There’s a Beach in Hawaii Made Entirely Out of Sea Glass and It’s Astounding

Hawaii is undoubtedly known for its incredible beaches and more than 750 miles of magnificent shoreline. However, not all beaches are created equal: from Oahu’s Hanauma Bay to the Big Island's Punalu'u Beach, there are several beach gems to uncover. One such hidden gem is found on the island of Kauai, tucked away in a Hanapepe industrial area, near Port Allen Harbor. This is Kauai’s Glass Beach, and it is covered with millions of sea glass pebbles in brilliant hues of aqua, blue, and brown. If you are planning a trip to Hawaii, come and check out this gorgeous sea glass beach in Hawaii.

The glass found at this beach was mainly created from broken bottles and auto glass that was dumped years ago, and subsequently smoothed by time and ocean tides. More than a century ago, it was decided that, for whatever reason, this stretch of beach would serve as a dumping site for many of Kauai’s discarded items, from old cars and large metal structures to windows, bottles, and other junk.

Over the course of several years, the ocean has worked its magic and covered the beach in tiny pebbles of sea glass.

Fun fact: it takes the ocean approximately 10 to 30 years to create each piece of frosted sea glass.

Partly the product of trash dumping, and partly the product of a unique geological structure known as the Swiss Cheese Shoreline, the Glass Beach is truly a sight to behold. The Swiss Cheese Shoreline’s hole-filled lava rocks work as the anvil upon which the waves smashed discarded glass, creating the beach’s iconic sea glass. It's a great place for beachcombing in Hawaii.

Like the glass beaches found in California, this Hawaii beach is home to far less sea glass than decades before — mainly due to travelers picking up the sea glass as a souvenir — but it is still worth a visit if you can find it. In fact, you won’t find many guidebooks leading visitors to this magnificent stretch of coastline, nor are there any signs leading visitors to the beach, but it is heaven for lovers of sea glass.

Glass Beach Kauai simply proves that one man’s trash can become another man’s treasure — with more than 10 years and the powerful Pacific Ocean.

Because of the beach’s rock-bottom and unhygienic history, it’s advised that you do not enter the water here. But it is worth adding this beach to your list of day trips in Hawaii.

To ensure the enjoyment of this sea glass beach in Hawaii for years to come, please refrain from taking the sea glass home as souvenirs of your travels. Photographs will do just fine and don’t take up space in your luggage. If you'd rather spend your beach day swimming, check out these epic Hawaii beaches.

If this is your first time in Kauai, make sure you stay for a while. We love many of the incredible vacation rentals that dot the island, including this romantic cottage with breathtaking ocean views. And if you are looking for even more things to do on Kauai, check out these bucket-list-worthy activities on the island's north shore.