Papakolea Beach is one of only four unique green sand beaches in the world, along with Guam's Talofofo Beach, the Galapagos Islands' Punta Cormorant, and Norway's Hornindalsvatnet. The beach's stunning green-hued sands are created from olivine crystals washed ashore from a 49,000-year-old cinder cone of the Mauna Loa volcano and is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime tourist destination for many Big Island visitors. As driving to the beach is illegal due to the fragile environmental conditions that create its green sands, it is only accessible via a 2.5-mile hike from a parking area at Highway 11's 69-70 mile markers. No public facilities are offered at the beach, so visitors are advised to bring food and water. A strict leave-no-trace policy is enforced to ensure the beach's future preservation. Papakolea Beach Map

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