Green Sands Beach |
Figure 1: Overhead view of Green Sands Beach |
| Green Sands Beach, or Papakolea to the natives, requires a two mile hike that is well worth the effort (Figure 1). The rugged dusty trail follows a very breezy porting of the Big Island's Coast (Figure 2). Due to the strong incoming wind off the Pacific Ocean, A great deal of the garbage that is thrown out to sea ends up on the basalt beaches along the trail (Figure 3). Most if the garbage was items from boats, including fishing nets, floats, line, bait cages, and glass bottles. | |
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| Nearing the end of the hike, a cinder cone appears off in the distance. As you approach the cone you realize that it is being eroded by waves in a bay that creates Green Sand Beach (Figure 4). The cinder cone is made of green olivine, a mineral than gives the beach it's color. The waves at the beach can have a dangerous undertow and should be approached with caution. On the way back from the beach, a mysterious person ascended from the basalt cattle walls. | |
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