1. The Kona Hiking Club will hike over and through the lava tubes north of the Keahole Kona Airport on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. This area has some very unique lava formations. You’ll never drive past the area again and only see a “boring” field of lava. The hike will be less than 2 miles in length (round trip) over some occasionally rough, but moderate elevation terrain across a lava field. It’s important to wear closed toe shoes, hat, gloves, long sleeve shirt and long pants for crawling through the smaller openings. There is the option of only hiking part way in or just viewing from above. Flashlight or headlamp is needed for exploring the deeper recesses of the lava caves. [Read more…]

The Kona Hiking Club will be hiking on Mauna Kea on Saturday, July 9, 2016. Due to the DLNR Natural Preserve Area Management restrictions the group size the Mauna Kea Summit portion is limited to 20 hikers. The Pu`u Huhuhulu portion is unlimited. The amount of summit hikers will also be limited by the number of available 4WD’s.

Lava Lovers: Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano. In technical terms, Mauna Kea is a classic shield volcano. They say that it could erupt in the foreseeable future (geologically speaking).It is the world’s highest mountain (33,476 ft or 10,203 m) when measured from the ocean floor.

We will be hiking at elevations between 10,000’ and 13,796’; therefore, when calling to make a reservation you will be supplied with the recommended restrictions and requirements for hiking at high elevations. We sincerely hope that anyone unable to satisfy these requirements will not make a reservation leaving the openings available for other eligible people desiring to make the hike.

Carpoolers should meet at 6:45am at Lanihau Shopping Center parking lot in Kailua-Kona near Buns in the Sun. From there we will depart at 7:00am. It will take approximately 1-1/2 hrs. to reach Pu`u Huluhulu (across from Mauna Kea Access Road), so we should arrive there around 8:30am. Anyone not wishing to carpool should be there by that time. We will hike/acclimatize at Pu`u Huluhulu for about 1 hour, maybe two depending on the group’s desire. See Pu’u Huluhulu link: http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hawaii?Hikes.hulu

Summit hike link: http://www.summitpost.org/mauna-kea/150854

From there, the 4WD hikers will drive to the Visitor Center where approximately 30 minutes will be spent to acclimate to the altitude before proceeding to the summit by car. Anyone feeling any adverse effects of the altitude at this time should not proceed but leave the mountain immediately.

We will then drive to the upper observatory parking lot. There is a short steep downhill and then a longer steep uphill trail to the actual summit. The round trip can be done in 30 to 45 minutes. It is recommended that everyone hike at a slower than usual pace. The hiking surface in all areas is primarily loose, small a’a lava and gravel.

If you wish to attend, those with 4WD vehicles will be given preference. For carpooling at Lanihau and for reservations, call Kathleen at 557-9246 or email konahikingclub@gmail.com.

All hikers should be prepared for windy and cool weather, with temperatures possibly being in the 40s. Bring at least two liters of water per person, wear closed-toe shoes or hiking boots, sun protection and a snack or lunch. A hiking stick is also recommended

PLEASE NOTE: All members are welcome to bring guests or pass on information about our hikes to other hikers. However, if you do so, PLEASE make sure that you direct them to the Kona Hiking Club website to review the hike announcement and description. We want to make sure that everyone is prepared for the specific hike we are doing that day, whether we’re facing mud, heat, cold, steep trails, rocky trails, high altitude, exceptionally long distances, etc. Mahalo for helping us keep everyone safe!

On Saturday, January 16, we will visit The Great Crack near the south boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  This will be about a 7 mile partial loop hike with shuttle.  Our hike will take us to an upper portion of The Great Crack, an 8 mile long, 60 foot wide and 60 foot deep crack in the surface of the earth and we will follow the crack southeast to the corner of the park boundary.   From there we will cross over the crack and follow an old rocky dirt road out to Highway 11 ending near the 49mm at Moaula Coffee.  Since we are shuttling I need everyone to RSVP if planning to join us.

