In this case, which has now made international news, the famed South Point beach, Papakolea Beach, one of only four green sand beaches in the world, has been overrun by residents offering visitors illegal paid rides to avoid the two-hour round trip hike. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated issue and highlights how poorly the precious natural, cultural and historic resources of our State of Hawaii are sometimes being protected.
Polihale Beach Kauai was handled differently.
In another case, Polihale Beach Kauai was closed for camping by the state. In December 2020, the beach, hugely popular with Kauai residents and visitors alike, became day use only. That indefinite camping shut down by the state was the result of “camping without permits, driving on the beach and dunes, and careless behavior in general,” according to the state. That largely at the hands of residents. Polihale Beach was reopened in July 2022.
How South Point’s Papakolea Beach is being destroyed.
At South Point, deeply rutted dirt paths have damaged the environment, and the adjacent coral reef, and threatened Hawaiian ancestral remains in the vicinity. As far back as 2017, the state’s plan (included below) was to restore, preserve and protect cultural and natural resources. And yet, since then, it has gotten far worse. And the state has not provided funding for any remediation at places like South Point.
For the record, the only other green sand beaches in the world are Guam, the Galapagos, and Norway. These beaches get their unique light olive green sand color from olivine, which is a silicate mineral that contains iron and magnesium. When of gem quality, it is called peridot. Olivine is a component of lava. Did you know that Olivine is also found at the iconic Diamond Head Monument on Oahu?
The desire to experience one of the world’s four green sand beaches in the world has resulted in illegal off-road driving, often for financial gain. The state said in the report, “This sacred and treasured place for the people of Ka’u has been desecrated and exploited by off-road enthusiasts, thoughtless actions of visitors, and sports fishermen despite the presence of iwi kupuna [ancestral bones and burials] and sacred sites.” But talk about the problem is cheap, and there has been no action.
Tourists plus entrepreneurial locals have destroyed the area for $20.
Visitors who don’t wish to walk the one hour each way on the moderate hike have teamed up with unregulated, entrepreneurial locals with trucks and other off-road vehicles. Instead of the inspirational ocean view walk, they are shuttled directly to the green sand beach for $20 a head.
Some people have complained that they were told by drivers that the hike was longer than it really is. The reality is that it is about 2.5 miles and usually under one hour. Do be aware, however, that there is little shade, so hikers should be prepared and bring water.
Another hiker commented that there was such a long wait for 4WD transport, such that they pretty much walked the entire distance in the same time it would have taken to be driven illegally.
And now, if you choose to walk, you must also beware of the illegal vehicular traffic. We’ll be hiking out there again shortly to bring more news of this to you.
At the same time, the state says it doesn’t have the budget to enforce the rules prohibiting off-roading except on one boat ramp approach.
There are no signs indicating this is an illegal activity, and there is no regulation of any kind at this point.
Driving off-road violates the terms of the rental car agreement. But…
Rental vehicles, 4WD and others, are also regularly seen there, even though such off-road driving is specifically against the terms of rental car agreements in Hawaii.
South Point Complex – National Historic Landmark.
Hawaii has designated approximately 710 acres of land as a National Historic Landmark. South Point is where the first arrivals from the Marquesas took place some 2,000 years ago. It sits at the southernmost point in Hawaii and the U.S. and is comprised of sites that are among the oldest found in Hawaii. In 1956, a Bishop Museum team found remains of a house, and a fire hearth, amid some 14,000 artifacts there.
TripAdvisor forum: “Where do you catch the shuttle to the green sand beach?”
Tourists are either unaware or unconcerned about the illegality of transportation services or the fact that these are destroying the environment. Instead, they ask, “How often does it run? How much does it cost?” Tours are not permitted, and while they can still be seen on sites like Viator, it has become too hot a topic and has gone largely off-grid, so to speak, and cannot be booked any longer online.
Hikers comment on the experience.
A recent hiker comment caught our attention. “I rate this as a 1 because many hikers are riding to the beach via 4WD vehicles driven by locals. These 4WD vehicles are destroying the land along the ocean. There is severe erosion plus getting passed often by vehicles during the hike was not pleasant. It was sad to see the destruction to the land being caused by these vehicles.”
You have to wonder why our state has done nothing to regulate this activity in some way.
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The situation needs to be corrected and that’s something many people, Hawaiians and Tourists, should agree upon. The proper disposal of garbage, junk and unwanted items needs to happen. Sides of roads need to be cleaned up and kept that way. “Finding” the money to effectively Police each County shouldn’t be a problem, maybe it’s finally time to open up the books and see where the money has gone and is going. State, County and Municipal! The Funding is there, somewhere, and Federal Matching Funds can be received.
The State seems to Want Intake of Money but Wisely Spending it is Totally Elusive, even at the County and Municipal Levels. I have learned that you can make all of the Laws you want, if You don’t enforce them why did you bother! Hawaiian Governments Need to Find the Money necessary to Protect and Enforce in these areas Or Stop Complaining. It’s the Residents of Hawaii Willfully Destroying these areas and others, how difficult is it to identify and track them down! Hawaii Can Stop This If They Want.
