MACKENZIE STATE PARK
Alright class, pull up a chair. Forget the manicured resort beaches for a minute. If you drive out to the raw Puna coast on the Big Island, you'll stumble into Mackenzie State Park. Massive ironwood trees choke out the sun here, carpeted by thousands of slippery needles. You'll hear the ocean roar before you see it. Then the forest stops. Black basalt cliffs drop fifty feet straight down into violent, frothing water. Don't swim here. The crashing swells will smash you against the rock face in seconds.
People mostly come for the eerie vibe and the hiking. You can walk right along the ancient Kings Highway. Rough lava rock beneath your boots. Look closely near the cliff edges and you'll find collapsed lava tubes gaping open over the churning tide. Blowholes blast sea spray into the air. It's wild. Locals actually whisper about ghost sightings along these paths, specifically ancient Nightmarchers. Though even without the legends, the sheer raw energy of the coastline will leave you speechless. Just bring good shoes.