Learn how to get more involved with the ala kahakai trail association!

We encourage you to contact us and join our email listing to receive monthly updates on the activities we have prepared for this year.

As a community, it is important to remember that the trails were created by our kupuna (elders) and thereby exist today for our benefit and use. This is one of many reasons why it is important that we constantly strive to protect and care for the trail systems here on Hawaiʻi Island. The trail was built and maintained by our people for generations. However, this responsibility is not a burden, it is a privilege. We often forget the trails in our every day lives, as they are hidden from plain sight. Nonetheless, every time we walk in the physical space that our kupuna lived and breathed, we are reminded of the privilege that we have been given. This is the kuleana that we at the Ala Kahakai Trail Association hope to reconnect and maintain the connections to for moʻopuna of those who came before us and never left.

“
Nana i waele mua i ke ala, mahope aku mākou, nā pōkiʻi.

He [or she] first cleared the path and then we younger ones followed.”

— ʻŌlelo Noʻeau

Community Members hike from Punaluʻu to Kawa, Kaʻu with Ala Kahakai Trail Association.

The ancient and historic trail system is an amazing outdoor learning environment for our keiki. If you are a teacher and you are interested in hands-on learning experiences for your students, we encourage you to get out and get active with us!

Please contact admin@alakahakaitrail.org to arrange a huakaʻi (field trip).

Kakahiaka nō. #alakahakainht #nāalahele #alanui

Mahalo to the tenth graders at ʻEhunuikaimalino for their hardwork and enthusiasm at our beach cleanup today! A huge mahalo to 1250 Oceanside for hosting this awesome day and to Hawaiʻi Islands Lant Trust (HILT) for their support and hardwork. #alakahakaitrail #alohaʻāina

Wiliwili Festival 2020 ✅

We prefer the ancient highway✊🏾 #alakahakai #alanuiaupuni #alaloa #alahele

Thank you to Dena Sedar, a representative of the State Parks, for her continued effort in rehabilitating the anchialine ponds along our coastlines and restoring ʻopae ʻula populations! We appreciate your efforts. #opaeula

Eō Kīholo, Eō Kalaemanō, Eō nā ala kūpuna✊🏾 #alakahakainht #huialohakiholo #kalaemanō #alanuiaupuni #alaloa #nāalahele

We had a beautiful day on the trails with Kealakehe High School! Mahalo to our amazing support team for their hard work in making this day a success. Thank you to the National Park Service representatives from Ala Kahaki National Historic Trail, the State Parks representatives, our Hui Aloha Kīholo ʻOhana and the amazing staff at Kalaemano interpretive center. A huge mahalo to the Hawaiʻi People’s Fund for supporting our education outreach initiatives! We appreciate everyone’s support and effort. #alakahakaitrail #alakahakainht

772 Acres Conserved✅ Kawala, Kaʻū “This conservation easement will preserve sections of an ancient trail system that connect the fertile fields of Na‘alehu with abundant marine resources along the coastline including a culturally significant landscape with ancient Hawaiian sites and iwi kupuna (burials). My own kūpuna (ancestors) are buried here, so protecting Kāwala and its burial sites is especially meaningful to my ‘ohana,” said Keoni Fox, Director, Ala Kahakai Trail Association. The Kāwala Conservation Easement is the second among five conservation projects along the Ka‘ū coast to close, including Waikapuna (closed December 16, 2019, 2317 acres), Manaka‘a Fishing Village, Kiolaka‘a, and Kaunamano, which are pending. All five projects would conserve over 6,000 acres of coastline, cultural sites, and pasture land, and connect over 10 miles of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Mahalo to the Freedman Foundation and the Trust for Public Land for their kākoʻo!

2,317 Acres Conserved✅ Eō Waikapuna💪🏽 “This purchase conserves over 2.3 miles of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail or ala loa, the ancient fishing village of Waikapuna, and hundreds of intact pre‐contact Native Hawaiian cultural sites. This land holds special meaning for Native Hawaiians as it is the place where noted Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui spent her summers as a child, and where she learned the traditions and knowledge that formed the basis of her book, ‘The Polynesian Family System in Ka‘ū.’ As the new steward of the land, ATA can preserve both our ancient history and the paniolo heritage of ranching in Ka‘. We look forward to working closely with Ka‘ū families to mālama this special ‘āina and cultural legacy for future generations.” -Keoni Fox, Director, Ala Kahakai Trail Association Mahalo to e County of Hawai‘i’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation (PONC) Program and the State Legacy Land Conservation Program for their efforts in making this happen! #alakahakaitrail

Ka wa ma mua, ka wa ma hope👣 #alakahakaitrail #alakahakainht #morningmotivation #trails

New year NEW HUAKAʻI! Weʻre looking forward to all the upcoming activities weʻve got planned! Contact us to learn more about our community hikes, volunteer work days and education outreach🤙🏾 #alakahakaitrail

Beautiful day for a beach clean up! #alakahakaitrail

Palapalaʻāina🔍 #alakahakainht #alakahakai #trails

Huakaʻi me Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino 🤙🏾 #alakahakai #alakahakainht Mahalo to Hawaiʻi People’s Fund for supporting our efforts to perpetuate the utilization of our ancient and historic trail systems on Hawaiʻi Island and for their assistance to grassroots organizations statewide in delivering real impact through activities that aim to replace current structures of inequity and disproportionate power in Hawaiʻi.

Do not forget the work that has been done to lighten the load for the road ahead.

In honor of National Trails Day, we’ll be hiking the Pālamanui Trail this Sunday, June 2 at 8:30 am! Please RSVP to marciedd@yahoo.com by May 31

The line-up: Kaleo, La, Keoni. Mahalo nunui for all those who visited our booth & supported our efforts to protect Kaunamanō & Manakaʻa. For information on what we’ve been working on in Kaʻū visit our website alakahakaitrail.org

Grateful for the beauty of Kaʻū at our board meeting today. Another successful and productive gathering.

Wherever the path may lead🍃#alakahakaitrail #alakahakainht

Ala Pāhoehoe🌋 #alakahakaitrail #alakahakainht #nationalhistorictrail

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INterested in getting more involved?

The Ala Kahakai Trail Association will be hosting a community hike along the trail once a month. These events are an amazing opportunity to learn about significant archaeological, historical, and cultural information about the wahi pana of Hawaiʻi Island.

Visit our Kaʻū Community Page Here

Beach clean ups with Keep Puako Beautiful!

Visit Keep Puako Beautiful Website!

The 1871 trail south of Puʻu Honua o Honaunau National Historic Park.

Learn how to get more involved with the ala kahakai trail association!

INterested in getting more involved?

Join our mailing list