Searching for Blue Hawaii Sea Glass
By Linda Schnell
Kauai Glass Beach.
Unlike anywhere else in the United States, Hawaii provides an Aloha Spirit along with warm salty waters for healing, fresh food prepared in countless styles, romantic sunsets, and hundreds of miles of free access beaches for peace, exercise, and beachcombing. You can partake in extensive land and sea activities, or just float in the water with tropical breezes to ease your mind.
My journey with Hawaii started with a high school basketball tournament on Oahu. Our team from San Jose, California, was welcomed with warmth from adults and students alike. Off the court, the students shared their time and snapshots of their local lives.
With over 25 trips to Hawaii since, every visit has been a unique experience, mainly due to the variety of people I’ve been with—my parents, work colleagues, friends, and family. Beachcombing with friends and family, or the ones you make on the islands, continues to be the most enjoyable.
Inspired by the light-hearted sand, sun, and surf movie “Blue Hawaii” with Elvis Presley, I set out to search for various shades of blue sea glass. With extensive arthritis, the following focuses on places for beachcombing that are easy to access via car and by foot. Remember to look up at the rainbows and colorful sunsets too!
Kauai Glass Beach.
Kauai
In the south part of the island is the well-known Glass Beach (a former dump site) in Ele’ele. There’s a short bumpy road and informal parking area. People pass by large pieces of sea glass complaining there isn’t any left. Look in the nooks and crannies around the waterline rocks. With tides, every day is a fresh, new opportunity to search. Along with blue and UV sea glass, there are sea pottery and metal pieces to find. Closer to Lihue and the main airport is Kalapaki Beach, located near resorts and with a few pieces of sea glass. It’s more popular for surf lessons and boogie boarding.
Read more about Kauai's Glass Beach ›
Also consider visiting the Na Pali Coast, seeing the dry and wet caves in Ha’ena, checking out the town of Hanalei, and taking a “Jurassic Park” movie tour.
Sea glass on Oahu’s North Shore.
Oahu
If you only have time to explore one area, choose Sand Island Beach Park between the airport and downtown Honolulu. This location served as a ship quarantine location in the 1800’s, a military coast defense reservation through 1945 (including two years as a WWII internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor), and a dump until it was cleaned up by locals in the 1970s. On every visit, I’ve found an array of sea glass, including rare cornflower blue, milk glass, UV glass, colorful sea pottery, and beautiful empty seashells. This is a large area with multiple parking lots and public restrooms.
Left to right: Thalassotherapy in Oahu. Pearl Harbor, Oahu.
Also on the south side of the island is the popular, family friendly Kahala Beach. I tend to pick up newer trash glass so kids don’t step on it, along with beautiful shells. There’s a parking lot and public restroom.
Oahu’s North Shore.
On the North Shore is Ke Iki Beach close to surfing mecca Bonzai Pipeline, and Turtle Bay by the Ritz-Carlton. You may find some brown and white sea glass, and nice expired shells.
At Turtle Bay, look around the rocks with tide pools.
Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu. Elvis statue, Honolulu, Oahu. Black “pirate” sea glass, Oahu.
Oahu is an active tourist island. Consider visiting Pearl Harbor, Dole Plantation to learn about pineapples, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the Elvis Presley statue in downtown Honolulu.
Maui sunset.
Maui
Prior to the devastating August 2023 fire in Lahaina on the west side of the island, there was a small strip outside of Cheeseburgers restaurant where mostly brown sea glass could be found. As the area rebuilds, please be cautious and respectful.
Kaanapali beach finds, Maui.
On the west is the long Kaanapali Beach outside a series of resorts. Search in the bushes along the sand seawall for sea glass and tourist leftovers like sunglasses and broken boogie boards.
Kahana Beach, Maui.
On the north side is the town of Paia. My best finds were by Mama’s Fish House restaurant along the Hana Highway. If you have a day to splurge, Mama’s cocktails, food, and desserts are outstanding.
Maui Ocean Center. Dessert at Mama’s Fish House, Maui. Seaglass on Kahana Beach, Maui.
On Maui also consider visiting Haleakala National Park, Ali’I Kula Lavender, Maui Tropical Plantation, and the Maui Ocean Center.
Linda on a Big Island beach. Big Island blues. Ocean Rider Sea Horse Farm.
Big Island
On the west Kona side of the island is Waikoloa Beach and resorts. A few pieces of sea glass and cute small shells can be found here. Please leave the lava rock.
Hilo Beach, Big Island.
While most tourists stay on the dry Kona side, head east to the lusher Hilo side. Honoli’i Beach Park is a surfers’ beach. Park above along the street and take stairs down to the public restroom. This area is pebbly and rocky with a large stream on one side. My favorite cobalt blue sea glass finds with Sea Sister Jan are from here, along with sea pottery and expired shells.
On the Big Island also consider visiting Volcanoes National Park, Kona coffee roasters, Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm, and petroglyphs.
“Kauai Glass Beach Art” by Linda Schnell. “Blue Hawaii Gardens” by Linda Schnell.
Blue Hawaii sea glass has been found! Across the islands of Hawaii there is pastel, sea foam, aquamarine, electric, sky, cornflower, and cobalt blue sea glass. Get creative with your sea glass by creating collages, jewelry, or other displays so you can enjoy the blue beauties every day. As the song goes, “Dreams come true in blue Hawaii.”
Learn more about the best beaches and destinations for sea and beach glass, seashells, fossils, rocks, and more beach finds around the world. Articles ›
This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 48 May/June 2025.
