Punalu’u Village Restaurant: The lost gem of Ka’u, Hawai’i

Join us as we take you on a journey to discover the hidden story behind the popular black sand beach in Punalu'u, Hawaii. Take a stroll behind the coconut grove along the ocean and you will find an abandoned restaurant. In 1972, C. Brewer and Co., one of the five largest land owners in Hawaii, built the Punalu'u restaurant and Ka'u Culture and Historical Center. But on the early morning of November 29, 1975, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck along the southeast of the island, sending a tsunami around the island. The restaurant was one of the victims of multiple waves. The waves destroyed the restaurant but left a giant mural by legendary artist Herb Kane untouched. For 30 years, the 24 x 10-foot curved painting remained in the ruins. In 2005, just a year before C. Brewer and Co. was dissolved, the painting was cut out of the wall and has never been seen again. Join us as we explore this abandoned and forgotten site, and discover the history and culture behind it. If you have any photos or videos of what this place looked like between 1972 and 1975 please share with us. Aloha!