Papakolea Beach on the Big Island.
Today's blog post is going to be a bit of a change of pace. Instead of focusing on a visit to a unit of the National Park Service, we're going to showcase some of the adventures we had on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Back in August/September 2023, we visited both National Parks in the state of Hawaii: (1) Hawaii Volcanoes on the Big Island and (2) Haleakala on the island of Maui.
Here's a link to our post all about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
We also had many other adventures on the Big Island. Although these places are not national parks, I felt that they deserved a blog post. 😀
After visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (which is in the southeastern region of the Big Island) we drove to Kona on the western side of the island. On our way there, we stopped at Punalu'u Beach. It is one of the most famous black sand beaches in all of Hawaii. We actually visited here twice: once in the evening and then early the next morning to see the sea turtles basking on the black sand.
You have a great chance to see green turtles and hawksbill turtles at Punalu'u Beach, particularly in the morning.
The black sand at Punalu'u is made of basalt and is created by lava flowing from nearby Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which explodes and then cools as it enters the ocean.
one of the turtles was slowly making its way into the ocean
the color of the black sand has a sharper appearance in the setting sun
The drive from Hawaii Volcanoes to Kona along the southern coast of the Big Island is a very scenic drive. Make sure to stop at the Punalu'u Bake Shop (dubbed the "southernmost bakery in the United States") for some of their delicious world-famous sweet bread.
Take a small detour off the main road to travel to South Point: the southernmost point in the 50 states. It was a windy day and the waves crashing on the dramatic cliffs made for incredible, stunning views.
southernmost point in the 50 states!
there were a few people jumping off the cliffs into the ocean. A little too high for me 😁
incredible surf and spray of the waves breaking along the rocky shore
At South Point is the trailhead to Papakolea Beach. This remote beach is one out of the only four green sand beaches in the entire world. (The other three are located in: Guam, Galapagos Islands, and Norway). The Beach is only accessible via a 3-mile hiking trail.
Locals will offer to shuttle tourists in a pickup truck out to the beach for $20 per person (one-way). However, the shuttles are illegal. But enforcement is lax and demand is high. We opted to walk. It was a tough hike. Make sure you bring plenty of water. The wind was harsh. Also, there is NO shade along the trail, and the sun was relentless. But, ultimately it was worth it.
covered my head with a towel to try and get some relief from the sun
the illegal shuttles have eroded the landscape harshly, creating ruts. Some of the ruts are as deep as 8-9 feet.
I can't really recommend taking the shuttle (after all, it is illegal and harmful to this environment), but just be aware that this is not an easy hike. And it's long, 3 miles each way. Be prepared.
Finally, you'll arrive at the secluded beach. The sand has a distinct olive green color. The color comes from olivine eroded out of the enclosing volcanic cone. It's a little bit of a climb down to the beach, but not too bad. The waves at this beach were crazy! A very strong current, a little scary but thrilling. Just keep your wits about you. It was so much fun.
depending on the sunlight, the green of the sand can be more vivid.
On the day of our visit, the appearance was a much more subtle olive green.
a dramatic view of the green sand beach.
the green sand
I thought I could outrun this wave. 😂
first sight of the beach along the trail. The tall peak in the back is the volcanic cone ("tuff ring") that creates the green sand
I didn't venture too far into the water. The waves were VERY strong.
It was incredible to see the green sand of Papakolea Beach. A very memorable adventure. After the long hike we got a big lunch.
fish tacos
fish and chips
We then made it to the Royal Kona resort. We stayed here for three nights. It was great!
one morning during breakfast we got to see people racing in these large outriggers
Hulihe'e Palace, former home of Hawaiian royalty, is just down the street from the Kona Resort.
our hotel
A great way to have breakfast, while relaxing next to the ocean
a hearty Hawaiian breakfast
The Royal Mud Pie for dessert. Made from Kona coffee ice cream. It was delicious!
Funny story. An old friend from high school and his wife happened to be staying at the same resort as us. It was very fun to catch up!
Tara got the poke bowl for dinner. It had a little bit of everything. 😃
Our first evening in Kona, we went for a night swim to snorkel and see the manta rays. There are many outfits that offer this activity, we booked ours through Sea Paradise. I highly recommend them. This was an absolutely incredible experience.
our boat for the manta ray night snorkel
Getting the snorkel gear on, I was excited (but a little nervous) 😀
You'll be snorkeling just off the coast. The lights from the nearby hotel attract plankton, which in turn attract the large manta rays. Your tour will provide all the gear you need to enjoy the experience. We saw so many manta rays (8 to 9). They were massive, and came up right close to you as they ate the plankton. This was very thrilling and fun.
the tour provides a floatation device to hang on to as you snorkel
the underbelly of the manta ray
the lights on the flotation device help attract the manta rays. As you see, they're not bashful, and they'll come right up next to you.
The next morning, we went snorkeling at Two Step beach. It's a few miles south of Kona, near the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. With easy access in and out of the ocean, and plenty of aquatic life, this is a very popular snorkeling spot.
Looks like I belong on the cover of a Nirvana album 😄
The Kona area of Big Island is famous for its coffee. We visited the Greenwell Coffee Farm. They offer free guided tours and samples of their coffee and chocolates.
our tour guide
We concluded our stay on the Big Island with the luau at Kona Resort. Great food and a very entertaining show.
the fire dance was the best part. Very exciting.
getting ready for the luau
watching the sunset at the resort
At the Kona airport, waiting to board the plane to Maui.
A trip to the Big Island is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and full of adventure! We loved it. And we can't wait to return. Thanks for reading our blog and I hope that all of you have a travel-filled 2025! Aloha and mahalo!
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