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There’s
black sand, white sand, and coral-filled
salt and pepper-but I bet you’ve never
seen anything like the Papakolea Green
Sand Beach. The coast of this secluded
beach is sprinkled with olivine, a
semi-precious stone, crushed into fine
sand by years of lava cooling and
erosion. So it’s literally like walking
on jewels. And get this: olivine sand
can only be found in two other places:
Iceland, and the moon.
Getting to this beach isn’t easy.
Papakolea sits at the base of the Puu O
Mahana, an old cinder cone in a wild,
undeveloped terrain. Access involves a
2.5-mile drive along a rough dirt road
and a four-mile hike among steep cliffs
and lava boulders. Some of these
boulders are up to five feet high-be
sure to bring a pair of sturdy shoes!
Once you’re there, however, you’ll be
instantly rewarded with one of the best
views on the island, if not the entire
state. The beach appears almost unreal
against a backdrop of steep cliffs and
boulders, and the sides of the cliff
slope gracefully into the ocean. At
sunset, the play of colors against the
sand is simply breathtaking.
The sparkling blue water appears calm
and bubbly against the green sand, but
you’ll want to stay on the shore.
Swimming is recommended only for
advanced swimmers, as the current can be
very strong and the tide can roughen up
the whole beach. On calmer days, you can
go diving and snorkeling, but make sure
to observe the water before getting in.
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