This panorama shows the approach to Papakolea Green Sands Beach on Hawaii Island. It was taken hand-held after a 2.5 mile trek across hot, ancient lava fields. The beach lies at the bottom of the partially eroded cinder cone.

Walk to Papakolea Green Sand Beach - Hawaii Island visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Walk to Papakolea Green Sand Beach' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Hawaii.

Papakolea Green Sands Beach on Hawaii Island is very remote and would not be a tourist attraction at all if the sand did not have a green tinge. A 2.5mile walk (or 4-wheel drive) from Ka Lea (South Point), the beach lies at the bottom of the partially eroded Pu'u Mahana cinder cone. This cone was formed almost 50,000 years ago and is now slowly being washed into the sea, exposing olivine crystals, which colour the sand green.

A visit to Green Sand Beach must be carefully planned, there are no facilities or amenities for miles around, the neared towns are Wai'ohinu and Nā'ālehu, about 13 miles away. It takes about 40 minutes to walk to the beach from South Point, and you must carry plenty of water. The descent to the beach, down the collapsed cinder cone, is quite steep. Green Sand Beach is at the end of a small cove facing directly out to sea. The waves here can get very large.

The green sand is formed by olivine crystals, a silicate mineral containing iron and magnesium. Olivine is a common component of Hawaiian lavas, and one of the first crystals to form as the lava cools. The stone is known locally as 'Hawaiian Diamond' and is common in the Diamond Head cone near Waikiki on Oahu Island. The only other green sand beach on earth is in Guam.

Car: 4-wheel drive from South Point, about 13 miles southwest of Nā'ālehu,
Walk: 2.5 mile walk from South Point Car Park. Take plenty of water.