Green Sands Beach, also known as Papakolea or Mahana Beach, (lots of places in Hawaii have numerous different names) has been at the top of our Cunningham-Must-Do-List since we arrived on the Big Island two months ago. However, I’ll be honest, it was giving me anxiety at the thought of trying to navigate there and back (and by that, I mean be the side-seat driver while Dave did the navigating). You see, Green Sands is not conveniently located directly off a smooth, blacktop finished two-lane highway. No. You have to work to get out to this beach AND take a few risks along the way.

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Green Sands is located at the southern tip of the Big Island, about an hour and a half drive from Kona. Famous for it’s…you guessed it…green sand, it is one of only four green sand beaches in the WORLD! The other three are found in Norway, Guam, and the Galápagos Islands, part of the Republic of Ecuador. Now you may be asking yourself, “What makes the sand green?” Excellent question! The sand gets its color from fragmented volcanic material containing olivine. Olivine, known as “Hawaiian Diamond” is a mineral found in lava and forms crystals as it cools. (If you have ever heard of Peridot, it is gem-quality Olivine.)

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Now, words of advice. 1. Watch the weather if you are going to venture out to Green Sands. If driving, make sure it hasn’t rained recently and the ground is nice and dry. If walking, check for wind advisories. It is a 2.5 mile each way, no shade, hot and dusty trek from where you park your vehicle. 2. If you have never off-roaded, now is not the time (If I had been driving, we would have NEVER made it. Luckily, Dave tapped into his country-boy roots and had no issues). The locals will drive you out, for a “small fee” in their lifted trucks if you’re hesitant to try it yourself. 3. Take the trails closest to the fence line. 4. Bring food, water, and lots of sunscreen. Alright…here we go!

The trails, or more accurately…ruts, are one giant maze, and you feel like you are a mouse trying to figure out how to get to the cheese. The terrain is a mixture of dry grass, red powder dirt, and jagged lava rocks. While distance-wise, it’s only a few miles, it took us a full hour to drive in, as Dave carefully chose which trails he would attempt. You see, we weren’t exactly in an ideal off-roading vehicle. Instead, we were in our “new to us” 2018 Expedition Max (gotta have room for all those kiddos)! Throughout our adventure quest, the kids squealed with delight (and sometimes fear) as Dave meticulously guided us to our once-in-a-lifetime destination.

The end of our journey did not disappoint! As we hopped out of our once black, but now dusty red vehicle, we were rewarded with panoramic views of the Pacific and a natural rock amphitheater, welcoming us to Green Sands. As we sat at the weather-worn picnic table, eating our homemade chicken salad, we marveled at the peculiar seascape as the turquoise waters crashed against the glittering olive beach. Climbing down to the water’s edge proved a fun adventure in itself as we carefully negotiated through the cliff walls, down a sea worn ladder, and finally to crystal sand. Between the combination of the remoteness of the beach and the volatileness of the surf, we errored on the side of caution and did not dare to venture out. Instead, we soaked up the scenery and the warm tropical sunshine, while Sam built a green sandcastle.

As the clouds rolled in and the day wore on, we piled back into our vehicle, with a combination of sweat and dust as our souvenirs, and headed back towards civilization. Dave guided us through the labyrinth of ruts as tall as our SUV and only scraped the bottom once or twice (such an awful sound).

Since leaving, I have reflected back on our day, the precise maneuvering it required, and the ruts that threatened to prevent us from arriving at our destination. Have you ever heard someone refer to their life as being “stuck in a rut?” I think we’ve all felt that way at some point in time; perhaps it’s a job or bills, maybe it’s your schedule or a habit you wish to break. Ruts can seem deep and inescapable, but God has a better plan for your life! He has the 4×4 and the horsepower to get you out of any ditch! God’s plan for your life is a good one, filled with promises and hope.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope for the future.”

Jeremiah 29:11