Kamilo Beach stretches along the remote southeast coast of the Big Island's Kau District, located on the eastern face of Ka Lae (South Point), the southernmost point of both the Hawaiian Islands and the United States. This approximately 1,500-foot-long narrow sandy beach would be a pristine golden strand if not for its unfortunate distinction as one of the world's most polluted beaches, earning the nickname Plastic Beach. Converging ocean currents and constant trade winds funnel debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch directly onto Kamilo and an adjacent 2.8 miles of coastline, creating accumulations that reached 8 to 10 feet high before organized cleanup efforts began in the early 2000s. In 2020, Hawaii's Department of Health made history by designating Kamilo Beach as impaired based on plastic pollution, marking the first time any Hawaiian waters received this classification. Despite its environmental challenges, the beach serves as a powerful educational site demonstrating the global scale of ocean plastic pollution while also supporting ongoing conservation work by organizations like the Hawaii Wildlife Fund.
Swimming at Kamilo Beach is not recommended due to several factors including the remote location, lack of lifeguards or emergency services, potentially hazardous debris in the water and along the shoreline, and challenging ocean conditions characteristic of Hawaii's exposed southern coast. The beach's position at the southernmost point of the islands means open ocean swells and strong currents are common, creating dangerous conditions even without the plastic pollution concerns. Few people visit Kamilo Beach for recreational purposes given its remoteness and the overwhelming presence of marine debris covering the sand. The accumulated garbage consists of approximately 90 percent plastic by composition, with the vast majority by weight being fishing-related items including nets, rope, cones used to trap hagfish, spacers from oyster farming, buoys, crates, and baskets that originate from fishing operations across the Pacific Ocean. Wildlife in the area has suffered significant damage from this debris, with fishing nets and other materials drowning, strangling, and trapping seabirds and marine mammals, adding an ethical dimension to why visitation should be limited to educational and cleanup purposes.
Access to Kamilo Beach requires significant preparation and four-wheel-drive capability as no paved roads reach this remote location. The most popular route begins at Green Sand Beach (Papakolea), following rugged dirt roads past Kaalaalu Bay for approximately six miles total through rough lava terrain with deep ruts and loose dirt or sand sections. Alternative access exists from the end of Kaalualu Waiohinu Road in Naalehu (near 94-1418 Kaalualu Road), but this route requires a challenging 6.5-mile one-way hike or four-wheel-drive journey over equally demanding terrain. Visitors should have high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles in good mechanical condition, carry spare tires and emergency supplies, and inform others of travel plans given the isolated location with no cell phone coverage. No facilities whatsoever exist at Kamilo Beach - no restrooms, showers, shade structures, or potable water. Those visiting for cleanup volunteer opportunities organized by Hawaii Wildlife Fund or similar groups should bring extensive sun protection, several gallons of water per person, sturdy work gloves, closed-toe shoes, and appropriate gear for handling potentially hazardous debris. The extreme remoteness means any emergency would require hours for response, making self-sufficiency critical.
Dining options near Kamilo Beach are limited to Naalehu, the southernmost town in the United States located approximately 10 to 15 miles north, where Hana Hou Restaurant serves local Hawaiian comfort food including breakfast plates and homemade pies at this popular travelers stop, Shaka Restaurant offers casual island fare and is considered a must-visit coming or going from South Point, and Punaluu Bake Shop is famous for Hawaiian sweet bread and malasadas with coffee. Additional options include Taco Bout Aloha food truck serving fresh Mexican cuisine, Big Dogs Hot Dogs for quick casual meals, and the Kau Farmers Market operating Wednesday or Saturday mornings for local produce and prepared foods. The cultural and environmental significance of Kamilo Beach extends far beyond its size - this location has become ground zero for understanding how ocean currents distribute plastic pollution globally, serving as a teaching laboratory about marine conservation and the urgent need to reduce single-use plastics. Each year, volunteers organized primarily by the Hawaii Wildlife Fund clean up between 15 and 20 tons of trash from this coastline, with a single 2003 effort removing over 50 tons of fishing nets and debris. The beach's Hawaiian name Kamilo refers to a type of native shrub, reminding visitors that this polluted shore was once a pristine ecosystem, and ongoing conservation efforts aim to restore its ecological function while using it as a powerful symbol of the ocean plastic crisis affecting coastlines worldwide.