As former kamai’ina, l’m saddened that desecration by locals is occurring!
The beach is actually on Hawaii, not Kauai. It’s a little far for the residents of Kauai, as mentioned. We walked it in May and found it a beautiful place!
They didn’t say it was on Kauai. Southpoint and Papakolea are located in Ka’u…a district of the Big Island.
Where’s HTA and their vision for proper management of our natural resources ? Where are all the “Protect the Mauna” folk ? It seems as if the criteria for malāma – whether by the gov’t or the communities – don’t include protection, but only increased access, and the shift of control. What a shame…
As a long-term resident of Hawaii, with extrnsive project experiense with most of our Hawaii county agencies, the answer to your lead wuestion is ‘NO’!
Our county regulatory agencies are totally disfunctional, and even if a remediation program was put in place, it wouldn’t be enforced. Our police won’t go to South Point for anything short of a murder.
I love the green sand beach and have both walked there and taken the (unknowingly) illegal 4-wheel drive with locals. Over the years it has certainly become more crowded. I am curious why this issue is suddenly getting so much press. I even read about this very issue in a local San Francisco weekly, where a lady who owns a VRBO on a three-acre property nearby is quoted as ruefully wishing for the area to be marketed for rich ecotourism. I hope there is no hidden agenda with this coverage.
I think it’s because there has been a drastic decline in the beach within the last year. I noticed it in just the 13 months between visits. The locals have recently really amped up the illegal shuttles since Covid.
The more Accessible it becomes the Worse the area will become, despite knowing this it’s an opportunity to make money for transporting Tourists and undoubtedly others have their own personal endeavors to launch or at least that’s the way it sounds. Hawaii could always Protect the Area by Erecting Fencing but without Enforcement that wouldn’t stop the problem for very long. I find it interesting that Locals blame Tourists for every type of Problem when it’s Locals covering up for Locals in All too Many Cases. Maybe Hawaii should deport some Locals!
Years ago on our firs visit to the big island, we hiked to green sand beach. honestly as I recall, there was absolutely no one on the trails, no vehicles, nothing. It was beautiful.
4 years ago we moved here and have been to the beach twice. The 4WD trucks have rutted the area so bad that the walk it terrible. It’s no longer peaceful. those that ride in the back of a truck to get there dont get it and they dont appreciate the experience of getting there. The locals have absolutely no regard for the aina. It so sad
We hiked to the beach in 2018. By the time we got there we were covered in dust. The locals that were giving rides and tourists with their rented jeeps were non stop. Why would anyone jump into a back of a truck and trust someone to drive you there without any kind of business license with insurance??? You don’t know if the truck is being properly maintained, have insurance or the driver is actually licensed…
🤦🏼♀️
Some people are just happy to not walk the distance, Some may not be able to walk that far due to infirmity or disability and have no choice. I’m not saying that it is the right thing in any way. Why not “license” a company to shuttle those in need, have food and refreshments to make it a profitable concern. Limit the amount of people to a certain number per hour or half? It takes the problem down several notches and gives the locals something else to Lay Blame on Tourism. Hawaii makes things more difficult than they need to be!
We hiked there a couple years ago, hot and windy. Unique but once is enough. Obvious local trucks taking tourist for rides. I am from Oregon and we have bathrooms and parking at numerous locations on our beaches while Hawaii has very few. Where does the money go? People will just go to the bathroom in the bush. Not just at South Point. Everywhere. 2 step has portable bathrooms that always need pumping a couple day ago. Thanks to BH for the news.
Hi Jack.
Thanks for the feedback. Hawaii’s beach restrooms are a terrible embarrassment.
Aloha.
Done this hike a half a dozen times. If you have water it is very easy and so awesome as the bright green sand is plentiful before the actual beach. Unfortunately, and mentioned above I think most tourists don’t realize that they are encouraging illegal behavior. Bare minimum the state should instal some hard to remove signs with fines applied to both riders and drivers alike.
Please keep all beaches the same as they were in the 70s. Too many people.
That would be great, unfortunately for the Beaches ⛱️ it’s not doable. Hawaii is almost Entirely Reliant on Tourism and despite politicians saying otherwise, they know that “The More The Merrier” to keep the money piling up. Vegas Needs Tourism and Gambling, Possibly that’s the Next Evolution of Hawaii and then they’ll want even more! Hawaii Needs Diversification in Businesses that could help reduce the extreme want of Tourism over time, a Real Business Incubator would be a Start.
South Point is a great place, and the furthermost southern point in the USA so it makes it unique to visit. I have hiked into the green sands beach several times & I have driven in at least 3 times with a 4WD Jeep. We always respected the land and packed out what we brought in and enjoyed swimming at the beach. Even when we drove in, we followed existing ruts to not further damage the landscape. The last time we drove in, we drove by the locals hawking rides and got a lot of stink-eye because we were not using their “service”; although their vehicles did not look safe. Now reading the report you attached, I feel bad for driving in. I guess future trips there will be to hike in. We want to respect these lands and the Hawaiian people.
