Papakolea Green Sand Beach
Naalehu, HI
Papakolea Beach, better known simply as Green Sand Beach, gets its color from olivine crystals eroding out of Puu Mahana, the cinder cone that half encircles the cove near South Point. It's one of only a handful of green sand beaches on earth, and reaching it takes real effort, which keeps the crowd thinner than the novelty alone would suggest.
A genuinely rare sight worth the effort once in a while, but the heat, wind, and lack of any facilities mean it's not a beach anyone treats as a casual, regular trip.
How we score beachesStart walking by 8am if you're doing it on foot. There's no shade for the full 2.5 mile trek each way, and the wind and heat build fast once the sun is up.
A dirt lot at the end of South Point Road, past Ka Lae, serves as the trailhead. It's free, though local drivers sometimes offer paid 4WD rides down the closed access road for a negotiated fee.
The route is a rough, exposed 2.5 mile walk or drive each way over a dirt road, ending with a steep, loose descent down the cinder cone to the sand. It isn't manageable for strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone with limited mobility.
This is the windiest stretch of the island year round, with little seasonal variation beyond slightly calmer summer surf for wading at the cove's edge.
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