HILO, Hawaii (AP) – Online auction and sales company eBay has removed multiple listings of sand said to be taken from Hawaii beaches.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Saturday that it asked the company about the listings before they were taken down. Among them was a listing claiming to have sand from Papakolea Beach, also known as Green Sands Beach.
It is illegal to take sand from Hawaii beaches, state Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman Deborah Ward said. The law contains a limited number of exceptions that do not include personal or commercial sales. Fines for illegally collecting Hawaii sand can reach upward of $100,000.
“It used to be legal to take sand up to a certain amount per person, per day. However, the law was changed, and taking sand is now illegal,” Ward said.
She said the department is investigating one case of “sale of sand” on social media, but she declined comment on whether the sale was through eBay.