Although not quite one-of-a-kind, this beach in Hawaii is certainly an extremely rare sight to behold. Rather than the usual golden or white sand you'd find blanketing the shores, this is one of only four green beaches in the world! No, it's not algae or some kind of alien conspiracy, there is a perfectly logical explanation for its grassy hue. Papakolea Beach formed around a cinder cone (that's the name given to the mound of debris surrounding a volcanic vent) that was rich in the mineral olivine, which unsurprisingly is olive green in color. As the waves lapped at the cinder cone, it gradually broke down and turned into a magnificent green sand. Let's take a look at this miracle of nature.
You might expect a green beach to get a lot of tourists visiting, but due to its location on Hawaii's Big Island, roughly 2 1/2 hours drive from any of the main resorts, this stunning location is still relatively unspoilt. So, if you want to relax on a quiet beach that looks like it belongs on a different planet, you should plan a trip to Papakolea!