Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
Courtesy National Park Service
Did you know there is 175 mile trail system on the Big Island that has been recognized by the National Park Service?
Established in 2000 for the preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources, the Ala Kahakai NHT is a 175-mile trail corridor full of cultural and historical significance. It traverses through hundreds of ancient Hawaiian settlement sites and through over 200 ahupua’a (traditional sea to mountain land divisions).
The trail can be unofficially accessed through sections within the four National Parks on the Island of Hawai’i including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park and Pu’ukohola National Historic Site.
Courtesy of www.nationalparks.org
Otherwise, the section of the Ala Kahakai Trail under Hawaii State Na Ala Hele jurisdiction is open for public use. This section of trail is located between Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site and Anaeho’omalu Bay, south of Waikoloa Resorts. Further information is available through Na Ala Hele…more
Read the Comprehensive Management Plan for Ala Kahakai.
Ala Kahakai Trail Association is the steward of this trail. It is the supporting and overarching organization for the community management aspects of the Ala Kahakai Trail. The trail association was established to ensure that the Ala Kahakai Trail is well connected to the community, that Hawaiian values and principles are in place and practiced, to foster partnerships and collaboration and to provide help and guidance for the work of managing and sustaining the trail in perpetuity.
The trail is also part of The Partnership for National Trails System.