These 6 Colored Sand Beaches in Hawaii Will Blow You Away

While each state in America is distinctive in its geography and appearance, Hawaii is perhaps the most unique in all of America. One of the many things that set Hawaii apart from the crowd is the stunning beaches that populate the islands, particularly the colored sand beaches. From black and green sand beaches on the Big Island to Molokai’s magnificent orange sand beach, the colored sand beaches in Hawaii will leave you speechless.

1. Punaluu Beach

Nestled between Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Naalehu town on the Big Island, Punaluu is perhaps Hawaii’s most famous black sand beach and is a popular haven for honu to relax.

2. Wainapanapa Beach

Located just outside Maui’s famous Hana, this beach has so much more to offer than hauntingly beautiful black sand made up of smooth lava pebbles — visitors can view a blowhole, enjoy the boardwalk path along the coast, and explore freshwater pools and lava tubes. It's one of our favorite places to visit on Maui.

3. Papakolea Beach

Located on the southern tip of the Big Island, Papakolea Beach is one of only four green sand beaches in the world. The green hue comes from olivine, a mineral and common component of Hawaiian lava. Because olivine is denser than other minerals, it accumulates on the shoreline naturally — creating a green-hued beach unlike any other in Hawaii. To reach this green sand beach in Hawaii, you will need to put on your hiking shoes and tackle a moderately-challenging hike that is just shy of six miles.

4. Papohaku Beach

So, maybe orange sand isn’t as exotic as black or green, but Papohaku Beach, located on Molokai’s western tip, is worthy of a visit simply because it is so secluded — and there’s no beating the sand’s orange hue when the sun sets.

5. Halawa Beach Park

At the end of Kamehameha Highway on Molokai is this beautiful black and white sand beach. Do you notice a trend here? I think we all need to head to Molokai to experience Hawaii’s magnificent colored beaches truly.

6. Kailua Beach

Yeah, yeah, yeah — white isn’t technically a color, but the magnificent sand found at Oahu’s famous Kailua Beach is truly second to none. The fine white sand found at Kailua Beach Park contains coral, shell fragments, and other organic material.

How many of these stunning colored sand beaches in Hawaii have you visited? What do you consider the best beaches in Hawaii? Let me know by filling out this nomination form. I'd love to hear from you.

And if you love black sand beaches most of all, check out our article featuring several of Hawaii's best black sand beaches. And if you need some new beach gear for your upcoming adventures, check out this beach towel and beach chair — they are some of our favorites!