Finally, the announcement for the September hike! Hopefully, everyone will think it well worth waiting for. Kahua Ranch on Kohala Mountain has given KHC permission to hike on their property accompanied by a seasoned ranch guide, Harry Wishard. Our usual date of the third Saturday each month was not available, so the hike will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2009. KHC has not hiked there as a group since 2001, so this should be a most welcome new and different experience for most of us. And for you long timers with KHC, you will appreciate that Mr. Wishard is the son of Les Wishard who was one of the early leaders of KHC.

AT LONG LAST – a description of the September 26 hike, but first a correction as to the meeting place. Mr. Wishard’s home is located on the MAKAI side of Kohala Mtn. Rd. and not the mauka side as earlier stated.

We will meet at Mr. Wishard’s home located about ¼ mi. from the Kahua Ranch entry on the Kohala Mountain Road at 8 am. Coming from Waimea, look for his driveway .6 mi. past the 10 mi. marker on the MAKAI side of the road. Parking will be designated in a pasture area. 4wd vehicles will be required beyond that point, so if you can provide one, please do so.

We will be driving, 4wd vehicles only, from Mr. Wishard’s home up the mountain to a point where we will begin about a 45-minute, very steep climb up Pu’u Pili. There, weather permitting, we should enjoy spectacular views. The trail is likely to be muddy. From there, we will continue to another scenic location, with much of the hike being in forested land. The hike should last three to four hours.

All hikers should be prepared for unpredictable weather; while sunny weather is a possibility, so is windy, cool weather and rain. Bring at least two litres of water per person, wear closed-toe shoes or hiking boots, sun protection and a snack or lunch. A hiking stick is preferable.

Participants desiring to carpool from Kailua-Kona may meet at 6:15 a.m. at Lanihau Center and depart no later than 6:30 a.m. They should park well away from the businesses in the corner of the lot near Buns in the Sun. A club leader will be at the carpool parking area. Carpoolers are requested to contribute for gasoline costs.

For additional information, contact Alice at 322-6481.

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 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 be hiking on Mauna Kea on August 15 and August 22, 2009, due to the DLNR Natural Preserve Area Management restricting the size of each group to 20 hikers.

We now have a firm group hike approval from the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station and from DLNR.

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 hikingat 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 7:30am at Lanihau Shopping Center parking lot in Kailua-Kona near Buns in the Sun on Saturday, August 15, and again on Saturday, August 22, 2009. From there we will depart at 7:45am. It will take approximately 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hrs. to reach the Visitor Center on Mauna Kea, so we should arrive there between 9:15 to 9:30am. Anyone not wishing to carpool should be at the Visitor Center by that time.

Approximately 45 minutes will be spent at the Visitor Center 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. Hikers must also remember that DLNR requires the group stay together, so fast hikers may have to slow their pace to accomplish this.

One vehicle will be left at Parking Lot 1 and another at Parking Lot 2 enroute to the summit. Upon reaching the upper observatory parking lot, we will hike out to the summit and back. 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, but we will not be on any special schedule. It is recommended that everyone hike at a slower than usual pace.

We will then drive to the lower observatory Parking Lot 3, and follow the Humu’u Ula Trail (Mauna Kea Trail) out to Lake Wai’au at the 13,200’ elevation where there will also be an uphill climb and then down to the lake. Upon leaving the lake, we will continue down the trail to the point closest to Parking Lot 1, our final destination. Drivers will be ferried back to the upper Parking Lots. The hiking surface in all areas is primarily loose, small a’a lava and gravel.

Due to the limited number of participants, please phone Alice Walker at 322-6481 or 938-1491
to make a reservation if you wish to attend, keeping in mind that those with 4WD vehicles will be given preference. Should you get the answering machine, please be sure to state the date and time of your call as Alice will be taking reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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

The Kona Hiking Club will take a shoreline hike from KiholoBeach to the Kona village Resort on Saturday, April 18th. The hike will be approximately 4 miles in length, over diverse terrain that includes; rough, dry, barren lava, sandy beaches, pahoehoe and in some areas ancient Hawaiian trails. We will be hiking along beautiful coastlines for some fantastic photographic opportunities and several places for the prospect of gathering Hawaiian Salt.

Hikers should anticipate hot, dry conditions and bring at least 2 litters of water per person, along with any snacks you may desire along the way. Sun protection, sturdy hiking boots, a hat and walking stick are highly recommended.