For more info about the area:
http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hawaii?Hikes.crack

We will meet at Punaluu Bakery in Naalehu at 9:00 a.m. ( for Malasadas!).  To get to the starting point of The Great Crack we will take Highway 11 towards Volcano where we will leave a shuttle vehicle at Moaula Coffee near the 49mm to get the drivers back to the starting point.  The starting point is between the 46 and 47-mile marker, on the mauka (mountain) side of the road is a paved pullout, and on the right side of the road is an overgrown dirt road. We will park our shuttle vehicles at the pullout.

The weather is typically hot and dry with very little shade. Hikers should wear closed toed shoes, carry hiking sticks and bring at least two liters of water, snacks, and sunscreen.

For additional information, contact Kathleen Johnson at 557-9246.

PLEASE NOTE: All members are welcome to bring guests or pass on information about our hikes to other hikers. However, if you do so, PLEASE make sure that you direct them to the Kona Hiking Club website to review the hike announcement and description. We want to make sure that everyone is prepared for the specific hike we are doing that day, whether we’re facing mud, heat, cold, steep trails, rocky trails, high altitude, exceptionally long distances, etc. Mahalo for helping us keep everyone safe!

On Saturday, December 19, 2015, the Kona Hiking Club will visit the Kohana`iki Beach Park and hike on historic trails in the vicinity.

This loop hike is about 5 miles total.  The route is mostly flat, with a few very short but rough ascents and descents.  Approximately half of it will be across a lava field on the Ala Mamalahoa (also referred to as Ala Loa, Ala Nui, or “King’s Trail”).  The trail is “improved”, but still consists entirely of uneven rock underfoot, and there is no shade.

The route then takes us briefly into the northern portion of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park on the Ala Nui Kaloko and the Ala Hele Po’e Kahiko, after which we will continue along the shoreline on the Ala Kahakai.  There will be some shade along the shoreline.  The walking surface there is mostly sand, with some paved portions.

Hikers need to be prepared for potentially hot, sunny weather, especially when we are traversing the Ala Mamalahoa. Wind, rain or overcast are also possible, but it is not likely to be cold.  Wear closed-toed shoes, bring sun protection, lunch or snack, and at least two liters of water per person.  Hiking sticks are highly recommended.

We will meet at 7:00 a.m. in the first public parking area at Kohana`iki Beach Park.  The road to Kohana`iki is on the makai side of Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway between Hulikoa Drive and NEHLA (OTEC).  Kohana`iki Drive is marked with white pylons on the makai side of the highway, and yellow pylons in the center of the highway.  If you are coming from town, you will need to go past it and turn around legally at NEHLA.

Follow Kohana’iki Drive (beach park public access road) about 1.2 miles out to the ocean.   As soon as you get to the water, there is a small guard shack on the left, and a public parking lot on the right.  This is our meeting point.

Participants desiring to carpool from Kailua-Kona may meet at 6:15 a.m. at Lanihau Center, and should depart no later than 6:30 a.m.  Please park well away from the businesses in the corner of the parking lot near Buns in the Sun. A hike leader will not be present, so be prepared to organize your own carpool, if necessary.  Visitors as well as residents are welcome to participate — there is no charge.  However, carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward gasoline costs.

An informative brochure about the plants, animals, historical, and cultural aspects of this area is available at: http://www.kohanaiki.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/KohanaikiNatureGuide.pdf

For further information, call Kathleen at 557-9246.

PLEASE NOTE: All members are welcome to bring guests or pass on information about our hikes to other hikers. However, if you do so, PLEASE make sure that you direct them to this website to review the hike announcement and description. We want to make sure that everyone is prepared for the specific hike we are doing that day, whether we’re facing mud, heat, cold, steep trails, rocky trails, high altitude, exceptionally long distances, etc. Mahalo for helping us keep everyone safe!

The Kona Hiking Club will visit the South Point area of Ka Lae on Saturday, September 19. The hike will be about 3 miles round trip, over mostly level terrain. Come learn some history of Ka`u and view Lua O Palahemu said of it that “If you haven’t seen Lua O Palahemu you haven’t seen Ka`u.”

