Ala Kahakai at Puʻukoholā

The trail that follows along the coastline of the park is called the Ala Kahakai, established in 2000 for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources.

The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile trail corridor, full of cultural and historical significance.This trail traverses through hundreds of ancient Hawaiian settlement sites, and through over 200 ahupua’a, or traditional sea-to-mountain land divisions. Cultural resources along the trail include several important temples, royal centers, fish ponds, fishing shrines, petroglyphs, and sacred sites.

As the trail follows the coast from Upolu Point, the northernmost point of the island, past South Point all the way to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, countless sea cliffs, ancient historic lava flows, forests, habitats of various threatened and endangered endemic species of plants and animals, and other natural and geologic features can be seen. Though still a work in progress, there are many segments of the trail that you can safely access at this time.