To find area $ A $ use formula:
$$ A = \dfrac{ 3 \sqrt{ 3 } \cdot a^2 }{ 2 } $$After substituting $ a = 8 $ we have:
$$ A = \dfrac{ 3 \sqrt{ 3 } \cdot 8^2 }{ 2 } $$ $$ A = \dfrac{ 3 \sqrt{ 3 } \cdot 64 }{ 2 }$$ $$ A = \dfrac{ 192 \sqrt{ 3 } }{ 2 }$$ $$ A = 96 \sqrt{ 3 } $$