It is the only green beach in Hawaii and one of only four in the world. Papakōlea, on the Big Island, is a spectacle of nature.
Formed over the years in the collapsed crater of the now inactive Pu’u Mahana volcano, it owes the particular colour of its sand to the presence of olivine, a greenish mineral of magmatic origin containing iron and magnesium. The wave motion of the ocean has eroded the rocky walls of the bay, depositing the small green crystals.
Reaching the beach is rather complicated: cars are not allowed, and it is necessary to undertake a challenging trek on foot. And this has ensured that its beauty has remained intact over time.
