Papakōlea Beach isn't your typical beach. Commonly referred to as "Green Sand Beach," the stretch of shoreline on the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island) is said to be one of only four green-sand beaches in the world. It's also the only one located in the 50 U.S. states. To reach the others, you'll need to book flights to Norway, Guam (a U.S. island territory in Micronesia), and the Galapagos Islands.
While snow in Hawaii may surprise many, it is a regular event on the state's tallest volcanic peaks. The high elevations of Mauna Kea (a dormant volcano), which rises to 13,796 feet, and Mauna Loa (the world's largest active volcano), at 13,678 feet, create a sub-Arctic climate at their summits. According to Tom Birchard, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, snowfall occurs on average five to eight times per year, primarily during Hawaii's wet season from October through April.