The Kona Hiking Club will visit the upper Wailuku River section on Saturday, September 18. The trail is between the 13.5 and 14.5 mile markers on Saddle Road in Hilo Watershed Forest Reserve on the southeastern slope of Mauna Kea.

http://www.ohranger.com/hi/wailuku-river/map

The name Wailuku means “destructive waters” in the Hawaiian Language. The river can rise into the trees and drop back down very fast. At 26 miles in length it is the longest river in Hawaii and its course lies mostly along the divide between the lava flows of Mauna Kea and those of Mauna Loa to the south. It arises at about the 10,800 feet (3,300 m) elevation along the eastern slope of Mauna Kea and flows generally eastward, descending steeply from the mountain and entering the Pacific Ocean at Hilo.

A 3 mile jeep trail in to the river (6 mile roundtrip mostly level at the 3900’ elev) will be the regular hike, with the more adventuresome hikers following the river downstream to explore additional pools. The jeep trail was originally built to provide access to the gauging station and is much used by hunters. Trail is sometimes wet, muddy, and dotted with small ponds which need to be passed through or around. This is a great hike on a sunny day. Just about the time you feel hot and sweaty, there is a whole river to swim in.

Although it’s been dry lately, be prepared for rain and mosquitoes. Participants must carry at least two liters of water per person. Closed-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, sun protection, lunch or snack, and hiking sticks are also recommended. Don’t forget your bathing suit and towel if you plan on swimming.

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

Carpoolers will meet at 6:45 a.m. and leave at 7:00 a.m. from Lanihau Center. Please park well away from the businesses, in the corner of the parking lot near Buns in the Sun. Others may meet at Pu’u Huluhulu parking lot across from Mauna Kea Access Road at 8:30 a.m. From here we will carpool to the trailhead which has limited parking.

For more information, please 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 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 MONDAY, June 21, 2010, we will be hiking the Waipio Valley floor, and the number of hikers will be limited to 25! A Waipio Valley resident has very kindly agreed to host and guide us on an approximately four-mile tour of the valley including the base of a waterfall. This will be a relatively easy hike on mostly flat terrain, dirt roads and trails and should last about two to three hours. Since the majority of the property in Waipio Valley is privately owned, this is a special opportunity for KHC folks to see areas usually off limits to the public.

Since, we will be hiking primarily on private property, it is imperative that the group stay together.

We will be crossing the river as well as several rocky bottomed creeks, so water shoes would be helpful.

Each hiker must bring at least 2 litres of water and snacks or lunch. A hat, sunscreen, boots or closed-toed shoes are also highly recommended as well as a hiking stick.

Hikers will meet at the Waipio Valley Visitors Overlook at 8am and travel in 4WD vehicles to the valley floor to begin the hike by 9am. Anyone able to provide a 4WD vehicle, please do so and advise the hike leader accordingly. You will be given preference as we are limited to 25 hikers. All-wheel drive vehicles will not be allowed down the road to the valley floor.

Visitors as well as residents are invited to participate. Those wishing to carpool may meet at the Lanihou Shopping Center near Buns in the Sun at 6:30 am and depart there by 6:45 am. There is no charge, but carpoolers are encouraged to contribute toward gasoline costs.

To sign up for the hike, please phone Alice at 322-6481.

This hike will be approximately 8 miles roundtrip. This is not a hike for the faint of heart.

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 the Kona Hiking Club will hike a labyrinth of trails that traverse across beautiful sandy beaches, thorny keawe forest, a’a and pahoehoe lava fields in the Miloli’i area. The hike will be roundtrip approximately 8 miles in length along a coastline trail. There will be an opportunity to view Ahole Holua (Slide) and where the Hawaiian ancestors lived along the coastal shores of Hawaii. This hike will be relatively level with approximately 0.0’ -100’ elevation gain starting from the shorelines of Miloli`i. For more info about the area:

http://travelingluck.com/North+America/United+States/Hawaii/_5856054_Holua+Slide.html#local_map
Although the shoreline is rocky, there is access to 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. On one section we need to cross along the high tide line for a short distance while staying close to a private property wall. Depending on the tides this could be wet. Be prepared to get wet or remove shoes.

Each hiker must bring at least 2 liters of waterand may bring any snacks or food you desire, a hat, sunscreen, closed-toed shoes although hiking boots and hiking sticks are highly recommended. The keawe forest section has many thorns that can easily penetrate soft soled shoes.

From Kona, drive approximately 30 miles south to around Mile Marker 89, Turn right onto Miloli’i Road, drive approximately 5 miles to the end of Miloli`i and park at Miloli`i Beach Park in designated parking area.

We will meet in the parking area at the end of Miloli`i Drive at 7:30 a.m. There will be two carpool locations for participants desiring to do so. One group will meet at 6:00 a.m. at Keauhou Shopping Center in Keauhou and depart no later than 6:15 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 6:15 a.m. and depart by 6:30 a.m. The Center is located on Mamalahoa Hwy. at the intersection of Kiloa Rd. between the 110 and 109 mile markers. Hike leaders will not be present at the Kealakekua carpool location. 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 Alice at 938-1491 or 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 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 hike to the Kauhola Point Lighthouse and then on to Kapanai’a Bay on Saturday, April 17. The beach is pebbly and the surf rocky and murky so swimming is not recommended. No lifeguards will be present. Total hike distance will be six to seven miles over moderate terrain and will take between three and four hours hiking time.

We will drive to the lighthouse area and then hike to our destination and return the same way. The road to the lighthouse requires four-wheel drive vehicles, so anyone able to provide one please do so.

While erosion and some landslides have changed the shoreline since our last hike to the area in 2007, it remains a beautiful hike with only one deep, steep ravine. Hiking a bit more on a dirt road than in the past is also necessary.

The area may be warm and windy; however, be prepared for rain as well. There is ample shade. 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.

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

Carpoolers will meet at 6:45 a.m. and leave at 7:00 a.m. from Lanihau Center. Please park well away from the businesses, in the corner of the parking lot near Buns in the Sun. Others may meet at 9 a.m. at the old mill parking area, about ½ mile makai of Highway 270 on Mill Road.

To get to the meeting point, proceed north from Kailua-Kona on the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway to its intersection with Highways 270 & 19. Turn left towards Kawaihae and follow the signs to Hawi. Continue on highway 270 through Hawi and Kapa’au, to approximately the 24 ½ mile marker, and turn left on Mill Road (just past Halaula Road). There is no street sign, but there is an ATV business at this intersection, which comes before Arakawa Store and the Middle School. Proceed ½ mile to the parking area near old mill buildings. From there we will carpool down the narrow 4WD road to the Lighthouse where we will park and begin the hike on to Kapanai’a Bay.

For more information, please call 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 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 20, 2010, the Kona Hiking Club will hike one way along the Kona shoreline from Honokohau Harbor to the Old Airport. The hike covers about five miles of rough, but very interesting and unique terrain. A swim and picnic lunch will be possible at the completion of the hike.

Visitors as well as residents are invited to participate in this outing and there is no charge. Hikers will meet and park at the north side of the Old Airport at 8:30 a.m. and carpool to the Honokohau Harbor to start the one way hike. The trail is over rough lava, so wear good hiking shoes. Hikers need to be prepared for potentially warm, sunny weather, so carry at least two quarts of water per person and use sun protection.

For additional information, please phone Steve at 990-7716.

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 http://www.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!