Featuring approximately 750 miles of stunning coastline, the hundreds of beaches you’ll find across the Hawaiian Islands are truly second to none. But just because the Aloha State is surrounded by beaches doesn’t mean that every beach is created equal. From Maui’s jaw-dropping red sand beach to Kauai’s sea glass beach, each stretch of sand has its own identity, and some are clearly better than others. This unique gem, however, might just be one of the state’s best. In addition to being downright dreamy, it’s sand literally sings (or barks).
Nestled on the westernmost accessible coast of the Garden Island between Kekaha Beach and Polihale Beach, Barking Sands is known for its incredible sunsets, superb vistas of Ni’ihau, and the sound the sand makes when sliding down the 60-foot high dunes along the beach.
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Yes, that’s correct: the sand here makes a unique “woofing” sound when sliding down the dunes. Also called singing sand or whistling sand, this one-of-a-kind phenomenon is often caused by wind passing over dunes, falling sand, or walking on the sand.
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At Barking Sands, the sound is created when large amounts of dry sand are moved, creating a friction that results in a sound resembling a barking dog.
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The sand here is full of small holes in it, and the barking effect is produced within these small cavities through the vibrations that occur when the sand is pushed together.
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This sound-producing sand is created only when certain conditions come together: the sand contains silica, is at a certain humidity, and the individual grains of sand must be round and between .1 and .5mm in diameter. Interesting, right?
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Rumor has it that you can also experience the barking sand if you walk over the sand or take two handfuls of sand in each hand and slap it together. We can’t back that claim up, however.
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This singing sand can be found at a handful of dunes and on beaches across the world, but Barking Sands Beach is the only place in the Aloha State where you can experience this mysterious wonder.
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Unfortunately, because Barking Sands is located at the northern part of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, access is restricted. If you’re able to gain access and experience this unique phenomenon for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
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Address: Pacific Missile Range Facility, Waieli, Kauai, HI 96752
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Have you ever been to the ultra-unique Barking Sands Beach? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments below, then click here to discover Hawaii’s newest black sand beach.
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