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Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
Recomendado por 148 habitantes locales,
Consejos de residentes locales
Kelly
December 28, 2021
A beautiful hour long hike to a stunning and rare green sand beach. I recommend starting the hike around 2pm to catch sunset on your way back. Bring $20 cash to hitch a ride with a local one or both ways. (I like hiking out and hitching a ride back!)
Susan & Larry
May 18, 2021
Papakōlea Beach is located in a bay half circled by Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone formed over 49,000 years ago and associated with the southwest rift of Mauna Loa. Since its last eruption, the cinder cone has partially collapsed and been partially eroded by the ocean. The beach is sometimes named after the cinder cone, and sometimes after the area of land called Papakōlea, which comes from papa kōlea, which means plover flats in the Hawaiian language. Papakōlea is the area near the crater where the Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) are sometimes seen in winter. The cinder cone is rich in olivine, a silicate mineral containing iron and magnesium, also known as peridot when of gem quality. Olivine is a common mineral component of Hawaiian lavas and one of the first crystals to form as magma cools. Olivine is locally known as "Hawaiian Diamond" and is notably found in Oʻahu's famous Diamond Head landmark. The source of the green coloration of the beach sands is due to the olivine crystals which are winnowed from the eroding headland by the action of the sea. Olivine, being denser and tougher than the ash fragments, glass and black pyroxene of the rest of the rocks and lava flows, tends to accumulate on the beach whereas the usual volcanic sand is swept out to sea. Although these crystals are eventually washed away as well, the constant erosion of the cinder cone ensures a steady supply of sand for the foreseeable future—eventually, however, the supply will run out and the beach will look like any other. It is a long hike or a bumpy 4 wheel adventure.
Papakōlea Beach is located in a bay half circled by Puʻu Mahana, a cinder cone formed over 49,000 years ago and associated with the southwest rift of Mauna Loa. Since its last eruption, the cinder cone has partially collapsed and been partially eroded by the ocean. The beach is sometimes named after…
Petrea
March 13, 2020
there are locals at the 'parking lot' that will drive you the 2 miles to the beach.....for a tip...much better than walking!
Richard
December 1, 2019
Green sand beach is one of the (many) “once in a lifetime” places in the Big Island. It is one of two green sand beaches in the United States, while the amount of truly green sand beaches on the world can be counted on one hand.
Sri
July 20, 2019
Because this is one of the 4 Green Sands beach you can find in the world. Be ready for a hike to see the beach or pay a local ( $20/ Roundtrip) to take you there with there pick up truck.
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Ubicación
Naalehu, HI