Ala Kahakai Kaloko-Honokohau Trail
Itinerary
This short section of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is found in Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. It is a 5.1-km return walk with a variable trail surface, ranging from easy boardwalk and beach walking to rough lava rubble where sturdy footwear is needed. The route has a high elevation of 6 feet, a low elevation of 1 foot, and total climbing of 17 feet.
Understand
This coastal walk follows part of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail through fishponds, beaches, lava fields and cultural sites in Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. The route gives access to 'Aimakapa Fishpond, Kaloko Fishpond, Honokohau Beach and the 'Ai'opio Fishtrap. It is short and mostly low-lying, but the surface changes often, and some sections cross loose lava rubble.
Prepare
Bring sturdy footwear for the rough lava sections, sun protection, and enough water. Pick up a park brochure near the start of the trail, as it provides useful information on the natural and cultural features along the route. Be prepared for exposed coastal sun, loose sand, and uneven lava rock.
Get in
Access the trail from the gate located in Honokohau Marina. From Palani Road in Kailua-Kona, drive 2.3 miles northwest on Highway 19. Turn left on Kealakehe Parkway and drive 0.4 miles to the entrance to the marina. Turn right, and drive 0.3 miles. The national park gate is on the right just before the road makes a sharp left turn. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the gate.
Walk
The hike starts at the 1 National Park entry gate (6 ft) adjacent to Honokohau Marina. Walk through the gate and turn immediately left on the dirt road. After 100 meters, you come to an 2 interpretive sign (6 ft) explaining the general features of the park. Park brochures are available here. Pick one up as it will provide useful information on the things you will see along the way. The trail bends to the right here onto a slightly rougher surface, but it is still easy to walk. After 200 meters, you reach a 3 trail junction (2 ft). Go to the right. After 300 meters, another 4 trail junction with restrooms (4 ft) is reached. There are restrooms here. The trail to the right is labelled "Ala Hele Ike Hawai'i" on the printed version of the park brochure and "Ala Mauka-Makai" on the online version. Whatever the correct name of the trail, it leads to the visitor center. Turn left to head out onto the shore. Follow the shoreline to your right. After 600 meters, by some 5 remains of structures in the water (3 ft), the rocky shore gives way to a wide expanse of beach. There will be a few beach-goers of various sorts here, but it is never crowded, even on a holiday long weekend. Choose your own way across the sand around the bay. The sand is loose, and the slope of the beach is steep, leading to slow going. After 700 meters, you reach 6 'Aimakapa Fishpond (3 ft), located behind the beach. The beach dune is only a few feet high, but it shelters the pond, and can provide a huge contrast from the cool breezy environment of the shore. Watch for a variety of waterbirds on and around the pond. After 1.1 km, there is an 7 unidentified beach structure (1 ft) in the lower side of the beach. It's not clear what it is, but it appears to be more recent than the other ruins that abound in the park. There appears to be a trail off the beach to the right here, but it dead-ends quickly. Continue along the beach. After 1.2 km, you reach the 8 end of the beach (1 ft). The trail continues along the top of a square stone wall, then soon turns inland, entering the trees at the 9 inland turn into the trees (2 ft). Up to this point, any kind of footwear would be fine, but the trail now proceeds
Stay safe
The trail is exposed, hot and close to sea level, so carry water and use sun protection. Wear sturdy footwear for the loose lava rubble north of the beach. The trail is unclear near the old lava wall after 1.3 km; stay on the left, seaward, side of the wall. Take care around the Kaloko Fishpond wall, as the unmortared lava-rock edges may be unstable. Respect cultural sites and do not disturb offerings or historic structures.
Go next
Return to the Honokohau Marina parking area by retracing your steps. From the same trail network, the Ala Hele Hu'e Hu'e route connects inland toward the visitor center and Mamalahoa trail.
Adapted from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)