Hiking the Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trail on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 5.6 miles / 9.0 km
Papakōlea, more commonly known as the Green Sand Beach, on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi is one of only four green sand beaches in the entire world, and for this reason, Papakōlea should be considered a must-see destination for all first-time visitors!
Now, it must be said that the Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trail is not the easiest day hike on the Big Island, given that the trail is so dry, low in elevation, and, most of all, windy! Yes, the South Point area of the Big Island is notorious for being very windy, which inevitably makes the Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trail a very dry, dusty hike—especially by midday.
That being said, I don’t want to discourage anyone from hiking to Papakōlea, as hiking is my preferred method of visiting. I say this because hiking allows for the opportunity to enjoy Papakōlea Green Sands for as long or as little as you like—not to mention that hiking the trail is the only free way to visit, outside of having your own 4WD vehicle.
This all goes without saying, the Papakōlea Trail is far more pleasant to hike early in the morning or late in the evening, as there is essentially no places to find shade along the entire trail!
How to Get to the Green Sand Beach on Hawaiʻi Island?
There are three different ways to get to Papakōlea Green Sand Beach:
Hiking – This is the first and most obvious option, and it’s what I talk about throughout this article.
Driving Your Own 4WD Vehicle – Having a 4WD vehicle is the only way to drive to Papakōlea via the bumpy, eroded coastal roads that lead to the beach, about 2.8 miles (4.5 km) each way.
However, driving inherently comes with its own risks—especially if the vehicle you plan to use is a rental car. This is because the 4WD roads to Papakōlea Green Sands are not as straightforward as others, like the dirt road to Mauna Kea. There are multiple paths that only locals typically know best in order to avoid the worst of the sandy, muddy, and deeply eroded areas, which are a real issue along the coast north of South Point. A number of these areas can clearly be seen in the photos throughout this post.
Taking the Shuttle – Finally, the easiest and most hassle-free way to reach Papakōlea is by asking the locals at the trailhead for a ride. This way, you can get to the Green Sand Beach in one of their off-road vehicles, instead of using your own.
Be sure to carry cash—at least $20–$30 per person—if you plan to use this method for a ride.
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trail is located at the very end of South Point Road, where the trail/ 4WD road begins.
The Green Sand Beach parking lot should not be confused with South Point itself, which is located down the turn just prior to where South Point Road ends at the Green Sand Beach Trailhead.
Google Maps Directions: Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Hiking to Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
Overall, the hike to Green Sands is fairly easy and fairly straightforward.
Know that after the parking lot/ trailhead area, there is no shade on the entire Papakōlea Trail. However, what’s perhaps even more significant is the wind.
I have hiked to Papakōlea Green Sands many times, and not once has the wind been calm. Papakōlea is a dry, dusty trail, which is why sunglasses and a thin sun shirt with a hood, like the one below, will be your best friend.
Initially, the Papakōlea Trail heads directly down to the Kaulana Boat Ramp before turning north up the coast toward the Green Sand Beach.
Kaulana Boat Ramp
Once you reach the Kaulana Boat Ramp, turn left (north) to continue hiking toward Papakōlea Green Sand Beach.
From here, the Papakōlea Trail simply follows the coastline north until you reach the Green Sand Beach.
While the trails along the coast tend to split often, it’s generally easiest and fastest to walk along the coast as much as possible.
Areas like this are exactly why I advise against driving a rental car out to the Green Sand Beach.
There are simply too many different trails to know if you’re choosing the best one, especially if it has recently rained.
While I don’t advise taking a rental car, if you bring cash to the trailhead, at least $20-30 per person, you can have the locals shuttle you out to the Green Sand Beach.
When the cliff/ high point in the photo below starts to become more visible, you’re getting close to Papakōlea Green Sands, which is located just below.
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach
Whether you take the shuttle or decide to hike out to Papakōlea, this last descent is always the same.
For some, this final descent proves to be more tricky than it looks, as there is typically only makeshift steps and/ or a ladder down the initial cliff.
Past the ladders, the rest of the hike down to the beach involves navigating down a typically very sandy and sometimes slippery set of rock ledges.
Mahana (Green Sand Beach)
Personally, I don’t think these photos do a good job at showing just how green Papakōlea (Mahana Beach) really is.
The green sands of Papakōlea are truly a must-see, which is why I believe that Papakōlea Green Sand Beach is easily one of the best things to do on the Big Island!
Native Plants on the Papakōlea Trail
There aren’t a ton of native plants to find on the Papakōlea Green Sand Beach Trail, but if you keep your eye out for low-growing coast plants, you’ll likely spot a few natives on the hike.
Some of these native plants on the trail include Milo, Nehe, ʻIlima, ʻĀkulikuli, ʻUhaloa, and Alena, to name a few.
If you would like to learn more about identifying these and tons of other native Hawaiian plants from around Hawaiʻi, I encourage you to learn more in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
