Green Sand Beach

If you ever find yourself on the Big Island, Green Sand Beach is really cool to see. It’s one of only four green sand beaches in the world, and the unique color of the sand makes it unlike any other beach you’ve probably visited. The green hue comes from olivine crystals, a mineral formed from volcanic activity. When the waves crash against the rocks, they slowly break down the olivine, creating the distinctive green sand that covers the shore.

Getting to the beach is an adventure in itself. The hike is about 5.5 miles roundtrip, but if you don’t feel like walking, you can catch a ride in the back of a local’s truck for about $20. That being said, I highly recommend doing the hike. My friends and I decided to walk, and some of us (including myself) even did it barefoot because it’s a cruise. Before we even got to the trailhead, we drove through vast stretches of grasslands and farmland, passing plenty of animals along the way. There is also a quick roadside stop that we pulled over for, a small wooden shack selling spam musubis! To entertain ourselves, we made up a game: whenever someone saw a group of more than three cows, they’d yell “HERD!” and claim their cow herd (at least one other person had to vouch for it to count) and we were keeping track until we reached the trailhead. I won.

A lot of people are hesitant to walk the full 5.5 miles because they don’t know what to expect in terms of difficulty, but honestly, it’s very easy. The trail is almost completely flat and follows the coastline the whole way, which means you get a constant ocean breeze and an uninterrupted view of the water.

At one point, we took a break at a little cove along the way and noticed how plush the grass looked. Jokingly, one of my friends tested it out, and to our surprise, it was soft enough to fall onto like a bed. So, naturally, I had to try it too. We ended up lying there, just laughing about how much fun we were having, and candidly got it on camera. The rest of the hike was filled with good conversation and breathtaking views. It wasn’t strenuous at all, just a chill, scenic walk with friends.

When we finally reached Green Sand Beach, we were in awe. We’d seen black, white, tan, and even red sand, but never green. To get down to the actual beach, there are ladders built into the cliffside, making it an easy descent, and down there, we spent a solid hour and a half snorkeling, swimming, and finding shells. The water was so nice, and at one point, we even spotted a sea turtle gracefully gliding through the water.

After we’d had our fill of the green sand, it was time for the next part of the day, South Point Cliff Jump, just five minutes away.

South Point is the southernmost tip of the United States, so in a way, it felt like we were literally jumping off the edge of the country. There’s a wooden platform that makes for the perfect jumping point, and one by one, we all leaped off. The 40-foot drop into the deep blue water is so exhilarating every time.

On one of my previous trips, my friend, who was visiting for the first time, decided she wanted to try flipping off the platform. She over-rotated and ended up landing on her back REALLY HARD. We all watched in shock, but thankfully, she popped up laughing. Her entire back bruised later, but we got it all on video, which made for a hilarious memory to look back on.

The water at South Point is so clear and its almost like gatorade blue. After jumping, we climbed back up, grabbed our snorkel gear, and did the jump again, this time wanting to see more of what was underwater. Swimming through the schools of fish, spotting vibrant colors in the reef, and gliding over massive coral formations was unreal. We even got another turtle sighting, watching it effortlessly float past us. It was the perfect way to set the tone for the trip—pure fun and a stoked energy.