The Papakolea Green Sand Beach is located on the south end of the Big Island of Hawaii.

This green sand has olivine, which is a common mineral that crystalizes from volcanic magma.

The hike is a 5.6 mile out and back hike or you can pay $40 per person to have a truck drive you to the beach.

It’s a maze of dirt roads that are really rough, but the beach makes it all worth it.

This is a map showing where this green sand beach is located on the southern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii.

We drove to the parking lot for Papakolea Green Sand Beach. They have porta-potties there.

From the parking lot, you can do the 5.6 mile out and back hike.

If you don't want to hike, you can pay $40 for an out and back truck ride to the beach.

We drove a Jeep and decided to drive to the beach.

We didn't realize how much of a maze the road turns into about halfway there.

We were lucky to be following another Jeep that seemed to know how to get there. 

If not, it could of taken us a lot longer.

If we went again, we would either do the hike or pay for a truck ride there.

We eventually got to the parking lot. This parking lot overlooks the green sand beach.

From the parking lot, there is a trail that you take down to the beach. 

As we got down to the beach, we found that the sand was really soft.

The green hue in the sand is from the olivine, which is a volcanic mineral from magma.

We had a great time swimming and hanging out at this green sand beach.

This is what the trail looks like heading back up to the top.

We took in the views from the top one last time and then headed back.

Overall, we had a great time and would highly recommend visiting this green sand beach.

(Click on the map above to go to a Google Maps larger view.)

Papakolea Green Sand Beach is free to visit. The parking is free too. If you don't want to hike, you can pay $40 per person to have a truck drive you to the beach. $20 there and $20 back.

Total Cost: $0

These are the checklist items I recommend:

• Have a full tank of gas as this location is very remote.
• Wear good hiking shoes or running shoes.
• Bring some drinks and food.
• Bring reef safe sunscreen.
• Bring a hat to keep the sun off your face.