The ocean is so powerful here that it leaps over the black lava formed cliff. . [Historical Note] This area used to be the (traditional Hawaiian) fishing village of Kalapana, which was completely wiped out by a lava flow in 1990. . This area also hosted “Kaimu Beach,” which, according to locals, was the most famous black sand beach in the world. . Now that beach is lost forever underneath 50-75 feet of hardened glistening black lava, which pushed the shoreline out .3 miles (a 5-10 minute walk). . This formed the “New Kaimu Black Sand Beach” but now that the lava flow has stopped flowing in this area the black sand has washed away and nothing is left but a very loud and treacherous surf 🌊 . The old Kalapana Village and Kaimu Beach must have been a beautiful place. But there are efforts by some locals to rebuild. A mighty effort you must admire! . Ps. I was lucky to walk along the sand of the “new black sand beach” on my first visit years ago. It was sand like no where else in the world. You could feel the warmth of Pele beneath your feet. . #bigisland #bigislandhawaii #kalapana #lava #lavaflow #hawaii #hawaiilife #visithawaii #gohawaii #hawaiistagram #ocean #oceanlove #oceanlife #waves #wave #pele #blacksand #sunny #beautiful #happy #enjoylife #shanekeller #photography #nature #naturephotography #outdoors #outdoorslife #explore #explorehawaii #livemoreexplore (at Kalapana, Hawaii)