Hawaiian Adventure Part 2: Green Sand Beach

Beginning our descent from the cliff face to the green sand beach.



What a beautiful view!

Our next stop in Hawai'i was the Big Island.  I really wanted to see Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.  Where else can you walk upon earth younger than yourself?   My sister's daughter Kristi, her friend Christine and my sister-in-law Elaine joined us on the "Orchid Isle."  Our husbands all stayed at home on what became a "girls only" trip.  We were ready to explore the largest Hawaiian island--all the others could fit into the Big Island with space left over.  



Looking back up at the cliff/pali.

We drove from our vacation rental in Captain Cook to South Point, the southern-most part of the United States (sorry Key West).  A local named David gave us our first adventure when he shuttled us from the rustic parking area to Green Sand Beach, some two miles southeast.  We bumped and rattled over deeply rutted four-wheel-drive only tracks in David's SUV.  I congratulated myself for making the wise decision NOT to drive my own vehicle.  These were four-wheel-drive "roads" for expert locals in the know.  We soon reached the beach which was only accessible by climbing down a rather steep cliff (called pali).  But the trail was well worn and easier to traverse than it looked from the pali edge.

The sand on this beach really IS green, composed primarily of olivine contained in the lava flows.  It was a beautiful spot--green sand flanked by teal ocean and sheer pali as far as you could see.  We took some time to stick our toes into the sand and water before clambering back up the pali for David's ride back to our parking spot.  For $15 per person, David's shuttle service had been well worth our adventure in green sand.

One post script:  you can also hike to Green Sand Beach but remember that you are in the middle of the Big Island's Ka'u Desert.  It is hot even with the wind blowing, which it seems to do non-stop around South Point.  On our return ride, David picked up three hikers who were younger than we are, and gave them a much appreciated hitch back to their car.  They were tired, thirsty, hot, and a little disoriented.  But we gladly squeezed them into what was already a full vehicle.





A walk across the olivine sand.