A Magical Beach and Its Unique Volcanic Formation
It almost sounds like something out of a fairy tale: a beach in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, isolated and off-the-beaten-path, with striking green sand. Known as simply the “green sand beach,” its name speaks for itself. Hawaiians call it Papakolea because the Kolea bird loves the green sand cove as much as the visitors who make the trek to see the rare geological phenomenon.
The otherworldly sand is olivine crystals forged from within the Mauna Loa volcano, which comprises most of the southern portion of the Big Island. Rich in magnesium, olivine is commonly found in the earth’s upper mantle. The activity of a nearby Mauna Loa cinder cone pushes the olivine crystals towards the water, where it then gathers at Papakolea.
Cruising From Volcano Village to the Southernmost Tip of the US
Highway 11, which starts right near the Hilo airport, traces a semi-circle around the south of the Big Island. From Volcano Village Estates, you can conveniently jump on 11 and head southward towards the green sand beach. After a scenic 90 minute drive, you’ll exit the highway by making a left on Kamaoa Road and then another quick left on South Point Road. This road gets its name because it leads to the southern tip of the Big Island, which is (fun trivia fact) the southernmost tip of the entire United States! You’ll park in a small parking lot there, and after gathering up your water and sunscreen (there are no facilities or shade once you get there, so come prepared), the hiking part of the journey begins.
A Far-From-Crowded Trek Well Worth the Effort
One of the rewards of Papakolea is that it takes commitment to get there, so it is less crowded than other touristy spots on the Big Island. After parking, you’ll walk towards the water and take a left at the dirt road that parallels the isolated coastline. Along this 2.5 mile stretch, you’ll stroll by cows in wide-open pastures, wind turbines spinning in the ocean breeze, and you’ll likely see Kolea birds tracing the same path towards the green sands.
Once you arrive, you can scamper down a tall dune to the beach below. Rugged rocks frame the olivine-rich landscape on both sides, where you can plant your feet in the green sand while waves crash into the picturesque cove. And if you make the journey on a weekday morning, you may just have the surreal beauty all to yourself!
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