Visitors as well as residents are welcome to participate and there is no charge. I have had several requests for our hikes to start at a “reasonable” hour, and the majority voted for 8:00 a.m. Participants should meet at 8:00 a.m. at the “Loretta Lynn/round house” (south of KiholoBay). Driving North from Kailua-Kona on Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy, turn left (makai) onto the gravel road between mile marker 82 and 83 (before the scenic view turnout). Follow the gravel road towards the ocean, eventually turning left a short distance – look for deserted, raised round house with parking area on the right.

Those desiring to carpool from Kailua-Kona may meet at the Lanihau Center, in the vicinity of Buns in the Sun. Please respect the businesses and park away from the store fronts. Carpoolers should meet at 7:15 a.m. to organize and depart no later than 7:30 a.m. Carpoolers are encouraged to contribute towards gasoline costs. I am also looking for volunteers willing to leave their vehicle at the Kona Village Resort to carpool hikers back to Kiholo after the hike.

For more information and any volunteers please call Marti at 322-9206.

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, 2009 the Kona Hiking Club will hike a labyrinth of trails that traverse across a’a and pahoehoe lava fields in the Miloli’i area. The hike will be approximately 3.5- 4 miles in length over rough, dry, barren lava where portions of the trails have smooth, flat shoreline stepping stones. There will be an opportunity to view a Hawaiian Maui well where the Hawaiian ancestors living along the coastal shores of Hawaii collected drinking water. This hike will be relatively level with approximately 200’ -300’ elevation gain starting from the shorelines of Papa Bay crossing large open fields of lava headed north by northeast towards (but not up) the cliffs of Miloli’i.

Although the shoreline is rocky, there is access to PapaBay or Miloli’i Beach Park for swimming and snorkeling after the hike.

Some areas of the hike can be strenuous across the lava fields. Hikers need to be prepared for potentially warm, sunny weather with little or no shaded areas; however, rain or overcast is always a possibility.

Each hiker should bring at least 2 liters of water, any snacks or food you may desire, a hat, sunscreen, closed-toed shoes although hiking boots and a hiking stick are highly recommended.

From Kona, drive approximately 30 miles south to around Mile Marker 89, Turn right onto Miloli’i Road, drive approximately 4 miles and turn right onto Ewalu St., Follow Ewalu St. past last house veering to the left (makai) down to parking area.

We will meet in the parking area at the end of Ewalu St. at 7.00 a.m. There will be two carpool locations for participants desiring to do so. One group will meet at 6:15 a.m. at KeauhouShopping Center in Keauhou and depart no later than 6:30 a.m. Please park well away from the businesses on the makai side of the parking lot in front of Longs Drugs. Another group will meet in the Kealakekua Ranch Center upper parking lot (near Ace Hardware) at 6:40 a.m. and depart by 6:45 a.m. The Center is located on Mamalahoa Hwy. at the intersection of Kiloa Rd. between the 110 and 109 mile markers. Hike leaders may or may not be present at the carpool locations. 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 Marti 322-9206.

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 17, 2009, the Kona Hiking Club will hike through Kahalu’u Forest Reserve, a pristine forest on Hualalai Mountain. The region will be accessed via Donkey Mill Rd., and we will drive to the Forest Gate, hike uphill to the Ho’olohe Gate and return on the same road. The hike will be about 4.5 miles total with an elevation change of about 1,400’. The surface is a relatively good four wheel drive road.

We will be escorted by a Kamehameha Schools representative who is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of Hualalai Mtn. and the Hawaiian culture, so this will be an educational hike as well as a truly enjoyable one.

This hike will be strictly limited to five 4WD vehicles and a total of 30 people, of which at least three will be Kamehameha Schools representatives. As a result, advance reservations for this hike are required. Hikers who can provide a large 4WD vehicle able to carry at least six people will be given preference.

Hikers should meet in the parking lot makai of Long’s Drug Store in the Keauhou Shopping Center at the intersection of Ali’i Dr. and Kamehameha III Rd. at 8 am.

From there we will carpool up Donkey Mill Rd. to the Forest Gate. While there is no charge for carpooling, anyone doing so is encouraged to chip in for gasoline.

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 a hiking stick, bring at least two liters of water, snacks, and sunscreen.

Visitors as well as residents are welcome to participate, and members are welcome to being guests. There is no charge, but guests should be provided with a copy of this announcement or referred to the website to review the announcement and description. We wish to make sure everyone is prepared for the specific hike we are doing that day. Mahalo for helping us keep everyone safe.

To make a reservation or for additional information, contact Alice Walker at 322-6481.