The Kona Hiking Club will visit the birth site of King Kamehameha I, Mo’okini Heiau, and Upolu Point in North Kohala on Saturday, November 19, 2016. This out-and-back shoreline hike will be approximately five miles round trip, over relatively easy terrain. Humpback whales are often seen from this trail during the winter months.

https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/asian_american_and_pacific_islander_heritage/Mookini-Heiau.htm

Meeting location change due to past problems with area residents.
We will meet at the Upolu Airport on Upolu Rd. at 9 a.m. From Kailua-Kona, take the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway to Highway 270 and continue north toward Hawi. At approximately mile marker 20, turn left on old Coast Guard Station Road and continue to the parking area inside the airport entrance.

The weather is often clear with a nice ocean breeze, but also be prepared for rain, wind, and mud. Participants should carry 2 quarts of water, wear boots or closed-toed shoes, and bring sunscreen and a snack or lunch. A hiking stick, lightweight jacket, and hat are also recommended.

Visitors as well as residents are welcome to participate, and there is no charge. Kailua area carpoolers should meet at Lanihau Center, in the corner near Buns-in-the-Sun. Please park well away from the businesses. Plan to arrive at 7:30 and depart no later than 7:45 a.m. Carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward gasoline costs, and hike leaders may or may not be present at the carpool location.

If you have any questions, please phone Kathleen at 557-9246 or email: konahikingclub@gmail.com

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 17, 2016, the Kona Hiking Club will hike the Ala Kahakai Trail from the Anaeho’omalu Bay area to Keaweiki Bay and return along the shoreline. We will be walking on bare lava and some rough lava foot trails. There will be no shade along this four to five mile hike. It will take about four and one half to five hours. The route includes some ancient ruins as well as two anchialine ponds. It has been some time since the group has hiked this route, so it may be something new and different for many folks. The hike will end at Anaeho’omalu Bay where we can lunch and also swim if desired.

All hikers should be prepared for sunny weather although clouds and rain may also be anticipated at times along the coast. 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 preferable.

We will meet in the parking lot at Anaeho’omalu Bay Beach Park at 8:30 am in the southeast corner and begin the hike from there. Those wishing to carpool should meet at Lanihau Center in Kailua-Kona near Buns in the Sun at 7:30 am to depart by 7:45 am. There will not be a hike leader there so be prepared to organize your own carpool. While there is no charge for carpooling, participants should contribute toward the cost of gasoline.

For further information, contact Kathleen at 557-9246.

PLEASE NOTE: All members are welcome to bring guests or pass on this information about our hikes to other people who may be interested in joining us. If you do so, please 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, which may include conditions such as 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 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!