Visitors as well as residents are invited to participate. There is no charge, although carpoolers are encouraged to chip-in for gasoline. No pets are allowed.

The area is often hot and windy, and there is no shade along this trail. Participants must carry at least two liters of water per person. Closed-toed shoes, sun protection, lunch or snack, and a hiking stick are also recommended. If ocean conditions permit, for those adventurous cliff divers, diving may be possible at the lunch stop.

Carpoolers may meet at 7:15 a.m. at Keauhou Shopping Center, in the vicinity of Long’s Drugs. Please park well away from the businesses makai of Long’s Drugs. A second meeting point will be at Manuka State Park at 8:30 a.m which is located one hour south of Kailua-Kona, on the mauka side of the highway between the 81 and 82 mile markers.  From Manuka it takes about 30 minutes to reach the parking area near the South Point Cliff Diving area.  There will not be a hiker leader at either of these locations. Be prepared to organize you own carpool and arrive by 9:00 a.m.

For more information, please phone Kathleen at 557-9246.

PLEASE NOTE: All members are welcome to bring guests or pass on information about our hikes to other hikers. However, if you do so, PLEASE make sure that you direct them to the Kona Hiking Club website to review the hike announcement and description. We want to make sure that everyone is prepared for the specific hike we are doing that day, whether we’re facing mud, heat, cold, steep trails, rocky trails, high altitude, exceptionally long distances, etc. Mahalo for helping us keep everyone safe!

On Saturday, March 21, the Kona Hiking Club will hike from Kua Bay/Manini`owali Beach and follow the coast and jeep trails south. On the way we will hike to the top of Pu`u Kuili cinder cone (342 ft) and then on to the beautiful white sand Makalawena Beach. The hike will be approximately 4+ miles in length (round trip) over some rough, but moderate elevation terrain.

Hikers will meet at 9:00 a.m. (gate opens at 9:00) at the Kua Bay parking lot. The road to Kua Bay is between the 89 & 88 mile markers across from the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Please park at the far end of the parking lot away from the restrooms.

Hikers should be prepared for rough terrain with potentially very hot conditions with little or no shade. Each person must carry at least 2 liters of water. Also recommended are sturdy boots, sun protection, lunch, swim gear, binoculars (whale season!) and hiking sticks.

Anyone wishing to carpool may meet at the Lanihau Shopping Center in the vicinity of Buns in the Sun at 8:15 am and depart by 8:30 am. Please park well away from the businesses. A hike leader will only be present upon request. Carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward the cost of gasoline.

Visitors and guests are invited and anyone choosing to attend should be provided with a copy of this hike description so they will know what to expect and be properly prepared. They should also be referred to the Club’s website (www.konahikingclub.com) for complete safety information.

If you have any questions, please call Kathleen at 557-9246.

PLEASE NOTE: All members are always welcome to bring guests or pass on information about our hikes to other hikers. However, if you do so, PLEASE make sure that you direct them to the Kona Hiking Club website to review the hike announcement and description. We want to make sure that everyone is prepared for the specific hike we are doing that day, whether we’re facing mud, heat, cold, steep trails, rocky trails, high altitude, exceptionally long distances, etc. Mahalo for helping us keep everyone safe!

If you missed last month’s volunteer opportunity here is your chance to help with this

new mauka-makai trail in the 55-acre dry land forest preserve at Palamanui Campus.

This trail is not yet open to the general public.  Come volunteer and be one of the first people to walk this historic trail of the Hawaiians. This is a great alternative for those of you that can’t or don’t want to hike this month’s hike at Captain Cook Monument.  If you choose to volunteer please tell Dr. Stevens that you are representing the Kona Hiking Club and if you have Kona Hiking Club t-shirt please wear it.

What does Pālamanui mean?
In Hawaiian, Pālamanui is an enclosure of abundant education and this inspired the design philosophy behind the master-planned community.