It’s time for the annual National Parks Club! Find out information about participating shops and more here.
Where is it located?
The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is located on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Whose land does it reside upon?
The trail connects the routes traversed by the first people to inhabit the island (the Polynesians who originally came from Southeast Asia) and the more modern routes created after western colonization. The original booklet for the park (linked here), implores people to “Walk in the footsteps of the ka po‘e kahiko (people of old Hawai‘i) along the Ala Kahakai.”
The Ala Kahakai NHT contains the oldest and best remaining examples of the ancient ala loa and the sites connected by it, including remnants of several other ancient and historic
trails, providing outstanding opportunities to explore parts of the Hawaiian trail system and follow in the footsteps of the Hawaiian ancestors.
When was it established?
2000
About this park:
Established in 2000 to preserve, protect and interpret traditional Native Hawaiian culture and natural resources, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175 mile corridor encompassing a network of culturally and historically significant trails. This “trail by the sea” traverses wahi pana (storied landscapes), ancient Hawaiian sites and over 200 ahupuaʻa (traditional land divisions).
The Ala Kahakai NHT contains the oldest and best remaining examples of the ancient ala loa, the major land route connecting the reaches of the coastal settlement zone of most ahupua‘a on the island of Hawai‘i. The ala loa was essential to the movement of early Hawaiian’s (ka
po‘e kahiko) from place to place.
Why did we choose these colors?
We were inspired by the gorgeous purples found on the shingle urchin, an ubiquitous creature in the tide pools on the trail. Click here to see a google search of this weird and wonderful urchin.
For more information:
NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/alka/index.htm
Instagram: n/a
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlaKahakaiNHT/