E Mau Na Ala Hele, an organization that works toward the preservation and protection of ancient and historic trails of Hawaii, is celebrating La Ho‘ala Ala Hele by sponsoring a hike.
On Saturday (Oct. 20), participants will meet at the Queen Kaahumanu Highway entrance to Kekaha Kai State Park (between mile markers 90 and 91) at 9 a.m. and then hike along the mauka-makai historic Hawaiian trail to Mahai‘ula Beach. This is a moderately difficult walk (one-way) of about 2.5 miles across uneven lava terrain. Be prepared for hot, sunny conditions.
Nicole “Keaka” Lui will be the cultural and historic guide during the hike. Lui is descended from road-building supervisors and surveyors who worked in Kona under Hawaii’s monarchy, notably the Kinimaka and Ka‘elemakule families. Her knowledge of this wahi pana is deeply rooted in family tradition.
The historic trail runs close to a unique and historic family cemetery of the Ka‘elemakule ohana. This will be a special opportunity to learn more about Kona’s Hawaiian history and culture from a keiki o ka ‘aina.
Plan for a full day. Bring a lunch, ample water, wear shoes for hiking and bring sunglasses, sun screen and a hat.
Hikers will be shuttled to the main highway after the hike is finished. That way, the hike will be just a one-way, mostly downhill stretch to the coast, without having to walk back up to the highway.
Volunteers are needed to help shuttle people from the park’s parking lot close to the beach and back to the highway. The road to the park’s parking lot is unpaved, rough in places, but a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required.
Shuttle volunteers should arrive at 8:15 a.m. to allow enough time to drive to the parking lot and carpool back to the start of the trail. Anyone who can help shuttle people should notify Debbie Chang by emailing to kulaiwi@hawaiiantel.net or calling 776-1516.