This hike is changed to an out and back hike.On Saturday, December 15, we will visit The Great Crack near the south boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This will be about a 4+ mile out and back hike with shuttle to the trailhead near 47mm where there is limited parking. 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 toward the corner of the park boundary. From there we will re-trace out steps back out to Highway 11. 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. 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 & RSVP, contact Kathleen Johnson at 557-9246 or 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!

The Kona Hiking Club will visit Koai’a Tree Sanctuary in Kohala on Saturday, November 17. The hike will be about 3 miles round trip, over hilly and uneven terrain. Part of the hike will be a 3/4 mile nature trail and the rest a steep uphill/downhill walk in/along the stream bed. There will be an optional hike into the Kohala Forest.
150 years ago, instead of unending grassy pastures, a mesic (moist) forest blanketed the middle-elevation leeward slopes of Kohala Mountain. This unique koaiʻa-mamane-naio-ʻiliahi forest once covered more than 40,000 acres, and was home to one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in Hawaiʻi. What do we have left of this massive forest? A few scattered native trees, and a little 13-acre plot of forest. Yup, that is it. The direct result of the impacts of humans and their domestic animals.
Since about 1960, that 13 acres has been fenced and protected as the Koaiʻa Tree Sanctuary, under the care of the State DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Itʻs all that we have left, and Kohala Watershed Project is doing their best to care for it, to mālama both the ancient trees and the new growth.
It’s important to clean your shoes prior to the hike to avoid bringing in invasive seeds/weeds. A boot brush will be available before the hike.
There is very limited parking area near the trail area, carpooling is recommended. Carpoolers can meet at Lanihau Shopping Center near Daylight Mind. Please park away from the businesses. While there is no charge for carpooling, anyone doing so is encouraged to chip in for gasoline. A hike leader will not be at this location. Arrive by 7:15 and prepare to leave by 7:30 am. This should get us to the trailhead near 5mm on Kohala Mtn Rd around 9:00 am.
The weather on the mountain is somewhat unpredictable, so be prepared for rain, although sunny weather is possible as well. 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, September 15, 2018, the Kona Hiking Club will hike Pu’u O’o Trail Horse & Foot Trail off Saddle Road. This long, moderately challenging hike will take approximately 6 hours. The hike is a total of about eight miles. The rocky trail is fairly level overall, with many short up and down segments as it travels through old pahoehoe with lava tubes and a’a lava fields, interspersed with forested kipuka. Wet, chilly, or foggy conditions may be encountered as the elevation is 5,800 feet.

Pu’u O’o Horse & Foot Trail is a historic cattle drive trail across the eastern saddle, just west of, and parallel to, Kulani Powerline Road. It begins at the eastern end of Kipuka ‘Ainahou, and intersects Powerline Road after 4 miles in the last kipuka near the edge of the 1984 lava flow, before diverging again.. The trail crosses a wide variety of saddle habitats, in which you can find nearly every remaining species of the endemic forest bird on the island – only the palila is absent. We will be entering a hunting area – it is important to stay on the road/trail and dress appropriately in bright, colorful clothes.

Kailua-area carpoolers may meet at 7:15 a.m. and promptly at 7:30 a.m. from Lanihau Center. Be prepared to organize your own carpool. Please park well away from the businesses, in the corner of the parking lot near Baskin Robbins. The hike will start at 9 a.m. at the Pu’u O’o trailhead, located between mile markers 22 and 23 on the Saddle Road. The gravel parking area is right on the edge of Saddle Road near the 22.5 mile point, and is marked with the signs shown here.  Anyone wanting to arrive 1/2 hour early can swing by Kipuka 21 (left side on 21mm) to view native birds from outside the fenced area.  Visitors as well as residents are welcome to participate. There is no charge, but carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward gasoline costs.

Hikers should wear colorful attire and hiking boots. Bring water (2 liters), sun protection, rain jacket, and lunch or snacks. You may also want to bring binoculars for possible bird viewing, and hiking sticks.

For additional information or carpooling, 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!

Kona Hiking Club will hike from Pu’uhonua o Honaunau to Ke`ei Beach on Saturday, January 20. This will be a relatively easy, one-way, 4.5 mi. hike on a portion of the Ala Kahakai Trail recently cleared by a few concerned citizen volunteers from the  area.

This will be a coastline (although not necessarily shoreline) hike, and warm weather should be anticipated with some shaded areas. The hiking surface will be wide and relatively smooth dirt and rock. There are no significant climbs.

Each hiker should carry a minimum of 2 liters of water, wear a hat and hiking boots or closed-toe shoes, carry a hiking stick, use plenty of sunscreen, and bring any snacks or food you may desire.  Consider bringing a lunch to either eat at Ke`ei Beach or Pu’uhonua o Honaunau.

Hikers should meet at 8:00 am at the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park parking lot and from there we will organize the carpool/shuttle drivers for staging at Ke`ei Beach. Please keep in mind that admission to the Park will be charged unless the driver or a passenger of the vehicle has a park pass.

