Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea Beach) is one of only two green sand beaches in the world. (The other is at the Galapagos Islands.) Green Sand Beach gets its distinctive coloring from olivine found in the enclosing cinder cone. Olivine is a common mineral component of Hawaiian lavas and one of the first crystals to form as magma cools.
Green Sand Beach is located near South Point, the southernmost point on the Big Island of Hawaii and of the 50 United States. Because I didn’t have a 4 Wheel Drive, it was a 2 ¼ mile hike one-way to the Green Sand Beach…but worth every step!
Hope you're having a wonderful week!
Mary^