“Hawaii Mission of the Day, Turtles, Black Sand Beach and Green Sand Beaches”

• August 13, 2021
• By Daryl
• 2 Comments

We carefully walked on sharp volcanic rocks just above the sea, lapping at their sides. Turtles poked their heads out of the water gasping a cool breath of air, only to dip below the green sea. We saw a back leg reaching for the sky as they forage. Looking below the surface, yellow fish darted between the rocks with small schools of black and white fish lswimming about, highlighted by the glistening sun, pouring to the depths.

We drove this “Phoenix” island, born of fire and rising into a new paradise in the middle of the Pacific.
It took some time to drive the rural roads through towns and communities to our planned destinations of Green Sand Beach. This beach is at the southern end of a peninsula and was our next destination. A 4 wheeler awaited us to crawl the last four miles of deeply rutted roads of sand and volcanic rocks, the sharp rocks  eating away at the tires. The ruts in the path grew deeper, swaying the truck bed to a 40 degree angle, then back to the opposite angle. The green sand beach was small, in a bowl shape and deep down a slippery trail. The sea is a deep blue with a light blue colored sky.

This site was a blessing to get to experience, as the gale winds whipped the waves and sent hats sailing in a bat like flight, only to land in the hands of a fellow wave watcher.
The views were stunning, and mesmerizing, as we stood in an almost hypnotic state, being overcome by the beauty. After clambering to the hilltop, getting our best photos, we headed back to our volcanic chariot; the worn-out 4-wheel drive truck with questionable reliability. This was proven half way back, as a wheel feel off, leaving us stranded with no cell service. After standing in every direction and running up the top of a close hill, the driver returns with news of a rescue en route. I did a scan of all the truck tires and discovered lug nuts missing from every wheel; one with only three on the rear wheel. Soon we transfer to another truck, are bounced back to our safe vehicle in the parking lot.

I spoke to the driver of first truck standing next to me as we make our way back. I asked her about local superstitions: Never cut your finger nails after sunset, or you will cut your life short. No pounding hammers at night. Bringing bananas on a boat is considered bad luck for fishing. Our friends, and hosts here on the Big Island found this out, by going fishing for six hours and not catching a single fish; not even a bite, after eating the bananas on the boat. One world-wide myth is no swimming for 30 minutes after eating. Removing volcanic rocks or sand from Hawaii is a bad omen, so bad that people send back the unlucky item to Hawaii.

We visited a black sand beach 30 minutes away from the Green Sand Beach, keeping our eyes peeled, looking for the Pacific Green Turtle. After a short stay we headed back, parched and looking for sparkling water to quench our thirst. We ended up stopping at the Southernmost bakery in the United States.

With donuts and coffee in hand, we drove back home; which, as most of you know, is wherever our suitcases happens to be.
Then we stopped at Denny’s for a yummy breakfast; for dinner