Anyone wishing to carpool may meet at the Lanihau Shopping Center in the vicinity of Daylight Mind at 7:00 am and depart by 7:15 am. Please park well away from the businesses. Carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward the cost of gasoline.  A hike leader will not be present at the carpool location.  Be prepared to organize your own carpool, if necessary.

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 this website (www.konahikingclub.com) for complete safety information.

If you have any questions and for RSVP, please call Kathleen at 557-9246 or RSVP to konahikingclub@gmail.com

On Saturday, July 21, 2018 the Kona Hiking Club will visit the Kahuku Unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

“Palm Trail Hike” is an moderate 2.6 mile, loop traversing scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone, with highlights that include relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and fascinating volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures. We may have a ranger guide along for interpretation.

An additional hike may available offered.

Here are some links to help you with your enjoyment of this newer unit of HVNP:

http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/upload/Kahuku-Forest-Trail-Guide.pdf

https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm

We will have our lunch/snack break at along the trail. Hikers need to be prepared for potentially warm, sunny weather and/or rainy weather. Wear closed-toed shoes, bring hiking sticks, binoculars, sun protection, lunch or snack and at least two liters of water per person.

We will meet at 9:00 AM at the Kahuku gate at Kahuku Rd (mauka) located between 71mm & 70mm and park near the restroom. There Palm Trailhead is accessible by 2WD vehicles.

Those wishing to carpool from Kailua-Kona should depart no later than 7:45 a.m. Visitors as well as residents are welcome to participate — there is no charge. Carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward gasoline costs. For additional information, please phone Kathleen at 557-9246 or 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 http://konahikingclub.com 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 hike Waipio Valley on Saturday, June 16. The hike will be a relatively easy one across the front of the valley floor, (if we have a 4WD ride to the bottom, otherwise it will be moderate due to the steep uphill climb) along a public trail and road on the far side of the valley to a scenic waterfall and pond area. The most difficult part of the hike will be crossing the river. The hike will be about two miles each way and take approximately 1-1/4 hr. each direction if we have a 4WD ride. If not, it will add another 2 mile and a couple of hours to the hike.

We will take a break at the pond and have a snack/ lunch.

Two side hikes are available to those who wish to do so. Hikers may climb a portion of the zigzag trail up the pali on the west side of the valley, and they may also make about a one-city-block trek across rocks and boulders to reach the waterfall on the east side of the valley. Warm sunny weather with a good deal of shade is anticipated, but rain is always a possibility.

Hikers will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Scenic Overlook at the top of the valley.  Anyone willing to provide a 4WD vehicle will be appreciated and should contact Kathleen (557-9246) in advance.
or RSVP by email at konahikingclub@gmail.com

Each hiker should carry a minimum of 2 liters of water, wear a hat and hiking boots, have water shoes, carry a hiking stick, use plenty of sunscreen, and any snacks you may desire.

Anyone wishing to carpool may meet at the Pine Trees Cafe on Hulikoa Dr. at 6:00 am and be ready to depart quickly. Please park well away from the businesses. 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.

Access to the Kamukona ocean entry from the east (Kalapana)

Saturday, May 19, 2018, the Kona Hiking Club will hike roundtrip on the emergency road/Highway 130 to the current lava flow.

Meeting time planned for 3:00 pm. Check this posting for updates before the hike.

Security guards may be posted on the emergency road or Highway 130 before the entrance to Kalapana Gardens to provide lava viewing information and to direct parking. Lava viewing along the three-mile stretch of the County’s portion of the emergency road is permitted between the hours of 3-9 p.m., daily [source]. Directions to Kalapana from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: Take Hwy 11 towards Hilo to Hwy 130. Follow Hwy 130 until you reach the road’s end and the visitor parking area. (45 miles, about 1 hour).

The total distance to the ocean entry depends on local circumstances such as the exact location of the ocean entry and the route you have to walk to safely get there. Expect a 4+ mile and 1.5 to 2-hour hike (one way), and bring plenty of water.

• Viewing area hours are from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily?, with the last car allowed to park at 8:30 p.m. Lava Guard# 430-1966
• It is about 8.5 total miles round-trip from end of the pavement on Highway 130 to the last lava flow and back. Hopefully, Pele blesses us with some great lava viewing.
• The road is unpaved and surrounded on all sides by rough lava on private property. Public access is restricted to the graded roadway and viewers are asked to please respect private property and the rights of local residents.
• Restroom facilities are limited and lack running water.
• All members of your party should dress appropriately with sturdy, covered shoes, long pants and a hat.
• Be prepared for a long, hard hike including rain, wind, heat and dust exposure.
• Bring lots of water (2-4 liters per person), there is no potable water available.
• Bring a flashlight with fresh batteries for walking at night over the rough ground.
• The noxious gasses that are released when the lava meets the ocean.

For additional information, please phone Kathleen at 557-9246.
RSVP to 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 http://konahikingclub.com 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!