Hike,
Explore, & Protect Kahuku
Stay at Hale Moana Bed & Breakfast and visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - only 30 minutes away.
Hawaii National Park, HI – Three free and adventurous programs offered by Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will introduce a captivating landscape, biodiversity and history of the park’s southernmost section to hikers.
Palm
Trail. The
new Palm Trail is a relatively easy 2.6 mile loop traversing through scenic
pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views
Kahuku has to offer. Along the way are
relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and amazing
volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures.
A guided hike of Palm Trail is
offered Sept. 15 and 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Drive through the Kahuku
gate, which is located on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Park
and meet at the visitor contact tent, near the ranch buildings. Boots,
raingear, long pants plus water and a snack are recommended. No advance registration
is required.
People
and Land of Kahuku is a two-mile, three-hour expedition
through pastures, a quarry, an airstrip and the 1868 lava fields of Kahuku.
Rangers will explain how people lived on the vast Kahuku lands, from the
earliest Hawaiians through today. Walk in emerging native forest, hear about
Kahuku’s history of violent earthquakes and eruptions and the residents who
survived them, and find out how Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park plans to
restore the native ecosystem and protect Kahuku’s cultural sites.
The
guided hike is offered Aug. 26, Sept. 9, Sept. 22, Oct. 14 and Nov. 10 from
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Drive through
the Kahuku gate, which is located on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile
marker 70.5. Park and meet at the visitor contact tent, near the ranch
buildings. Boots, raingear, long pants plus water and a snack are recommended. No
advance registration is required.
Kīpuka ‘Akihi is a challenging 1.5 mile,
five-hour adventure to see some of the rare plants and wildlife that inhabit
this treasured kīpuka. Participants must be prepared to scramble over fallen
trees, lava rock, and slippery, wet terrain. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, long
pants, sunscreen and a hat. Bring raingear, garden gloves, a day pack, insect
repellent, lunch and water. This forest stewardship program provides opportunities
to help protect this rainforest by pulling up invasive kāhili
ginger and other invasive non-native plants throughout the kīpuka. No advance
registration is required.
This
expedition into Kahuku’s isolated refuge of rare plants is offered Aug. 25,
Sept. 23, Oct. 21 and Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drive through the Kahuku
gate, which is located on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Park
and meet at the visitor contact tent, near the ranch buildings.
Release Date: August 22, 2012
Contact: Jessica
Ferracane/Public Affairs, Jessica_ferracane@nps.gov ,
808-985-6018
