The Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea Beach)


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Green Sand Beach, also known as Papakōlea Beach, is a beautiful and unique beach located on the southern coast of Hawaii's Big Island. Specifically, it is found in the Papakōlea area of Kaʻū district near South Point, the southernmost point of the Big Island and the United States.


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Green sand beach (Papakōlea) Green sand beach (Papakōlea) 32 reviews #42 of 119 things to do in Kailua-Kona Points of Interest & LandmarksScenic Drives Write a review What people are saying " 1 in 4 green sand beaches in the world. Enough said. Immaculate. " Nov 2023


How To Get To The Green Sand Beach On The Big Island Of Hawaii

Over time, the ocean and winds turned these huge chunks into trillions of teeny-tiny pebbles which we refer to as sand. The Green sand beach is located in a giant cinder cone that is a southern rift of Mauna Loa, the biggest land mass in the world. Due to erosion, the cinder cone partially collapsed, creating an incredibly unique landscape.


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Papakōlea Beach (Green Sands Beach) is located outside Naalehu, a tiny town between Volcanoes National Park and South Point (the southernmost point of the United States). The beach is approximately 2 hours south of Kailua-Kona along Highway 11. It is easily recognizable by its green sand color.


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Situated at the base of Pu'u O Mahana, the Green Sand Beach catches the eye with its unusual, olive sand. It consists of olivine, a semi-precious stone that was produced by volcanic activity. As the ocean pounds against the shore, the olivine erodes day by day, creating a beach of an attractive shade of green.


The Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea Beach)

Papakōlea Beach (also known as Green Sand Beach or Mahana Beach [1]) is a green sand beach located near South Point, in the Kaʻū district of the island of Hawaiʻi. It is one of only four green sand beaches in the world, the others being Talofofo Beach, Guam; Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands; and Hornindalsvatnet, Norway.


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The beach in Hawaii with green sand is Papakolea Beach. So the famous green sand beach in Hawaii is on the Big Island! You also may hear this called the Papakolea Beach or Mahana Bay. Just how green is the green sand beach?! Well, if you're expecting arrive at the beach expecting an amazing colored green sand, you might be disappointed.


South Point, Hawaii’s Famous Green Sand Beach Photo by Donald MacGowan Green sand beach

"Papakolea," or Green Sand Beach Hawaii, is located in the southern part of the Big Island. You can take Highway 11 from Kona and turn to South Point between markers 69 and 70. It will take about 1.5 hours to drive here from Kona.


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The Big Island Green Sand beach is near the southern tip of the Island, about an hour from our rainforest resort Volcano Inn. How was the Green Sand Beach formed? The reason why there're only 4 green sand beaches in the world is because it takes a special, rare type of volcanic lava eruption.


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The many names of Hawaii's Green Sand Beach Officially known as Papakōlea Beach because of the kōlea bird that frequents the area, Hawaii's green sand beach goes by many names. including, of course, "Green Sand Beach," a name which needs no explanation.


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The Green Sand Beach (Papakolea Beach) is approximately 65 miles (about 104 kilometers) south of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The journey takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours by car, depending on the route and road conditions. Please note that reaching the beach may require a hike or a 4×4 vehicle ride from the nearest parking area.


All You Need To Know About The Green Sand Beach in Hawaii

The only green sand beach in Hawaii, and one of just a few in the entire world, it's a truly unforgettable place. We put together this guide with everything you need to know to visit Papakolea Beach. Papakōlea Beach is unquestionably the most unique stretch of shore on Hawaii's Big Island.


Green Sand Beach On Hawaii Photograph by Brendan Reals

This Green Sand Beach is located about 3 miles (5 km) east of Ka Lae (South Point) in Hawaii's Kau district. Papakolea was once a cinder cone volcano, which erupted and spewed lava rich in olivine (an abundant mineral in found volcanic rock). Years of erosion and daily weather slowly eroded the lava rocks until only the olivine sand left behind.


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The Green Sand Beach on the Big Island is located in the town of Naalehu, along the southern part of the coastline. It's located relatively equidistant from both towns that travelers usually stay on the Big Island: Kona or Hilo.


Papakolea Beach (Green Sand Beach) of Big Island Lareina Ting

According to our trusty guidebook, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed, the green sand beach hike is a little over 2 miles each way. The wide open terrain is crisscrossed with red dirt tracks created by 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Even getting to the Green Sand Beach was picturesque.


Papakolea Beach in Hawaii One of the Only Two Green Sand Beaches in the World Only In Hawaii

Best time to visit Directionsto Green sand beach (hiking + driving) Driving directions Hiking directions Important: driving all the way to green sand beach is illegal Green sand beach Trivia Green sand beach is one of the top attractions in the Kaʻu district, but not the only one!