Beaches in Hawaii Island
2 beaches · 2 beach worlds
The youngest island in the chain and the only one still growing. Beaches here are black, green or new: sand made from lava that entered the water recently enough that waves have not yet turned it white. Several beaches on this island did not exist thirty years ago, and one or two have since been buried. Practicalities on the youngest island: several beaches require long unshaded walks with no water available, the informal shuttles at Papakōlea are unlicensed and damage the trail, and taking sand is prohibited everywhere. Turtles bask on the black sand beaches and federal law sets a minimum distance that is enforced. Volcanic activity closes access periodically, and the coast is younger and rockier than the older islands', with fewer beaches overall. The island is large enough that the drive between its coasts takes a couple of hours, and the weather differs completely between them — the east is wet and green, the west dry and sunny, and the beaches follow that division.
The two are different kinds of shore. Both sit on open ocean. · computed from the 2 records below