Yes Dave…many people don’t know that it is illegal to drive to the beach. There isn’t any signage…or if there were, it was ripped down by the locals.
I first hiked to the beach during the pandemic.We had a difficult time trying to find the start of the trailhead. There were only 1 or2 illegal shuttles then. When I went back only a year later the landscape had changed alot.There was parking lot, a tent set up to que customers, snacks and drinks for sale and even port a potties.On our hike to the beach the ruts in the landscape were huge.Drivers were taking 10-20 tourists at a time standing in the backs of pickups with fencing around the sides,like cattle. The beach had also changed alot.The face of the cliff to climb down was so worn away.There wasn’t as much sand on the beach either.It doesn’t help that tour guides suggest this illegal activity to their groups.I speak up but given the
Aloha, living on Kauai and showing tourists around I could mention too many places, Parks, where the state has not kept up on things. Wailua falls and it’s inadequate, dead end parking lot is a good example. Maybe some of the advertising budget could go to infrastructure? I wonder where the people protesting the telescope think of this situation on their island?
Those Protesting, or at least the Organizers, have a Vested Interest in the Protests, Media Coverage and public sentiment. It’s called Negotiations under adverse pressure and conditions which tend to bring about a More Equitable Solution! Money, Money, money….Money! The only thing that may not be a negotiable item Now is the New Placement, that can be approved later, possibly.
Put a road into the green sand beach. Hiking is onky viable for those in excelent heath, ad its 2.5 miles as the crow flys, humans its well over an hr of up and down tarrain.
Then there would no longer be a green sand beach. With the number of illegal tourists alone the beach has deteriorated…it would be so much worse if there were a road
Excellent health to Walk 2.5 miles? I guess the world envisioned in WALL-E is here…
If you’re unable to walk 2.5 miles (or are too old or have an actual handicap), then don’t go. It’s that simple.
Are we also entitled to a pressurized gondola to the Everest summit?
With the comments that You have left I can definitely make the case for Equal and Equitable Handicap Access to the Green Beach. The ADA can be a good thing. Imagine a Paved, or Concrete, extra wide pathway to the Beach, a Paved or Concrete Parking Area with Handicap Parking Spots, all sorts of Handicap ♿️ Accessible Accommodations just because it has to be. Then expand it to Every Beach creating pathways in the Sand to the Waters Edge! Not appealing to You, Others, but it might be to Me!
I whole heartily agree about equal access where it makes sense but does creating a concrete path to the water edge (wherever that is due to tidal fluctuations) really make sense? Would this be on Every beach or only where there is legal parking. And what of the big of winter and summer?
A lot of things to consider here.
We went to the green beach in April when we were there with the researched plan to hike – plenty of water, sunscreen, etc. We were appalled by the number of locals who solicited rides at the parking lot but who also pulled alongside us on the trail creating a cloud of dust (all the paths are rutted into dust from all the vehicle traffic) to still/again offer rides for $20 when we were clearly among the few who actually chose to walk. IMO – this respect for the beach has to start with native Hawaiians! The hike in both directions was more dangerous than challenging due to dodging vehicles emerging from the multiple crisscrossing paths.
1. We can’t reflexively just blame the tourists on this one. It’s the locals that are promoting the off road rides and tours. It’s the locals that aren’t showing respect for he Aina. Next time you’re on Oahu go down to the Kailua marsh and drive down the perimeter road. A dumping ground for garbage, car parts, tires, old furniture, you name it. It’s the locals, not the tourists.
2. It’s all about money. Or lack therof. Pay cops to enforce the law. Or build a nice paved road to the beach with a parking lot at the end and charge a fee to use it. But there’s no budget to do any of these things. No political willpower.
What a shame.
I’m not necessarily the biggest fan of the Haena Park plan on Kauai but it does seem to have the desired effect. It reduces traffic and numbers. Might be something to look at here as well.
Shut down 4 wheeler access to these endangered sites. Arrest those responsible for destroying natural treasures. Don’t whitewash over the destruction caused by locals. Polihale should never have been reopened to 4 wheelers!
Guilty. The first time we went to Papakolea Beach, about 12 years ago, we hiked out and there was almost nobody there. Over the next few years we took a pickup shuttle, got brave and took a rental, and have hiked again (earlier this year). The numbers of people there have grown exponentially. Same with the numbers of shuttles (and their price). The place is magical and merits some serious intervention to protect it. I’d be glad to walk it every visit in the future.
So the state of Hawaii is gouging everyone with extra taxes and fees on things and yet they have no funding to take care of their precious historical sites… Hmmm… Where all that money going? It’s sad that this is happening. And it is obviously not just a tourist fault. My guess is many have no idea this is illegal. Sure hope things get “fixed”…..
Seems like the majority of the issue are being caused by the locals this time. Eliminate the illegal driving / rides and a lot of the problem goes away.