Green Sands Beach
By Lynn Lopez
Green Sands Beach in the Kau’ district of Hawaii is known by this name for a very simple and straightforward reason: the sands are truly a brilliant green. Crystals of a mineral called olivine, which is green, gives this famous beach its verdant quality, so there is no doubt that this is a sight upon which many tourists would want to lay eyes.
Also known as Papakolea, it’s not the kind of beach that you would go to if you’re looking forward to a relaxing vacation or a day of sunning yourself. This is more geared towards hikers, because getting to the beach itself is no small feat. The two-mile ocean trail that will take you to the beach takes almost an hour to get through. It’s no use taking a car along, by the way—the road is difficult to manage.
To prepare for the trek, it’s best for you to take along the usual supplies, like food, sunscreen, sunglasses, a protective hat, and a towel. You will definitely need these to help you along while you’re walking. The hiking can be a bit challenging, so you should put on some sturdy shoes as well.
The view is well worth the trek, though, as well as the opportunity to see a rare sight with your own eyes. You can go fishing in this secluded spot as well, or even take home a little bit of the sand, in which there are occasional pieces of peridot. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to find a big one which you can have fashioned into a gem for your jewelry.
Visiting Green Sands Beach is definitely a unique experience, one that will complete your Hawaiian experience.
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