The shoreline is so beautiful that it is worth the long drive to Hana to visit this park. Wai'anapanapa has a black sand beach with 'wild' surroundings. There are sculpted lave rocks, wind twisted foliage, and lava caves and tubes. There's even a 'blow hole' in the lava rocks near the shoreline. The snorkeling and diving can be great here, but unfortunately, it is seldom very calm.
Visibility is almost always low.
Swimming is possible, but caution should be exercised. The beach is open to the ocean, no outside reef to break the force of waves and current. The water can be very rough at this location. The beach is not the only attraction at Wai'anapanapa. The area around the park is very interesting to hike through.